Department Resources

The Department of Creative Writing has many resources for your education. Other departments on campus are here to help you too.

The Creative Writing Department offers scholarships in specific genres. To apply please go to BAM/Academic Works and search by scholarship. In order to apply for scholarship opportunities you must first fill out a general application on the BAM/Academic Works page. You can also view all College of Liberal & Creative Arts scholarships. For more information, click on each scholarship name below. Applications for Fall will be announced by department email when they open. Please keep an eye on your email.

Clark-Gross Award in the Novel*  $100

OPEN TO ALL CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: This is a yearly contest, with a monetary prize given for the best original written work of a novel or novel-in-progress, written by a Creative Writing student, either B.A. or M.A. or M.F.A.
  • Criteria:
  1. Applicants are all those Creative Writing students who have submitted a manuscript of their work of short fiction to the Creative Writing Department.
  2. Applicants/recipients must be enrolled in the semester in which the award is disbursed (spring semester).   
  • Major: Creative Writing      
  • Class Level:  Undergrad: Any;  Grad: 2nd B.A./Masters/M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Any
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 1 UNIT;  Grad: 1 UNIT
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: N/A

James Milton Highsmith Drama Award*  $1000

OPEN TO ALL CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: Award for a Creative Writing student, or students, for a play of any length with lesbian or gay themes.
  • Criteria: Original plays intended for stage production, which have not previously been published. Musicals, radio plays, teleplays and screenplays are not eligible.  
  • Major: Creative Writing       
  • Class Level:  Undergrad: Any, Grad: 2nd B.A., Masters, M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 1 UNIT;  Grad: 1 UNIT
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: N/A

This award is made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of James Milton Highsmith.

Daniel Langton Poetry Prize*  $100

OPEN TO ALL CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: Prize for achievement in writing by a Creative Writing Student.
  • Major: Creative Writing
  • Class Level: Undergrad: Any;  Grad: 2nd B.A., M.A., M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 1 unit;  Grad: 1 unit
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: N/A

Anne Fields Poetry Contest* $100 

Available in the Spring semester only.
OPEN TO ALL CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: Recognize achievement in poetry writing by awarding a prize for the best poem from a qualified student.
  • Criteria: Must be enrolled half-time in he semester in which the poetry is submitted for this prize.
  • Undergrad: Any;  Grad: 2nd B.A., M.A., M.F.A. Creative Writing
  • Class Level: Undergrad: Any;  Grad: 2nd B.A., M.A., M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Any
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 1 unit;  Grad: 1 unit
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: N/A

Elizabeth June Madden-Zibman Scholarship*  $5,000

OPEN TO ALL CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: Scholarship for Creative Writing majors, graduate or undergraduate, enrolled full-time with verified financial need per Financial Aid and a minimum 3.0 GPA.  Candidates must demonstrate on-campus or off-campus involvement in a literary or poetry journal, active support of poetry readings by regular attendance or with event organization activities.  Candidates submit an essay or poem or short story of any length on a topic of concern to women, women's issues or women's experience in society.

  • The donor asks that  the candidates to read this https://sfsu.academicworks.com/donors/elizabeth-june and, while doing so, to think about Lizzie, what it might have been like to be her as a student at SFSU at the end of the 1970s.

  • Criteria:
  1. Students who meet the AB540 definition are eligible to apply.  
  2. Must show financial need based on the FAFSA or CA Dream Application as provided by the Financial Aid Office.
  3. Candidates must demonstrate on-campus or off-campus involvement in a literary or poetry journal.
  4. Must demonstrate active support of poetry readings either by regular attendance or with event organization activities.
  5. Must submit an essay or poem of any length on a topic of concern to women, women's issues or women's experience in society and should discuss personal values such as the importance of higher education, health and physical education, social justice, empathy and openness to life experience.
  • Major: Creative Writing       
  • Class Level: Undergrad: Any; Grad: Masters/M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing and Entering
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 12 units;  Grad: 8 units
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Yes
  • Citizenship: US Citizen/Perm Res
  • GPA: Undergrad GPA: 3.0; Grad GPA: 3.0

