Morland Writing Scholarship Grants (£18,000 fiction and £27,000 non-fiction) for African Scholars

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Morland Writing Scholarship

Course(s) Offered: Writing (fiction or non-fiction)
Course Level: Scholarship contest
Provider: Miles Morland Foundation
Country to Write in: Africa

Scholarship Description
The Morland Writing Scholarships for fiction and non-fiction work is open to anyone writing in the English language who was born in Africa or both of whose parents were born in Africa.

It can be difficult for writers in the early stages of their career to write and to earn a living outside writing at the same time. To help fill this need the Miles Morland Foundation (MMF) has established up to three Morland Writing Scholarships every year. 

In return for this Scholars are asked to pay to the MMF 20% of whatever they subsequently receive from what they write during the period of their Scholarship. These funds will be used to support other promising writers. The 20% return obligation should be considered a debt of honour rather than a legally binding obligation.

Eligibility
The Scholarships will be open to anyone who has been born in Africa or both of whose parents were born in Africa.

To qualify for the Scholarship a candidate must submit a piece of published work, or an excerpt from a piece of published work, of between 2000 - 5000 words to be evaluated by a panel set up by the MMF which will include readers and judges. The Scholarships will be awarded based on these submissions although the Foundation may also wish to question certain candidates or ask for other work. The work submitted will be judged purely on literary merit. 

It is not the purpose of the Scholarships to support academic or scientific research, or works of special interest such as religious or political writings. Submissions or proposals of this nature do not qualify.

There is NO age restriction for applicants.

Scholarship Requirement:
The only condition imposed on the Scholars during the year of their Scholarship is that they must write. They will be asked to submit by e-mail at least 10,000 new words every month until they have finished their book. The Scholarship will terminate if a Scholar fails to submit the required work on time unless prior authorization has been received. 

Eligible groups
Citizens of ANY African country - either BORN in Africa or BOTH PARENTS were born in Africa

Participating Institutions
Any writer, whether affiliated or not affiliated to any institution, in Africa

Fields of study (Proposed Work)
The Foundation is happy to support fiction or non-fiction but NOT poetry, plays or screen-play scripts. The Scholarship is intended for writers who want to write a full-length book of 80,000 words or more.

Proposed works can be on any subject though the judges will show preference to works which relate to Africa. Academic work, medical and scientific research, and works on religious subjects will NOT be considered for an award.

Number of awards
Up to three (3) every year

Sponsorship duration
Grant is paid out monthly over a period of one (1) year. However, the Scholarship will terminate if a Scholar fails to submit the required work on time unless prior authorization has been received. 

Scholarship benefits
Scholars writing fiction will receive a grant of £18,000, paid over the course of twelve months. Scholars writing non-fiction will receive a grant of £27,000, paid over the course of eighteen months.

Each of the winners will be offered the opportunity to be mentored by an established author or publisher who will give help when sought on the progress of their book and comments as to how it succeeds in meeting its objectives.

Method of Application
The candidates will be expected to submit a brief description of the work they intend to write (ideally up to 1000 words). It should be a new work, not a work in progress. The proposed work must be in English, as must all submissions. Please also tell in 200-300 words something about yourself and your background. Anything in your background suggesting that you have the ability and discipline to write a full-length book will be useful.

Before you submit an application please read two things – 1). The FAQs which set out in detail the requirements for entering the Scholarship; and 2). The Checklist which tells you the five things you must include with your entry or it will not be considered. All enquiries and submissions relating to the Morland Scholarships should be directed to MMF@milesmorlandfoundation.com.

It is important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for complete information on this grant, including the FAQ, and the 5-question checklist.

DEADLINES:
The opening date for submissions is 30th June 2017 and the closing date will be 31st October 2017. Applications submitted outside this period will not be looked at.

PLEASE NOTE:
It is not the intention of the MMF to give editorial or publishing advice to Scholars. They will have to find their own agents and publishers although it is to be hoped that over the years the Morland Scholarships will come to be recognised as an incubator of talent. 

Miles Morland set up the foundation which bears his name in 2013, after a career investing in Africa via two companies he created, Blakeney Management and DPI (Development Partners International). Based in London, the Miles Morland Foundation (MMF) is a UK charity which makes grants in areas reflecting its founder’s interests. The Foundation’s main aim is to support entities in Africa which allow Africans to get their voices better heard. It is particularly interested in supporting African writing and African literature.

Application Deadline: 31 October 2017
Open to International students: No (ONLY Africans)