While many students are enjoying the glitz and glamour of the COVID-19 graduation season, creative writing major Kelly Sullivan is diligently working towards her degree during the pandemic. With only one outlet for creative writing, social media, she has been able to keep her creative writing practice alive and well, and in need of a little boost, she turned to the Sullivan Creative Writing Scholarship – an opportunity to gain some financial support for her writing practice. As a student of literature and writing, it’s no surprise that Kelly applied for this scholarship.
The Sullivan Awards are designed to “encourage and support ambitious students to develop their creative skills, through writing and publishing.” The mission of the Sullivan Awards is to provide “financial assistance for students who want to write, and for those who want to be published, regardless of their financial situation.”
The amount of the Sullivan Awards ranges from $5,000 – $15,000, and is renewable for up to three years of full-time study. In addition, the awards offer publishing packages and cash prizes for the best short stories, novellas, and novels.
A Fierce Commitment To Craft
For the past year, Kelly has been working her tail off to secure her spot at Rutgers – her hard work and dedication truly paying off, as she was one of five selected from over 300 applicants to win a spot in the prestigious Creative Writing PhD program.
To prepare for the rigors of graduate school, Kelly completed an MFA in Creative Writing at Syracuse University, where she was awarded the prestigious Hopwood Fellowship. The Hopwood Fellowship allowed Kelly to further develop her craft and expertise as a writer, and supported her in covering the costs of living in NYC while pursuing her PhD.
Kelly also completed an intensive six-week course in Novel Writing with Sylvia Pluchar at the Sundance Screenwriting & Editing Workshop. The course focused on helping participants understand the nuts and bolts of novel writing, and honing their craft.
Throughout her undergraduate career, Kelly regularly attended the famed Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference in Middlebury, VT where she was able to network, build relationships, and gain valuable insight from some of the country’s finest storytellers. This year, Kelly is set to begin her PhD studies in Fall 2021 at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
The Impact Of COVID-19 On Kelly’s Life
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students and academics alike have had to alter their study habits in order to continue working and graduating.
Like many other creative writing students, the pandemic had a major impact on Kelly’s life. She had to cancel her graduation party, and instead, work towards securing her place at Rutgers.
As a single parent, she also had to adjust her childcare arrangements in order to complete her studies. While she was fortunate enough to have some family support, she acknowledges that the pandemic had a major impact on her finances, as well as her studies.
“I’ve been doing a lot of freelancing and running errands for my professors, which has helped. But it’s been a difficult year. I’m only one parent, and I rely heavily on my child’s nanny, which has required a lot of sacrifice on my part.
Having never made a large financial investment in her education, Kelly was initially hesitant to apply for financial support, as she didn’t want to take on any more debt. However, she acknowledges that the opportunity to gain some financial security, and the chance to further develop her skillset as a writer, was something she couldn’t turn down.
Although Kelly’s life has been profoundly altered by the pandemic, she is excited for the future, and the opportunities that the coming years have in store for her.
An Opportunity For Students Who Want To Be Published
For many students, the application process for the Sullivan Awards was lengthy and included several rounds of revisions before being accepted. However, Kelly was accepted to the program on her first attempt, which she attributes to her careful preparation, as well as her familiarity with the application format.
“The application process was quite stressful, but I’m so happy that it’s over. It gave me the opportunity to work hard and prove to myself and the world that I can actually do this.
As a PhD student at Rutgers, Kelly will continue to work towards publishing her first book. In the meantime, she is pursuing a number of side projects, including working on a children’s book, and developing an educational curriculum for aspiring preschool teachers.
While many students are enjoying the freedom to study and progress without financial stress, Kelly is taking advantage of the pandemic to further develop her career as a writer.