The “Miss Sarah” Fellowship for Black Women Writers 2027

A fellowship for Black women writers at any career stage, focusing on nonfiction in 2027. The selected writer receives a ten-day solo residency in July, choosing between Trillium Arts’ rural Firefly Creek apartment in North Carolina and Montford Manor near downtown Asheville. Support includes a $1,000 stipend, a welcome dinner, a rental car, and transportation to and from Asheville. The residency provides independent time to begin, develop, or complete a writing project.

Nonfiction

Open to Black women writers at any career stage, based anywhere in the world; the 2027 genre is nonfiction. Applicants must apply and be accepted individually. The selected writer receives a ten-day solo residency in July, choosing Firefly Creek in the source's stated location of Mars Hills, NC, or Montford Manor near downtown Asheville, NC. Preferred dates are typically July 10–20, but the panel will consider other dates. Travel expenses are covered only within the United States; international airfare and visas are the applicant's responsibility. The directory also lists a $500 travel/material stipend and no residency fee. Applications open October 8, 2026 and close November 19, 2026 at 11:59pm; no timezone is stated, and late applications are not accepted. Applicants will be notified by March 2027. Submit a CV or resume of no more than five pages; a one-page Fellowship Proposal Statement explaining the project context and planned accomplishments; a one-page statement explaining why Trillium Arts will benefit the applicant's creative work; one recommendation letter submitted separately by an outside recommender, specifically addressing the writing project; and an original English-language writing sample from the proposed project that the applicant intends to develop during the fellowship. Work-in-progress is highly recommended. The recommender is asked how they know the applicant, what makes the project significant, who would be most served by it, and what they find inspiring about it. MA and MFA theses, PhD dissertations, and edited collections are ineligible and will be disqualified; the fellowship is not intended to support degree completion. Upload documents as PDF or Word files, no larger than 10 MB each; the writing sample must be ONE PDF, 10–15 pages. All submitted documents must be double-spaced, with one-inch margins and an easily readable 12-point font. The applicant's name and written-piece title must appear at the top of each uploaded file. There is no application fee. The directory lists public programming, an artist talk or presentation, and leading a public workshop as additional expectations/opportunities. It also lists spouses/partners and children as allowed for the full stay, access to a private kitchen, no regular meals provided, and partially accessible housing and facilities.