2026 KWELI FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Building on Kweli's successful history of mentoring emerging authors since 2009, we will provide three or more early-stage writers with 10-month writing fellowships.
Eligible candidates are early career vocational writers living in New York City, who are NOT enrolled in degree-granting programs and self-identify as Black, Indigenous, Arab, AAPI, and/or Latine.
Writers who have NOT yet contracted to publish a book are invited to apply.
Three (or more) fellowships will be awarded, which will include:
—ten months of editorial support from Kweli Journal editors to prepare a piece for publication in the magazine;
—a small stipend;
—admission-free enrollment in three professionally led writing workshops on literary fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry.
—participation in four public readings by workshop participants;
—admission-free participation in our International Literary Festival, inclusive of pitch sessions with literary agents and editors;
—optionally, admission-free participation in our Color of Children Literature Conference;
—publication in Kweli Journal;
—VIRTUAL writing retreat.
Eligibility: Only new writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work are eligible. Only one submission per person is allowed. Please do not submit a piece you have previously submitted to Kweli Journal, either through the Fellowship category or the General Submissions category. Kweli Journal reserves the right to invite submissions.
Timeline: Submittable will be open for Fellowship submissions from Sunday, November 9 – Sunday, November 30 only. Submissions for the Fellowships close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on November 30, 2025. Successful applicants will be informed by early January 2026. The fellowship period will be February 9, 2026 – November 9, 2026.
Procedure: Applications must be submitted through the Fellowship category in Submittable. There is no application fee. Please submit the following:
— A cover letter containing a one-paragraph biographical statement; one paragraph that is a favorite of yours from a book you've read recently; and a brief statement telling us why this particular passage is meaningful to you. Please also note in your cover letter which one of New York City's five boroughs you reside in.
— A CV or résumé
— a brief statement of your career goals and what you expect to accomplish as a Kweli Fellow.
— A 10 page writing sample. There is no word-count requirement. Eligible genres are fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and cross-genre writing, whether written for adults, young adults, or children.
Selection will be based on (i) quality, promise, and subject matter of the writing sample; (ii) educational or experiential preparation; and (iii) seriousness of purpose and willingness to push beyond one's comfort zone.
Note that we only accept PDF or Word files (.doc and .docx). The cover letter and manuscript should be submitted as separate files. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
