In Spring 2018, we had the wonderful Amber Dermont visit little Chestertown for three days as our Mary Wood Fellow. She read from her short story collection Damage Control, gave an intimate craft talk about writing humor in fiction, and met individually with select female & nonbinary undergrads to discuss their own work.

We are now looking for the next Mary Wood Fellow, to visit us in Spring 2020. And we need your applications! If you are a female-identifying writer who has published one book, you are qualified. For the Spring 2020 Fellow, we are searching for a writer of creative nonfiction (broadly defined) who also has editorial experience with literary journals or other literary publications.

Here is the full description of the Fellowship:

The Mary Wood Fellow spends approximately three days at Washington College, during which she holds individual conferences with select female and nonbinary undergraduate creative writers. The Fellow also gives a public reading and a craft talk. The Fellowship includes a $1500 stipend, overnight accommodations, and travel.

The Fellowship enables female and nonbinary creative writing students at Washington College to work with and learn from successful female-identifying writers who spend several days on campus.

Eastern Shore author Mary Wood, whose support makes the fellowship possible, was a ’68 graduate of the College and a former member of its Board of Visitors and Governors.

Applicants should send a published book of creative nonfiction as well as a cover letter that addresses qualifications, discusses interest in the position, and includes a brief description of a proposed craft talk to Assistant Director Lindsay Lusby:

The Rose O’Neill Literary House

Washington College

300 Washington Avenue

Chestertown, Maryland 21620

For the spring 2020 Mary Wood Fellowship, applications will be accepted if postmarked by March 1, 2019. The winning candidate will be notified no later than March 31, 2019.