Speculative fiction writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups, the Diverse Writers Grant is intended to offer you an opportunity to invest in your writing. Individuals from these groups include writers of color, women, queer writers, and disabled writers, whose marginalized identities may present additional obstacles in the writing and publishing process.

The Speculative Literature Foundation does not expect or want works that simply attempts to check off all the boxes in a tokenistic way, but rather are looking for writing that offers deep characterization, complex cultural landscapes, and strong literary quality overall. This grant, as with all SLF grants, is intended to help writers working with speculative literature.

Funding Information

Award: $500 USD.

Eligibility Criteria

Writers may apply for the Diverse Writers Grant.

• This grant is open to all levels of publishing experience, worldwide.
• The grant jury will be primarily English-reading, although works that incorporate other languages (as in Keri Hulme’s the Bone People’s use of Maori) are welcome.

Application Requirements

Required materials for the Diverse Writers Grant include:

• A written description of the project: This description should not exceed 500 words.
• A cover letter: Explain which grant (or grants) you are applying for. Include a short (less than 500 words) autobiographical statement describing your work thus far and a bibliography of previously published work, if applicable. Applicants need not have prior publishing credits to apply. For the Diverse Writers grant, please provide a brief statement on the relevant aspect(s) of your background.
• A writing sample: Sample should not exceed 5,000 words. The submitted work must be speculative fiction as defined above.

Application Deadline: 31 July 2025

For more details and to apply, kindly visit the official website of the Diverse Writers Grant