The Chester Himes Grant is now open for submissions!
About the Grant
Mystery Writers of America is the premier organization for mystery and crime writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and folks who just love to read crime fiction. MWA provides mentorship, education, resources, and networking opportunities for crime writers across the country. The MWA-Midwest Chapter comprises thirteen states from Kansas to Ohio, geographically the largest region of MWA. We believe, just as stories of the heartland are vital to this country’s narrative, stories from diverse voices are essential to our genre and to literature as a whole.
As part of MWA-Midwest’s ongoing commitment to usher new members into the crime-writing community, we offer the Chester Himes Grant, which grants one year of membership in Mystery Writers of America.
Eligibility:
1. Must identify as part of a marginalized community. These include Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color, LGBTQIA+, person with a disability, and/or someone who identifies as part of a marginalized religious or cultural minority.
2. Must live in the MWA Midwest Chapter area, the thirteen states from Kansas to Ohio
3. Be a writer or aspiring writer. MWA-Midwest offers grants to writers and aspiring writers equal to one year of membership.
We award a limited number of grants annually. Click here to apply for the Chester Himes grant now. We can’t wait for you to join our community and help us write the future of crime fiction.
Chester Himes
Chester Himes spent many of his early years in the American Midwest. He was born and raised in Jefferson City, Missouri, and as a young man went to school and served time in Ohio, where he began writing short stories and gained national attention for his work. Later, while writing his first novels, he also worked as a screenwriter in Los Angeles.
Walter Mosley called Himes “one of the most important American writers of the 20th century…[a] quirky American genius.” Best known for his hard-boiled Harlem detective novels set in the 1950s and early 1960s, Himes’s earlier writing focused on labor relations, racism, and violence in mid-twentieth century America. After emigrating to France, he won the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière in 1958.
In 1968, Himes moved to Spain where he and his wife Lesley made their home until his death.
“Democracy is not tolerance. Democracy is a prescribed way of life erected on the premise that all men are created equal.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the grant process work?
Qualified applicants should apply for the grant first. Do not apply for or renew your membership to the Mystery Writers of America until the grants are awarded. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. All applications are reviewed by a committee of MWA-Midwest members.
I haven’t published anything yet. Am I still eligible to apply?
Absolutely. Writers do not need to have any publishing credits to become members of the Mystery Writers of America.
I’m already a member of MWA. Is the grant open to existing members?
Yes. Both new and existing members are eligible to apply.
Who is eligible for the grant?
Eligible applicants must live within our thirteen state region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and identify as part of a marginalized community. For the purposes of this grant, we define marginalized identity as a Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color, LGBTQIA+, person with a disability, and/or someone who identifies as part of a marginalized religious or cultural minority. Applicants may apply for a maximum of two grants in any five year period.
What do I need to submit in the application?
The application requests name, contact information, the marginalized group(s) the applicant identifies with, a description of previous writing experience, and a brief statement of the applicant’s goals in joining MWA (250-500 words.) Applications must be completed in full in order to be considered for the grant.
When and how will I find out if I received the grant?
Grants are awarded on a rolling basis for as long as funding is available. Grant notifications are sent as soon as the committee has reviewed the application, with instructions and next steps for grant recipients.
My question wasn’t answered here. How can I find out more?
Please email us through our contact page and we’ll do our best to answer your questions promptly.