Literary Grants
Supporting writers and works-in-progress.
Since 1963, the PEN America Literary Awards, Grants, and Fellowships Program has honored many of the most outstanding voices in literature across diverse genres, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, children’s literature, translation, and drama. With the help of our partners, PEN America confers distinct grants each year to support writers and works-in-progress in diverse genres including translation, YA and middle grade writing, and oral history.
Announcing The 2025 PEN America Grant Winners
PEN America is delighted to announce the 2025 literary grant winners for works-in-progress. Juried by panels of esteemed and award-winning writers, editors, translators, and critics who are committed to recognizing their contemporaries, these winning works-in-progress show the potential for lasting literary impact. The following grant winners will be supported as they continue their important work. We look forward to seeing these thought-provoking and challenging examples of literary excellence brought to the world.
Available Grants
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PEN/Bare Life Review Grants
The PEN/Bare Life Review Grants recognize literary works by immigrant and refugee writers.
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PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History
The PEN/Jean Stein Grant recognizes a literary work of nonfiction that uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement.
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PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature
The PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature awards a grant to a translator for a work-in-progress of a book-length translation of an Italian work into English.
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PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants
For the translation of book-length works of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or drama that have not previously appeared in English in print or have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation.
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PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists
The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists is offered annually and awards $5,000 to an author of children’s or young adult fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants
Q: Where can I apply?
A: Submissions will be accepted via Submittable.
Q: Can I submit a translation of an anthology or a poetry collection with multiple authors?
A: No, original texts with more than one author will not be accepted.
Q: Can I submit a translation of my own work?
A: While self-translations are technically eligible, they do not fall within the original intentions of the grant.
Q: My project is not under contract. Does the organization help the grant winners publish their translated books?
A: At this time, PEN America is not able to facilitate the publication of grant recipients’ translations. That being said, if an agent or publisher reaches out to us with interest, we are able to connect them with the translator.
Q: I am not a US citizen or resident. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, we encourage candidates of all nationalities to apply.
PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature
Q: Why don’t I see this grant offered on Submittable? How do I apply?
A: The PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature operates within the existing PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants. All submissions should be made using the form for PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants. Any applicant who submits to the PEN/Heim Translation Fund grants whose project is a translation of narrative prose from the Italian into English is automatically considered for the PEN Grant for the Translation of Italian Literature.
PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History
Q: Where can I apply?
A: Submissions will be accepted via Submittable.
Q: Can I submit my application materials via email instead?
A: Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to accept submissions by email. If you are having issues with the Submittable platform, please visit the Submittable support page. If you still encounter issues, please reach out to awards@pen.org.
Q: What do I do if the interviews I’ve conducted are not in English?
A: The PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History are being conferred to projects in English. Please translate any interviews that you plan on using in your application in order to be considered. Q: I am not a US citizen or resident. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, we encourage candidates of all nationalities to apply so long as the project is in English.
PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists
Q: Where can I apply?
A: Submissions will be accepted via Submittable.
Q: What kind of children’s fiction is eligible for this grant?
A: The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists is geared towards novels in progress. Graphic novels and picture books are not being accepted at this time. Please take a look at previous recipients here to get an idea of the types of works being accepted.
Q: I am not a US citizen or resident. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, we encourage candidates of all nationalities to apply so long as their previous works have been published by a US trade publisher.
Q: My previous books have not been published by a US trade publisher. Can I still apply?
A: Unfortunately, candidates who have not previously been published by a US trade publisher will not be considered.