Wilner Short Fiction Prize*  $100

OPEN TO ALL CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: This is a yearly contest, with a monetary prize given for the best original work of short fiction, written by a Creative Writing student, either B.A. or M.A. or M.F.A.
  • Criteria:
  1. Applicants are all those Creative Writing students who have submitted a manuscript of their work of short fiction to the Creative Writing Department.  
  2. Applicants/recipients must be enrolled in the semester in which the award is disbursed (spring semester).
  • Major: Creative Writing       
  • Class Level:  Undergrad: Any, 2nd B.A.; Grad: Masters/M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Any
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 1 UNIT;  Grad: 1 UNIT
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: N/A

Marcus Second Year Graduate Student Scholarship*  TWO AWARDS OF $2,500

OPEN ONLY TO SECOND YEAR M.A. or M.F.A. CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: For graduate students in any of the genres who have shown their commitment to rich and ambitious writing and translation.  Students upload a work-in-progress that demonstrates attention to craft, cultural/social awareness and the complexity of human experience.  The recipient would also be a student for whom this award would make a significant difference in their ability to focus on their studies and their writing.
  • Criteria:
  1. ​Open to graduate students who will be entering their second year.
  2. Students upload a work in progress and a brief description (no more than 200 words) of how this award would make a difference in their ability to focus on their studies and their writing.
  3. Along with the following:
  4. Playwriting Submissions: 20-40-pages.
  5. Fiction and Creative Non-fiction Submissions: 20 pages.
  6. Poetry Submissions: 10 pages.
  7. Translation submissions: 10 to 20 pages.
  • Major: Creative Writing       
  • Class Level: Grad: Masters/M.F.A. or M.A. (must be entering second year of graduate study)
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing SF State student
  • Enrollment Requirement: Grad: 1 unit
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: Grad: 3.0

Kathryn A. Manoogian* Scholarship (Amount Varies)

OPEN TO M.A. & M.F.A. CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS ENROLLED IN BOTH FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS.

  • Scholarship Intent: For one or two new or continuing graduate students in Creative Writing awarded on the basis of merit and financial need.
  • Criteria:
  1. All creative writing graduate students will be considered based on merit and financial need. 
  2. *Must apply for financial aid* using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Application.
  3. Must have financial need as determined by FAFSA or the California Dream Application.
  4. Students who meet the AB540 definition are eligible to apply.   
  • Major: Creative Writing       
  • Class Level: Grad: M.A. or M.F.A.
  • Enrollment Status: Any
  • Enrollment Requirement: Grad: 3 UNITS
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Yes
  • Citizenship: US Citizen
  • GPA: N/A

Joan Gelfand Creative Writing Scholarship*

  • Awarding Department: Creative Writing Department
  • Scholarship Intent: To inspire success in publication through student support, this scholarship shall be open to undergraduates who have completed introductory writing courses and at least one semester.
  • Criteria:
    1.) Open to Creative Writing BA undergraduate students who have completed at least one
    semester and introductory writing courses.
    2.) Students must be currently enrolled, full-time.
    3.) Applicants must supply a writing sample (either 3-5 poems, 5 pages
    of fiction, or 5 pages of a play or manuscript).
    4.) Scholarships shall be open to all regardless of immigration status.
  • Major: Creative Writing BA
  • Class Level: Other: Student who have completed at least 1 semester and introductory writing courses.
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing and entering students
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad:* 12; Grad: * N/A
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: No
  • Citizenship: Any
  • Minimum GPA: No minimum GPA required

Tillie Olsen Prize - Creative Writing/Women Gender

  • Awarding Department: Creative Writing and Women and Gender Studies
  • Scholarship Intent: To award one $500 prize this year to a Creative Writing major whose writing is judged to be the best entry for that year and reflective of the issues or concerns or themes expressed in Tillie Olsen’s life work.
  • Criteria: The prize will be awarded annually, alternatively to an undergraduate student currently attending SF State majoring in Creative Writing or Women and Gender Studies(WGS).
  • Major: Multiple: Creative Writing or Women and Gender Studies
  • Class Level: Undergrad: Any, Grad: N/A
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: 1 UNIT; Grad: N/A
  • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
  • Citizenship: Any
  • GPA: HS GPA: N/A; Undergrad GPA: N/A; Grad GPA: N/A

*Award is coordinated with financial aid, according to State and Federal regulations.

