Barbara Neely Scholarship

Who can apply

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens age 18 or older; membership in Mystery Writers of America is not required.
• Applicants submit a biography, a five-page writing sample, a CV or resume, and a 300- to 500-word statement explaining their interest in the genre and how they plan to use the award.
• Previous winners are not eligible.

About the scholarship

The Barbara Neely Scholarship supports Black American writers pursuing work in the crime and mystery genre. The current Barbara Neely Awards provide two $2,000 awards, one for an unpublished writer and one for a published writer. The application deadline is November 1, 2026.

Awards

Number of winners: 2