Charleston Literary Festival announces today the CLF Cato Fellowship Prize—an exciting new program to support and nurture emerging writers in North and South Carolina.
Two CLF Cato Fellowship Prizes will be awarded in 2024 to two emerging writers—authors of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry are encouraged to apply.
During this year’s Charleston Literary Festival, running from November 1-10, 2024, the two winning fellows will receive full access to Charleston Literary Festival’s author conversations and receptions, free accommodations in downtown Charleston, networking and collaborative opportunities beyond the Festival, and a cash sum of $7,500 to allow them to further their writing career as they see fit.
The Fellowship Prize offers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with distinguished authors and leaders in their respective fields and learn about the business of writing and the inner workings of an international literary festival.
Philanthropist and longtime advocate for education, Wayland H. Cato Jr. had a lifelong passion for reading and learning. At the age of 100, he continued his daily discipline of devouring the many books (and newspapers) stacked high by his chair. Even in his last days, Wayland H. Cato Jr. discussed what he was reading: physics, politics, agriculture, history, philosophy, and more with his family and friends. The Catos believe that the world will be a better place if exceptional writers are nurtured and encouraged.
Charleston Literary Festival’s mission is to bring diverse, national, and international authors and audiences together to experience the transformative power of great literature, ideas, and creativity. The CLF Cato Fellowship Prize reflects the importance of literature and the urgency to support it by fostering the next generation of writers. The Fellowship Prize exists to nurture and encourage exceptional emerging writers so that they may positively impact and transform the world around them.
Marion Cato, philanthropist and author, expressed her insight into the importance of the Fellowship Prize:
“To be able to touch another person with your selection of words is a rare gift. It is a bold and brave endeavor, oftentimes revealing far more about the writer than of the subject matter. Very few are blessed with this gift, this willingness to expose oneself, to be judged. With the establishment of a fellow program as part of Charleston Literary Festival, we thrive to nurture the yearning of a few select individuals to continue to share their creativity with all of us in our lifelong adventure in learning about the world around us and, most importantly, ourselves in the process. It is my hope that in creating this program, I can honor my late husband Wayland H. Cato Jr., who was a passionate reader his entire life.”
“To be able to touch another person with your selection of words is a rare gift. It is a bold and brave endeavor, oftentimes revealing far more about the writer than of the subject matter. Very few are blessed with this gift, this willingness to expose oneself, to be judged. With the establishment of a fellow program as part of Charleston Literary Festival, we thrive to nurture the yearning of a few select individuals to continue to share their creativity with all of us in our lifelong adventure in learning about the world around us and, most importantly, ourselves in the process. It is my hope that in creating this program, I can honor my late husband Wayland H. Cato Jr., who was a passionate reader his entire life.”
Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director of Charleston Literary Festival, echoed Mrs. Cato’s sentiments:
“Charleston Literary Festival is grateful to be in a position to support and uplift emerging writers with the CLF Cato Fellowship Prize. It is an honor to establish this fellowship to equip writers with the resources they need to further their craft and allow them the opportunity to experience our world-class literary festival.”
“Charleston Literary Festival is grateful to be in a position to support and uplift emerging writers with the CLF Cato Fellowship Prize. It is an honor to establish this fellowship to equip writers with the resources they need to further their craft and allow them the opportunity to experience our world-class literary festival.”
About the CLF Cato Fellowship Prize
Open to writers in North and South Carolina, the CLF Cato Fellowship Prize will be awarded to two writers of fiction or poetry or creative nonfiction who demonstrate a commitment to bettering their craft and exhibit a love of writing and reading.
The CLF Cato Fellowship Prize will provide:
- Immersive access to all 35+ events and private receptions during Charleston Literary Festival, running November 1–10, 2024 (view the first release of featured authors at https://www.charlestonliteraryfestival.com/2024-authors)
- Accommodations in downtown Charleston to stay and write for the 10-day duration of the Festival
- $7,500 stipendiary
- Dedicated workspace beyond their lodgings
- Featured bio on the CLF website and social media
- Featured reading during Charleston Literary Festival
- Publication of the final piece in response to CLF Cato Fellowship experience on the CLF website
- Networking and collaborative opportunities beyond the Festival
Who should apply?
The Fellowship Prize is open to any fiction or poetry or creative nonfiction writer who is a current resident of North or South Carolina (or enrolled in a college or university program in North Carolina or South Carolina), a U.S. citizen or resident with an active visa, and at least 21 years old on November 1, 2024.
Applicants should be in the early stages of their writing careers but have clearly demonstrated a commitment to developing their writing by providing evidence of, for example:
- work published in a magazine or journal, online or in print
- work published in an anthology
- attendance at a creative writing course
- an early stage of a manuscript
- a draft book proposal
The application is NOT open to those who have published more than one book-length work with a major or independent publisher.
Apply here: https://charlestonliteraryfestival.slideroom.com/#/login
Application deadline: Applications are now open and will close on September 14, 2024.
The Fellowship Prize adds to the growing initiatives by Charleston Literary Festival to foster the next generation of writers; including the CLF Young Writers Awards.
Application deadline: Applications are now open and will close on September 14, 2024.
The Fellowship Prize adds to the growing initiatives by Charleston Literary Festival to foster the next generation of writers; including the CLF Young Writers Awards.
Tickets to Charleston Literary Festival
A limited number of Early Bird All-Session Access Passes for Charleston Literary Festival 2024 are now available for purchase via CityPaperTickets.com: https://www.citypapertickets.com/events/154102345/early-bird-all-session-access-pass.
A limited number of Early Bird All-Session Access Passes for Charleston Literary Festival 2024 are now available for purchase via CityPaperTickets.com: https://www.citypapertickets.com/events/154102345/early-bird-all-session-access-pass.
The full list of 35+ authors who will feature at the Festival in November will be announced and all tickets will go on sale on September 5, 2024.
For more information about the Festival schedule, author biographies, and event details, please visit CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com or follow us on Instagram @charlestonlitfest. To make sure you stay up to date, sign up for our newsletter at CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com/newsletter.
About Charleston Literary Festival
Charleston Literary Festival is a boutique literary festival held in Charleston, South Carolina, every November with an emphasis on literary excellence and an international edge. Over ten days, world-renowned writers and readers come together to discuss and explore. By connecting readers and thinkers with a wide range of quality speakers, the Festival promotes the power of excellent writing, ideas, and champions the free exchange of ideas. An independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, now in its eighth year, previous attendees include Claire Keegan, Hernan Diaz, Patrick Radden Keefe, Deborah Lipstadt, Yaa Gyasi, George Saunders, Madeline Miller, Margo Jefferson, Imani Perry, Walter Isaacson, Eddie S Glaude, JR, Tiya Miles, Stephen Greenblatt, André Aciman, Colm Tóibín, Yiyun Li, Lisa Taddeo, Lauren Groff, Rebecca Makkai, Lorrie Moore, Jenny Offill, Jia Tolentino, Deborah Eisenberg, Joyce Carol Oates, Jeanette Winterson, Ben Okri, Louis Menand, David Blight, Adam Gopnik, A.O. Scott, and many more. For more information, visit CharlestonLiteraryFestival.com.
Media Contact
Andrea Jasmin
+1 203-252-1350
andrea@charlestonliteraryfestival.com
