Apply for the 2025–2026 Breakthrough Writing Residency by Literary Cleveland
Functions at the moment are open for Literary Cleveland’s 2025–2026 Breakthrough Writing Residency, a year-long, absolutely supported mentorship {and professional} improvement program for rising writers in Better Cleveland/Northeast Ohio. This distinctive residency is good for writers engaged on their first book-length manuscript in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
What the Residency Affords
Chosen writers—two in every style—will obtain:
- A $200 month-to-month stipend for 12 months
- One-on-one mentorship with a printed creator of their style
- Entry to free writing courses and workshops
- Month-to-month in-person conferences and neighborhood periods
- Alternatives to current work on the Inkubator Convention
- Steerage on educating expertise, publication, and profession improvement
This program is primarily digital, with a couple of in-person engagements all year long, and culminates in a public studying and remaining manuscript showcase in October 2026.
Eligibility Standards for the Breakthrough Writing Residency
It’s open to:
- Writers who haven’t printed a e-book
- Those that haven’t accomplished an MFA
- Residents of Better Cleveland/Northeast Ohio, aged 18 and older
- Writers from underrepresented communities, together with Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, and disabled people
- Candidates not at the moment enrolled in educational packages or affiliated with Literary Cleveland’s employees or board
Writers in any respect levels of their artistic improvement are welcome. Don’t rule your self out—apply should you’re passionate and dedicated.
Utility Deadline: August 4, 2025
Free in-person data session: July 13, 2025
Meet the 2025–2026 Mentors
- Fiction: Claire McMillan and D.M. Pulley
- Nonfiction: Athena Dixon
- Poetry: Teri Ellen Cross Davis
Every mentor brings years of expertise in publishing, educating, and guiding rising voices via the artistic course of.
Utility Necessities for the Breakthrough Writing Residency
- Utility kind
- Artist biography
- Artist résumé or CV
- Assertion of objective
- Mission description
- Writing pattern with a brief description
If you happen to want steering on any of those supplies, particularly your assertion of objective, learn this:
Assertion of Objective Examples
And should you’re a fiction author sprucing your manuscript or story assortment, we advocate this craft article:
Learn how to Write a Nice Brief Story
Timeline
- August 4, 2025 – Utility deadline
- September 2025 – Finalists contacted and chosen
- November 2025 – Orientation and begin of residency
- October 2026 – Ultimate studying and residency shut
Ultimate Ideas
That is residency is a launching pad for writers who want structured, ongoing help to complete their first e-book. Whether or not you might be writing a novel, a memoir, a poetry assortment, or one other genre-blending manuscript.
For questions or utility help, electronic mail: data@litcleveland.org
Apply earlier than: August 4, 2025
Extra data: litcleveland.org