Just Buffalo Literary Center invites adult poets of all ages and stages of their career to apply for its Poetry Fellowship.
Give yourself the space to write and the time to focus.
Live in one of the nation’s most vibrant literary cities.
Read at an event curated by Just Buffalo Literary Center.
Applications for the 2024 Poetry Fellowship are now closed.
About the Judge
Megan Fernandes is a South Asian American writer living in NYC. She was born in Canada and raised in the Philadelphia area. Her family are East African Goans. She is the author of The Kingdom and After (Tightrope Books, 2015) and Good Boys (Tin House, 2020). Her third book of poetry, I Do Everything I’m Told (Tin House, 2023), was published in summer 2023. Her poems have been published in The New Yorker, Kenyon Review, The American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, The Common, and the Academy of American Poets, among others. Fernandes is an Associate Professor of English and the Writer-in-Residence at Lafayette College where she teaches courses on poetry, creative nonfiction, and critical theory. She holds a PhD in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MFA in poetry from Boston University.
The Fellowship Award
- A $2,500 stipend
- One month of free lodging during August in a beautiful apartment in one of Buffalo’s most vibrant neighborhoods
- An opportunity to read at the Silo City Reading Series
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be 21 years or older
- A completed application must be received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline (incomplete applications will NOT be considered)
- Past or present employees of Just Buffalo Literary Center are NOT eligible to apply
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
The purpose of this fellowship is to enable recipients to set aside time for writing, travel, and general career advancement. We invite applications from adult poets of all ages and stages of their career.
When and where can I apply?
The 2024 application period opened Jan. 1, 2024, with a submission deadline of February 29, 2024. Applications are accepted via Submittable.
What languages can I use on my application?
Just Buffalo Literary Center is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. At this time, we can only accept applications in English.
How is the winning Fellow selected?
The writing sample is the most important component of the application. Writing samples will be considered based on artistic merit. Writing samples will be blind-reviewed and scored by three first readers; in a second round, the 25 highest-scored applications will be reviewed by Just Buffalo’s artistic staff; in a third round, 10 semi-finalists will be chosen for blind review by the final judge, who will choose the winning Fellow and up to 5 finalists for honorable mention.
When will the winner of the fellowship be announced?
Applications will be reviewed in March and early April, with the Fellow & all applicants notified of status by the end of April, and a public announcement to follow.
Do you offer application fee waivers?
We recognize that entry fees can be a barrier to access for many. Applications fee waivers can be requested by filling out this form. If you have additional questions please email info@justbuffalo.org with the subject line “Poetry Fellowship Fee Waiver.”
(Capped at 20 submissions.)
*note: as of January 4, 2024 we have filled all of our Fee Waiver opportunities
What about COVID-19?
We’re committed to honoring a poet as our Fellow, recognizing that the in-person components may need to be adjusted to align with public health guidelines.
Questions about the fellowship?
Email info@justbuffalo.org with “Fellowship Question” in your subject line, or call (716) 832-5400.