News and Thoughts
Special Fellowship and Residencies
Fellowships and residencies are usually listed in the contest section, but these two merit a little more attention.
The Colony at Dairy Hollow fellowship invites writers to explore the African American experience in any literary genre: fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, or a combination. The action in your piece may take place now or in the past. The piece may draw upon the life of the author or probe other lives. The successful application will demonstrate insight, honesty, literary merit, and the likelihood of publication. The winner will receive a two-week, all-expense-paid residency to allow her or him to focus completely on work. Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. Writers get uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in a community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when they want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for breakfast and lunch. Fellowship applications must be accompanied by a writing sample and a non-refundable $35 application fee. Deadline Oct. 26. www.writerscolony.org/fellowships
Cozy mystery writer Daisy Pettles established a writing retreat just for women over 40 in her late mother’s vintage 1920s’ arts-and crafts-bungalow in Bedford, Indiana (near Indiana University-Bloomington). She is offering a month-long retreat, plus a $1,000 stipend in 2021. Women ages 40+ (or people who identify as women) writing fiction or nonfiction can apply. Winners choose which month they want to do the residency. In the event of COVID travel restrictions, the residency may be waived, but the cash prizes will still be awarded. First runner-up receives $200, a certificate, and the residency if the grand prize winner cannot accept. Second runner-up receives $75 and a certificate. The application fee varies and includes sliding income and hardship fee waivers; funds from the fees help support the writing house for older women. The deadline to apply for 2021 residencies is Dec. 12. See details at https://daisypettleswritingcontest.com.