Emerging Voices Fellowship – Jan 31

Posted by PEN America on January 9, 2024

PEN American invites applications for Emerging Voices Fellowship

Founded in 1922, PEN America champions the freedom to write, recognizes the power of the word to transform the world, and works to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

The organization invites applications for its Emerging Voices Fellowship, a five-month, virtual immersive mentorship program for early-career writers from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing world. The program is committed to cultivating the careers of Black writers, and serves writers who identify as Indigenous, persons of color, LGBTQ+, immigrants, writers with disabilities, and those living outside of urban centers. Through curated one-on-one mentorship and introductions to editors, agents, and publishers, as well as workshops on editing, marketing, and creating a platform, the fellowship nurtures creative community, provides a professional skill set, and demystifies the path to publication—with the ultimate goal of diversifying the publishing and media industries.

Through the program, 12 fellows will receive an honorarium of $1,500 and will be paired with a mentor who will serve as a source of guidance for the project. Fellowship benefits and components include:

Mentorship and Knowledge of the Business of Books: Five months of guidance from a professional mentor on their current writing project and insider knowledge about publishers and literary agencies through panels and Q&As.

Community: Writing and craft conversations with accomplished visiting authors, one public event featuring reading of new work by current fellows, and a one-year membership in PEN America.

A Writer’s Toolkit: A professional headshot; deals and discounts for classes and programs from partner organizations; a submission guide for literary journals, agents, residencies, and fellowships; and masterclasses and workshops in genre, reading and voice technique, copyediting, and other relevant topics.

To be eligible, applicants must be at least 21 years old at time of application. Applicants need not be a United States permanent resident and/or citizen but must reside in the U.S. at the time of application and during the duration of the fellowship. Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-granting program at the time of application; cannot be a recipient of an advanced degree in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry; and cannot have one or more books published through major or independent publishers, university presses, or established presses, nor have a book under contract to a publisher at the time of application. Chapbooks or work published in literary journals are acceptable.

There is a $25 fee to submit the application, but application fee waivers are available for those facing financial difficulties.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the PEN America website.

Deadline: January 31, 2024