Oregon Literary Fellowships help Oregon writers initiate, develop or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama and young readers literature. Writers in the early stages of their career are encouraged to apply. The fellowships also support Oregon’s independent publishers and small presses. They are awarded to presses or magazines that demonstrate a commitment to literary publishing in the areas of poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama and young readers literature.
The Women Writers Fellowship is a special, privately endowed fund of Literary Arts, intended to help Oregon women writers initiate, develop or complete a literary project in the areas of poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama and young readers literature.
The Women Writers Fellowship is made possible through the generosity of the Ralph L. Smith Foundation. The goal of the grant-makers is to promote perspectives traditionally not well represented in literature, such as work by women whose writing explores race, ethnicity, class, physical disability and/or sexual orientation.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
• Recipients must be current, full-time Oregon residents, both at the time of application and at receipt of award.
• Those who have received an Oregon Literary Fellowship in the last five years are ineligible. This means that for 2013, if a writer has received an Oregon Literary Fellowship for 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 or 2008, they are ineligible to apply.
• One application per person per year will be accepted.
• Female applicants may choose to be considered for the Women Writers Fellowship (addendum to application required). These applicants may receive one or the other, but not both fellowships.
• For writers fellowships, work authored by more than one person is ineligible.
• Current Literary Arts staff, trustees or advisory committee members are precluded from consideration; Applications by former Literary Arts staff, trustees or committee members may be considered, provided that the staff, trustee or committee member resigned from their position at Literary Arts at least six months before the earliest submission date.
IMPORTANT DATES
Applications will be accepted from March 26, 2012, until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2012. This is not a postmark deadline; late entries will not be accepted. Receipt of application will be acknowledged if SASE is enclosed. All applicants will be notified of final results no later than February 15, 2013.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of out-of-state judges, except for young readers literature and drama, which each have a single judge. The main criterion will be literary merit. It is up to the applicant to decide which genre to submit their work in.
AWARD INFORMATION
The amount, number and categories of fellowships will be determined from the quality and quantity of applications, and the availability of funds. Literary Arts is prohibited from awarding any fellowship in violation of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). No part of a grant may be used for propaganda or to influence legislation. No funds will be given for a political campaign or on behalf of any candidate for public office.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS—POETRY, FICTION, OR NONFICTION
Please include the following items in your fellowship application (collated; see below):
• Three copies of the Fellowship to Writers application form.
• Three copies of Women Writers Fellowship addendum (optional).
• Three copies of a sample of work consisting of one of the following: 15 typed pages of poetry, no more than one poem per page, or one narrative poem or section thereof not to exceed 15 pages in length.
• Not more than 25 typed, double-spaced pages (12-point text) of prose.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS—DRAMA
Please include the following items in your fellowship application (collated; see below):
• Two copies of the Fellowship to Writers application form.
• Two copies of Women Writers Fellowship addendum (optional).
• Two copies of a sample of work copies of a sample of work consisting of not more than 25 pages of script-format drama.
• SASE for acknowledgment of receipt of the application (optional).
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS—YOUNG READERS LITERATURE
Please include the following items in your fellowship application (collated; see below):
• Two copies of the Fellowship to Writers application form.
• Two copies of Women Writers Fellowship addendum (optional).
• Two copies of a sample of work copies of a sample of work consisting of one of the following: 15 typed pages of poetry, no more than one poem per page, or one narrative poem or section thereof not to exceed 15 pages in length.
• Not more than 25 typed, double-spaced pages (12-point text) of prose.
• SASE for acknowledgment of receipt of the application (optional).
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS—ALL APPLICANTS
• Please paginate the work sample, with your name on each page (may be handwritten).
• Copy onto white, 8-1/2” x 11” paper.
• Collate into sets:
- Application
- Optional Women Writers Fellowship addendum
- Work sample
folders or report covers.
Photocopies of published pages are not acceptable. Illustrations, aside from minor ones within manuscript text, are not allowed. A computer-generated reproduction of the application form is permissible, if the space allowed for responses does not exceed those listed here.
Please follow these submission guidelines carefully; improperly submitted applications may not be forwarded to the judges. Do not submit application materials in excess of those requested. Application materials will not be returned and are recycled after the judges have made their decisions.
REPORT FROM FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS
Literary Arts asks that each recipient, within one year of receiving the fellowship, submit a brief, written report regarding the use of funds. In addition, recipients are asked to acknowledge Literary Arts in any publications which fellowship funds assisted, and to provide a copy for Literary Arts’ permanent collection.
THE OREGON BOOK AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS IS A PROGRAM OF LITERARY ARTS
Oregonians are passionate about books. And ideas, and great writing. Literary Arts shares this passion. Our mission is to engage readers, support writers and inspire the next generation with great literature. The programs of Literary Arts include: Writers in the Schools, Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships, Portland Arts & Lectures and Delve: Readers' Seminars.
Download: application form
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries: la@literary-arts.org
For submissions: submit your application to Literary Arts, Attn: Oregon Literary Fellowships, 925 SW WASHINGTON, Portland, OR 97205
Website: http://www.literary-arts.org
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