Young storytellers encouraged to apply for C.S. Lewis Fellowship
C.S. Lewis has found renewed popularity over the last decade as a new generation discovered his Christian allegory and imaginative storytelling. Now, aspiring writers aged 15 to 30 can strengthen their own writing skills through the C.S. Lewis Fellowship.
The Author Conservatory is inviting parents, teachers, pastors, youth leaders and other mentors to help discover new storytellers through the free five-week experience sponsored by the C.S. Lewis Foundation. The effort was created to encourage and equip passionate young writers, and nominations must be submitted by October 31.
“In an age hungry for hope and meaning, we need writers who understand that stories can do far more than entertain,” Brett Harris, CEO and cofounder of the conservatory, told Metro Voice. “C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien created extraordinary stories that have continued to inspire, challenge, and influence readers for generations. There are gifted young writers today with that same kind of potential.”
READ: Tolkien: the fellowship behind the fantasy
Harris says these writers may simply need someone to recognize their talent and help show them the path forward.
Every nominated individual can participate in the fellowship at no cost. Along the way, participants will learn from industry leaders, strengthen their writing, gain practical insight into the path toward publication, and connect with a community of other young writers serious about developing their craft.
Author Kara Swanson, president and cofounder of the conservatory, says, “As an author who seriously pursued publication in my teens and worked in the publishing industry right out of high school, I know how much courage it takes to move from loving stories to believing you might actually have a place in the publishing world,” she said. Swanson wants to connect young writers with experienced and published writers who can be “in their corner,” helping them grow and realize what it takes to build a serious career around their writing.”
The Conservatory has a record of success mentoring these writers. Numerous graduates have gone on to sign six-figure publishing deals with major New York publishers and receive recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Realm Awards, Christy Awards and NPR’s Best Books.
What students will accomplish
- Receive regular, personalized feedback from industry professionals through an intensive mentorship format.
- Learn from award-winning authors, professional editors and successful entrepreneurs.
- Complete at least two full-length novels under expert guidance while gaining hands-on experience in story development and structure.
- Launch a profitable entrepreneurial venture and learn practical tools for building a writing business.
- Graduate with the tools needed to pursue publication and earn money as an entrepreneur.
Bailey Gaines, a 2024 graduate of the program, stated, “I cannot stress enough how much stronger of a storyteller I was after just one year in The Author Conservatory than after four years of attending college for writing.”
Nominations can be submitted at www.nextcslewis.org.
–Dwight Widaman
