The 2023 Morland Writing Scholarships for African writers will begin accepting submissions on July 1st, 2023. The deadline for entries is September 18th, 2023. The Miles Morland Foundation is delighted to announce this opportunity for aspiring writers in Africa.

Recognizing the challenges emerging writers face, who must balance their passion for writing with the need to earn a living, the MMF grants a limited number of Morland Writing Scholarships each year.

These scholarships aim to provide recipients with the necessary time and support to complete the first draft of a book. The scholarships are open to individuals who write in English and were either born in Africa or have both parents born in Africa.

The foundation received an impressive number of nearly 600 applications in the previous year. As they enter the eleventh year of the Morland Writing Scholarships, the foundation eagerly anticipates reading new submissions and discovering the winners for 2023.

The judges will face the challenging task of selecting only four scholars from the pool of applicants. The announcement of the winners will take place in November.

About Miles Morland Foundation

In 2013, Miles Morland established the foundation that now carries his name. Before this, Morland had a successful career investing in Africa through his companies, Blakeney Management and DPI (Development Partners International).

The Miles Morland Foundation (MMF) is headquartered in London and operates as a registered charity in the UK. The foundation focuses its grant-making activities on areas that align with the founder’s interests.

Its primary objective is to provide support to African entities that facilitate the amplification of African voices.

MMF Morland African Writing Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Scholarship

Writers who are scholars who choose to write fiction will be awarded a grant of £18,000, distributed monthly over twelve months. Suppose the scholars are writing non-fiction and need extra time for research.

In that case, they may be eligible for an extended grant that can be paid out over a maximum period of eighteen months, subject to the discretion of the Foundation.

Scholar’s Undertaking

Scholars are required to submit 10,000 words they have written each month to the Foundation. Additionally, scholars are kindly asked to contribute 20% of any income they receive from their book during the Scholarship period, including proceeds from film rights, serializations, or other related revenue streams.

These funds will be utilized to assist other talented writers. It is important to note that the 20% return obligation is considered a moral commitment rather than a legally binding requirement.

Requirements for Scholarship Qualification

Qualifications

To be eligible for the Scholarship, candidates must provide a sample from a published work written in English, ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 words. It is crucial to demonstrate clear evidence that the submitted piece has been published and made available for sale.

The evaluation process will be carried out by a panel of readers and judges appointed by the MMF solely based on the work’s literary value. Please note that the Scholarships are not intended to support academic, scientific, religious, or political writings, and submissions or proposals of such nature will not be considered eligible.

Scholarship Requirement

Scholars are required to fulfil one condition during the duration of their Scholarship, which is to engage in writing. They will be expected to submit at least 10,000 new words per month via email until their book is completed or the Scholarship term concludes.

If the initial draft of the book is finished before the end of the year, payments will continue as the Scholar dedicates time to editing and perfecting their work.

Proposed Work

Applicants for the Morland Writing Scholarship must provide a written description of their intended work, which should be between 400 and 1,000 words long. The proposal should be for a full-length book containing at least 80,000 words.

Collaborative writing or collections of short stories will not be considered. It is important to note that the proposal should be for a completely new work, not a work in progress, and must be written in English.

If an applicant is shortlisted for the scholarship, they will be requested to submit a “chapter” of their proposed book, which should be between 3,000 and 4,000 words long. This sample chapter will help the judges assess the applicant’s writing ability.

Applicants will be informed if they have been shortlisted by the end of October and will have 15 days to submit the sample chapter. Therefore, planning and considering the sample chapter that will need to be provided if shortlisted is advisable.

Biography

In 200-300 words, please provide information about yourself and your background. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to provide additional details about yourself and your approach to writing your book.

Fiction or Non-Fiction

The Foundation is open to receiving proposals for both fiction and non-fiction works. We understand that non-fiction writers may require additional research time so that the Foundation can extend the Scholarship period for non-fiction writers for up to 18 months.

Interview date, Process and Venue for MMF Morland African Writing Scholarship

Starting time

The Scholars can choose a start date between January and June of the year after receiving the Scholarship Award. Their payments and the requirement to submit 10,000 words per month will begin simultaneously with their chosen start date.

Accepted works

The Scholarships are intended for adult fiction or non-fiction works of full length. Works such as poetry, plays, film scripts, children’s books, and collections of short stories are not eligible for Scholarships.

Mentoring

The Foundation will not provide feedback or critique on the monthly submissions received. However, every Scholar will have the chance to receive guidance from an experienced author or publisher as a mentor. Generally, this mentorship will commence once the Scholar has completed their book and the Scholarship period has concluded.

The MMF may cover the mentorship expenses, depending on the Foundation’s discretion. It is important to note that the MMF does not aim to serve as an editor or publisher. Scholars are responsible for finding their agents and publishers, although the MMF is willing to offer guidance if needed.

Residency

Please be aware that this Scholarship does not include accommodation. Scholars are free to choose their living arrangements during the Scholarship duration.

Important Dates

Applications will only be accepted from 1st July 2022 to 18th September 2022. Any applications submitted outside of this timeframe will not be considered.

Also See: 2023 University of Stuttgart Scholarship Program – For developing countries 

Scholarship For Developing Countries – The University Of Bonn BIGS-DR Doctoral Program  2023

Documents Required for Application

• A Word document of published and commercially available work ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 words.
• Proof of publication and proof of sale.
• A scanned official document indicates the applicant’s or both parents’ African birth.
• A description of the upcoming book to be written, ranging from 400 to 1,000 words.
• A concise biography spanning 200 to 300 words.
• Information on how the applicant learned about the Morland Writing Scholarships.

Application Deadline

September 18, 2023

How to Apply

If you are interested and meet the qualifications, you can apply for the scholarship by visiting the Miles Morland Foundation website at milesmorlandfoundation.com.
For more details, visit the MMF website.