The Marcus Recruitment, Bernice Ruben Arnold, Brainard, Dickey & Ylvisaker Scholarships

As long as a general application has been completed in BAM/Academic Works, all newly admitted M.A. and M.F.A. students are automatically considered for these scholarships:

  • The Marcus Recruitment Scholarship (two prizes annually of $7,500)
  • Joe Brainard Fellowship (Two or more prizes annually. Amount varies between $1000-$5000)
  • The William Dickey Fellowship in Poetry (Two or more prizes annually. Amount varies between $500 – $5000)
  • Miriam Ylvisaker Fellowship (One prize annually. Amount varies between $500-$2000 scholarshipThis scholarship is occasionally offered in the Spring.
    • Awarding Department: Creative Writing
    • Scholarship Intent: To be able to offer a fellowship to an entering MFA students. This fellowship will attract applicants to our program.
    • Criteria:
      1) No Application; All applicants to the MFA program.
      2) Selection will be based on quality of writing, 2 recommendation letters and undergraduate GPA.
    • Major: Single: Creative Writing
    • Class Level: Undergrad: N/A; Grad: Masters
    • Enrollment Status: Entering MFA student
    • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: N/A; Grad: 3 UNITS
    • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a Requirement
    • Citizenship: Any
    • GPA: HS GPA: N/A; Undergrad GPA: N/A; Grad GPA: N/A
  • Bernice Ruben Arnold Scholarship Fund $5000 once a year for three years, with continued eligibility
    • Scholarship Intent: The purpose of the Bernice Ruben Arnold Scholarship is to assist the Creative Writing Department in its desire to diversify its graduate student body through its promotion and recruitment of people from under-served communities.
    • Criteria:
    1. Students starting year one (1) of their Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing may apply
    2. Students must be enrolled in at least six (6) units per semester to receive the scholarship.
    3. Applicants must supply a writing sample for consideration.
    4. Students should demonstrate a commitment to promoting the values of diversity and cross cultural competency in Creative Writing.
    5. Citizenship is not a requirement.
    6. Scholarship is open to all students pursuing a Masters or M.F.A.
    7. Preference will be granted to students who self-report financial need and are first generation college students.
    • Major: Single: Creative Writing Masters and M.F.A.
    • Class Level: Undergrad: N/A; Grad: Masters
    • Enrollment Status: Entering student
    • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: N/A; Grad: 6 UNITS
    • Financial Need as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: Not a requirement
    • Citizenship: Any
    • GPA: HS GPA: N/A; Undergrad GPA: N/A; Grad GPA: N/A

*These scholarships are coordinated with financial aid awards according to State and Federal regulations.

Looking for additional scholarship opportunities not offered by our department? Please review the Outside Resources tab on this page!

Students come from all over the world to enroll in our undergraduate and graduate programs, which  makes for an exceptionally gifted and committed student body. Creative Writing graduate students host the Take Place! reading series, working hard to develop a sense of community in the Creative Writing Graduate Programs. Follow Take Place! on facebook!

The Creative Writing Department posts regular updates to all of our social media pages and they are a great resource for our writers! Please read below for the type of postings available on each platform. Please follow or view the pages below.

Tumblr

The Creative Writing Department Tumblr page lists submissions opportunities, contests, writing conferences, fellowships, and residencies. You do not need a Tumblr account to see any of the content. See our tags page for your specific interests.

Facebook 

The Creative Writing Department Facebook page lists events of interest to the student body and the larger local writing community. You do not need a Facebook account to see the content.

Twitter

The Creative Writing Department Twitter page lists San Francisco State University specific announcements such as deadlines and annual events such as commencement, as well as events and announcements about the general writing community. You do not need a Twitter account to see any of the content. This account is run bon one of our Creative Writing professors! 

Instagram

The Creative Writing Department Instagram features images of our event flyers, event announcements, calls for submissions and more.

Here are a few resources available outside of San Francisco State University to foster community and help one grow as a writer.

This is by no means a complete list.

Classes & Individual Writing Instruction

 

Bookstores with Events

 

Reading Series and Other

With assistance from the Marcus Funds, students, faculty, staff vidographers, and alumni, Creative Writing has created some wonderful video content for your review. Get to know our professors, hear from our students, and share some emotions by watching our video content!