Working Class Writers Grant

About this program

Offered annually by the Speculative Literature Foundation, the Working Class Writers Grant awards $1,000 USD to support working-class, blue-collar, financially disadvantaged, or homeless writers of speculative literature; winners are announced in November. The grant covers the full range of speculative genres (science fiction, fantasy, horror, magical realism, slipstream, etc.) and may be accepted anonymously or pseudonymously. Applicants worldwide who demonstrate financial need — for example, qualifying for government assistance, living paycheck-to-paycheck, supporting themselves through college, or having lived at or below 200% of the poverty line — are eligible, and prior publication is not required; recent winners may reapply but are lower priority within two years. Applications are accepted annually Sept 1–30 (UTC−4) and require a cover letter/personal statement (≤750 words) and a writing sample (up to 10 pages poetry/drama or 5,000 words fiction/nonfiction; include a one-page synopsis for novel excerpts).