South Today would like to support new writers working on the modern American South. A fellowship programme is something we hope to build. To be direct: it does not exist yet, applications are not open, and nothing on this page is an offer.
Where things stand
The programme is coming soon in the sense that we are thinking about it, not in the sense that a date is set. We have not announced a start date, a deadline, a number of places, a stipend or any other terms. We are not accepting applications, and we will not accept them informally by email either.
What we are considering
The ideas below are directions we are exploring. They are not commitments.
- Mentoring from editors on reported features, field guides and essays.
- Support for writers who live in, or have deep ties to, the places they write about.
- A focus on craft: structure, sensory detail and fair treatment of communities.
- Publication on South Today of work that meets our standards.
Whether any of this happens, and in what form, depends on South Today moving beyond its launch edition.
Register your interest
If you would like to be told when something changes, send a short note to [email protected] with the subject line Fellowships. Tell us your name, where you write about, and a link to a sample if you have one. We will keep your note only to let you know when there is real news. Registering interest is not an application and does not give you any advantage in one.
In the meantime
You do not have to wait for a fellowship to reach us. Story pitches are open, and you can send them to [email protected]. Our pitch page explains what we look for. We do not promise replies, but we do read what comes in. Writers who pitch well now are the kind of writers we hope to meet later.
Last updated 2026-10-04