Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation - Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation Talent Scholarship-Literature

What you get

You will receive a one-off grant of 20,000 EUR, which will give you the time and money to write a new novel in French. This is a one-off payment that you do not have to repay. One person is selected each year. The Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation has been awarding this grant to writers every year since 1990. As the winner, you undertake to acknowledge the Foundation in your published book, to submit a progress report once a year, and to serve on the selection panel for the same grant the following year.

Who can apply

• Age: On 31 December of the year in which you are applying, you are 30 years old or younger.
• Already published: You have already published at least one work in French: a novel, a collection of short stories or a play.
• How it was published: Your book has been published by a proper publishing house and is available in French bookshops. Self-published works, books published exclusively as e-books, or individual stories in an anthology do not count.
• Language: You can write and present your project in French. You do not need to be from a French-speaking country.
• Field: Your project must be a novel in the general fiction genre. Essays, poetry, children’s and young adult literature, and fantasy are not eligible.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Please complete the online form and upload your application documents to the Foundation’s website by 14 June. Please send copies of your published works by registered post the day before. There is no application fee. Initially, all application documents will be reviewed by a committee. Shortlisted candidates will then present their novel project to the jury in person in September or October.

How realistic are your chances?

Only one scholarship is awarded each year, and the judging panel comprises leading French publishers and authors – so competition is fierce. You must already be a published author with 30 and have a book on sale in French bookshops, which significantly narrows down the field of applicants. Your previous work and the originality of your novel project will determine the outcome. The jury may also decide not to award the prize if no project meets their standards.