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Whiting Foundation Awards $50,000 Literary Grants to Emerging Writers
NEW YORK – The Whiting Foundation has bestowed prestigious literary grants of $50,000 each upon ten emerging writers. This year’s recipients of the esteemed literary awards represent a diverse spectrum of voices in contemporary literature, ranging from authors exploring speculative fiction realms to poets deeply rooted in the New Orleans experience following Hurricane Katrina. These emerging talents are recognized for their innovative contributions to poetry, playwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels.
Foundation’s Mission and Legacy of Supporting Literary Innovation
Since its inception in 1985, the Whiting Foundation has dedicated itself to fostering “new creations” in the literary landscape. The foundation’s core mission is to nurture emerging writers by providing significant financial support at crucial junctures in their careers. The grants are awarded to poets, playwrights, and authors of both fiction and nonfiction. The roll call of past Whiting Award winners includes literary luminaries such as Tony Kushner, André Aciman, and Tracy K. Smith, underscoring the foundation’s enduring commitment to recognizing and elevating impactful literary voices.
2025 Whiting Award Honorees: Diverse Voices in Contemporary Literature
This week marks the announcement of the Whiting Foundation’s 2025 class of grant recipients. The judges’ citations offer illuminating glimpses into the unique qualities of each writer’s work:
Speculative Fiction
Elwin Cofman, crafting speculative fiction, was commended by Whiting judges for establishing “illuminating sites of bawdy humor and horror,” showcasing a distinctive and compelling narrative style.
Poetry
Karisma Price, a poet deeply informed by her New Orleans roots in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, creates poems described as “songs, howls, portraits, critiques,” powerfully capturing the complexities of place and experience.
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Essays
Aisha Sabatini Sloan’s essays garnered praise from the judges for forging “startling connections between the personal and the collective,” demonstrating a profound ability to weave individual reflection with broader societal themes.
Additional 2025 Whiting Literary Grant Recipients
The distinguished roster of 2025 Whiting Award winners is further enriched by dramatist Liza Birkenmeier; fiction writers Samuel Kọ́láwọlé, Shubha Sunder, and Claire Luchette; graphic fiction writer Emil Ferris; poet Annie Wenstrup; and nonfiction writer Sofi Thanhauser. Each of these emerging writers exemplifies exceptional promise and originality in their respective fields.
Director Highlights Writers’ Range and Historical Sensitivity
“These writers demonstrate an extraordinary breadth of talent; each has uniquely crafted the tools necessary to articulate their narratives and build their literary worlds,” remarked Courtney Hodell, Director of Literary Programs at the Whiting Foundation. “Collectively, their body of work reveals a keen sensitivity to both personal and collective history, coupled with a fervent curiosity about the insights a deeper understanding of this history can unlock.”