WNBA Authentic Voices Fellowship
With a goal to create equity in the publishing world, the WNBA Authentic Voices Fellowship supports voices that have been overlooked or stifled in the publishing world.
Authentic Voices highlights diversity in publishing by bringing authentic voices to the table in an educational, immersive, and equity-building program.
Study after study has shown the lack of authors from marginalized communities in the book world. In order to build equity in publishing, we must provide people from underrepresented communities the foundation and tools needed to understand and compete in the publishing world.
The program is a collaboration with Women of Color Writers Podcast.
What is WNBA Authentic Voices?
WNBA Authentic Voices is a fellowship.
We will select a maximum of seven applicants to be mentored through a four-month process of writing, editing, marketing, querying, and publishing.
It is free to apply.
It is also free for those who are selected. In fact, we will provide a stipend and publish the writers’ works after the program has been completed.
Submission to Authentic Voices is open to all people within the United States, but priority will be given to writers who are part of marginalized communities in the publishing world.
Submissions will be reviewed by the WNBA Authentic Voices Committee.
You do not need to be a WNBA member to apply.
Submissions are now open!
We will accept applications from October 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022.
The fellowship begins in March 2022 and lasts four months.
Fellowship Compensation
Once a fellow completes the program, they receive a stipend and publication in an anthology.
Program Overview
Phase One: The Writing Process
In this phase, a creative writing instructor takes fellows through an impacted creative writing class. This class will home in on assessing each writer’s authentic voice and completing a short story.
Phase Two: The Editing Process
Editing is an essential part of the writing process. Self-editing is a learned skill that gives writers an advantage over those who don’t. This will be a short two-class course that teaches our writers how to take a look at their work objectively. Fellows are paired with an editor mentor for a week to discuss their work.
Phase Three: The Querying and Platform-building Process
Querying is perhaps one of the most challenging parts of the publishing process most writers face. In this phase, our instructors show writers how to sell themselves and their work, craft their bios, and so forth. During this time, we also teach writers how to build their online platforms for the purpose of marketing themselves.
Writers end up with a strong query letter for their short story and a solid foundation of what agents, editors, and publishers look for when it comes to writing submissions and author platforms.
Phase Four: The Publishing Professional Phase
A publishing representative will speak to writers about the publishing industry, the publishing process, and how to sell their books using their platform.
Submission Materials
To apply for the WNBA Authentic Voices program, please provide the following:
Bio (500 words or less): It should describe you, your background, what community (city, town, etc.) you are from, and why you are interested in the program.
Writing Sample: It doesn’t have to be perfect! We want to get a feel for your voice. The sample can be something you want to work on while participating in the program. Please make sure the submission is no longer than 2,500 words.