What Is It? The Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship for Mystery Writing seeks to nurture talent in mystery writing—in fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting.
Who May Apply? The scholarship is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only. Membership in Mystery Writers of America is not required to apply. Because the McCloy Scholarship is intended for serious aspiring mystery writers who wish to improve their writing skills, we expect that most applicants will be college students or adult learners.
How May the Scholarship Be Used? The scholarship may be used to offset tuition and fees for writing workshops, writing seminars, or university/college-level writing programs taking place in the U.S. in summer, fall or winter of 2011 or early spring 2012. Applicants must select a specific writing class/workshop/seminar to which scholarship funds would be applied.
What Is the Scholarship Amount? MWA will present two scholarships for up to $500 each. Scholarship checks are issued in late Spring and are made out jointly to scholarship winners and their chosen educational institutions.
Submission Details Applicants are required to submit:
* Scholarship application form, completed - download application here
* ONE copy of the official description of the writing class/workshop/seminar (from college catalog, workshop brochure, or other.)
* TWO letters of recommendation (e.g., from teachers who can speak to the applicant’s writing ability)
* FIVE COPIES of a 300- to 500 word essay explaining the applicant's interest in mystery writing
* FIVE COPIES of a mystery writing sample (e.g., synopsis and 3 chapters from a novel, or 3 short stories, or 3 short nonfiction pieces, or 1 screenplay or 1 play script)
The scholarship committee may also require a letter of acceptance and/or syllabus or other documentation from the writing class/workshop/seminar to be attended.
Mail all materials in one package to: 2011 Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship Committee, PO Box 16265, High Point, NC 27265
Application Deadline All applications must be postmarked by February 28, 2011. No late applications or emailed applications will be accepted.
Questions? For a copy of scholarship FAQs and individual answers, mail the scholarship committee at the PO box (above) or send an email to mccloy-mwa@lycos.com. No phone calls, please.
About Helen McCloy Helen McCloy (1904-1994) was a mystery author, editor, publisher, and agent. Creator of psychiatrist sleuth Dr. Basil Willing, McCloy served as president of MWA in 1950, won the Edgar® for mystery criticism in 1954, helped to establish MWA's New England Chapter in 1971, and was named an MWA Grand Master in 1990.
