Sprinng Writing Fellowship

​2025 Application Opening Soon!
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​The 2025 Fellowship Info Session!
Register for the Q&A session happening January 12 at 5 PM WAT.

Interested in sponsoring our 2025 fellowship?
Click HERE to download the sponsor form and join us in empowering young African writers.

Sponsored By

​360+ Sprinng Mentees matched with 180+ Mentors from 2018 - 2024

Click the tabs below to see the past cohorts’ feedback and report!

The Sprinng Writing Fellowship (SWF) is an intensive 6-week online mentorship program for developing Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian, and South African writers with great potential and willingness to learn.

This fellowship focuses on 4 genres of literature: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Book Reviews. During the 6 weeks, mentees will be in contact with their mentors, sending them their works and getting reviews and commentaries. Mentors and mentees will aim to work on at least 1 piece of writing in their select genre per week. The Sprinng Writing Fellowship is only open to writers (18-25) who have not published a book before (eBook/hardcopy).
 
The medium of communication between the mentors and mentees throughout this program will be via email, phone calls, WhatsApp, and text messages. In addition, all mentees will be provided weekly airtime during the program.

In the past years, Sprinng has collaborated with Pepper Coast Literary, the Contemporary Ghanaian Writers Series (CGWS), and Botsotso to enhance the program's visibility.

Please watch the video below for tips on submitting a successful application and to hear more about fellows’ experiences.

​Fellowship Eligibility

  • Must be a Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian, or South African citizen

  • Must reside in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, or South Africa 

  • Must be between the ages of 18 to 25

  • Have not published a book before (eBook/chapbook/hardcopy)

Selection Criteria

We are searching for Nigerian/Ghanaian/South African/Liberian writers who are goal-oriented and have the potential to develop. In selecting the mentees for the fellowship, we will consider the following:

  • Writers with POTENTIAL: Applicants must have basic writing skills and show the potential to develop.

  • Writers who are OPEN-MINDED: Applicants must demonstrate the will to receive constructive feedback.

  • Writers that are AMBITIOUS: Applicants must show passion and interest in developing their writing.

Fellowship Timeline​

January 15 – April 15: Application opens and closes 
April: Mentors will be announced
May 18: Finalists will be notified
May 21: Mentees and mentors will be paired

The Fellowship
June 1 – July 15: Fellowship Period
The mentorship program is normally designed to take place over 5 weeks (June 1 - July 7). However, a grace period of one week (July 7 - July 14) has been added for any mentor who is interested in extending the program beyond 5 weeks.

July 15 – 20: Programme rounds up
August: Mentees’ profiles and program reports will be released
December: Publication of mentees anthology

What Happens After the Fellowship?

Fellows and alumni of the Sprinng Fellowships have gone on to accomplish great things after completing our program! Some of our program outcomes reported by fellows include:

  • Accepting admission to pursue a higher degree.

  • Securing a new job in the writing or publishing industry.

  • Establishing a literary organization, platform, or community.

  • Publishing a book (print, e-book, or chapbook).

  • Publishing three or more works (individual pieces) on literary platforms within a year.

  • Receiving recognition with a writing, literature, or publishing-related award.

  • Mentoring or teaching a writing-related course or topic (including individual mentorship).

  • Completing a writing, literature, or publishing-related course.

  • Participating in three or more literary events, such as readings, panels, or conferences within a year.

  • Editing or writing a foreword for an anthology slated for publication.

    Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletters to stay informed about the fellowships. For all inquiries regarding the Sprinng Writing Fellowship, email:     Contact@sprinng.org