Financial Aid for creative Writing Students
As someone who needed scholarships, financial aid, and government grants for my entire education, I am committed to offering accessible learning opportunities and creative financing to writing students while at the same time, being clear-eyed about the fact that this work is how I support myself and household.
Hundreds of writers have come to me over the years, asking to take my classes for free, or at deeply subsidized rates. In response, I’ve awarded close to a hundred need-based scholarships since 2014.
I’m proud of my long track record of supporting low-income writers and continue to refine how I do this from one season to the next. Here are some of the ways you can access my teaching on a budget:
Sliding scale workshops:
Periodically throughout the year I offer workshops where you may choose how much you give to take class.
Installment payment plans:
These are available for most of my courses; if you don’t see that option on the registration page, just get in touch and I can set up this up for you.
Free workshops:
In May and December I offer no cost workshops to the community. All are welcome. Bring your friends. They are announced through my newsletter, Ars Poetica. Be sure you are on the list.
Anne-Marie Oomen Literary Fellowship:
I give one fellowship each year to a poet who shows exceptional promise. This award includes the opportunity to develop a body of work while also assisting me in one of my manuscript incubators. The 2021 Anne-Marie Oomen Fellow was poet Moira Walsh, of Stuttgart, Germany. The 2023 fellow is Heather Mackey Young from the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The 2024 recipient is Chelsea Wills of Petaluma, California. There is no application for this award.
Partial Scholarships:
Those who apply should be prepared to pay a portion of the tuition, while the balance will be covered by me. The application form is below this letter. Please note the deadline to apply.
You may reach me via the Contact page if you have further questions about any of these opportunities.