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The Literary Laddership Fellowship, founded by Suyi Davies Okungbowa in 2022, is now accepting applications for its fourth edition. This virtual fellowship supports emerging African fiction writers by providing a $500 grant, a three-month virtual residency, and access to a community of practice.
Opportunity Details
Fellows will have the opportunity to write, improve their craft, connect with other writers, and explore publication opportunities. Some past fellows have gone on to win awards and be featured in publications, further strengthening the mission of this fellowship.
Judging Criteria
An *anonymous, independent team of judges will assess all applications and sample writing based on the following criteria:
Storytelling: Applicant’s story is compelling on both story and craft levels. Characters, plot/narrative arc, setting, description, dialogue, point-of-view, voice/tone/mood—all/most are at high levels of quality and/or demonstrate mastery of these storytelling elements
Language and story structure: Applicant’s writing is compelling and confident at the sentence and structural levels, and demonstrates that the applicant is a keen student of language use and storytelling craft
Style/Approach/Themes: Applicant’s work is risky, subversive, crosses borders and/or attempts to bring something new/fresh/different to the literary field, without being gimmicky
Genre: Applicant demonstrates clear understanding and mastery of the requirements and conventions of the sub-genre of fiction in which they’re writing
Project plan: Applicant demonstrates their suitability and preparedness for the requirements of the fellowship, and has a clear plan for project completion
To apply, submit the following information to: fellowship(at)suyidavies.com. (Kindly ensure that no name or identifying information is present in the submission documents/materials. Such information may be present in the email body).
Cover letter: In the email body, briefly describe your basis for meeting the eligibility criteria.
Writing sample: A sample of 3,000 words max (doc, docx, pdf), across 2 different works, split however the author wishes. We will receive any kind of work, but excerpts from a lengthy work-in-progress (novel or novella) are recommended over shorter fiction (flash, short stories, novelette). Please do not send in one work of 3,000 words. Judges would like to see how authors work across different pieces.
Project description, fellowship plan, budget: A separate document (2 pages max, single spaced) detailing:
why you should get this fellowship
what you will be working on while here
how you will spend the funds to achieve this plan
NOTE: The proposed work in your plan MUST be a manuscript of minimum novella-length (i.e. 17,500 - 40,000 words) or novel length (i.e. 40,000+ words). All applicants must be aged 18 and above.
Response time: *Selected fellows will be announced (and contacted) between 30-90 days from the application deadline.
Apply for Literary Laddership Fellowship