Charleston Literary Festival is thrilled to announce that applications are officially open for the Festival’s Cato Fellowship Prize in Nonfiction. Applications close on August 24 and the winner will be announced in mid-October.
Now in its third year, the Cato Fellowship Prize in Nonfiction supports and nurtures emerging voices in North and South Carolina. All authors of nonfiction are encouraged to apply online. During this year’s Charleston Literary Festival, running from November 6-15, 2026, the winning fellow will receive full access to the Festival’s author events and receptions, free accommodations in downtown Charleston, and a cash prize of $10,000 to further their writing career.
The Cato Fellowship Prize offers emerging writers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with distinguished authors and leaders in their respective fields and learn about the business of writing and the inner workings of an international literary festival. Writers are also granted time, space, and collaboration with fellow creatives to share craft insights and enhance their skills.
“I am thrilled that so many gifted writers are interested in the Cato Fellowship Prize in Nonfiction,” said Marion Cato, philanthropist, author, and founder of the Cato Fellowship. Marion and her late husband, Wayland H. Cato Jr., created the Cato Fellowship to nurture and encourage young writers. “I am confident that the experience encourages the creative process of the talented Fellows. It is gratifying to be able to help provide the opportunity for gifted writers each year.”
Charleston Literary Festival’s core mission is to bring authors and audiences together to experience the transformative power of great literature, ideas, and creativity. The Cato Fellowship Prize reflects the importance of literature and the urgency to support it by fostering the next generation of writers in the Carolinas.
“Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Cato, we are so excited for the third year of the Charleston Literary Festival Cato Fellowship Prize,” said Sara Peck, Director of the Cato Fellowship Prize. “The Fellowship is a testament to the immense and diverse talent across The South. We are excited to bring an emerging nonfiction writer to the Festival this year to attend transformative conversations and further their own craft.”
“We’re so delighted to build on the success of our first two years,” said Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director, Charleston Literary Festival. “Charleston Literary Festival’s Cato Fellowship Prize honors extraordinary emerging nonfiction literary talent rooted in the Carolinas. This region holds rich, multifaceted storytelling traditions. Through this Prize, we’re spotlighting the voices and perspectives that make this region so vital to the broader literary landscape.”
About the Cato Fellowship Prize
Open to writers in North Carolina and South Carolina, the Cato Fellowship Prize will be awarded to one writer of nonfiction who demonstrates a commitment to bettering their craft and exhibits a love of writing and reading. Applications are open now and close on August 24.
The Charleston Literary Festival Cato Fellowship Prize will provide:
- Immersive access to all 35+ events and private receptions during Charleston Literary Festival, running November 6–15, 2026
- Accommodations in Downtown Charleston to stay and write for the 10-day duration of the Festival
- A $10,000 stipend
- A dedicated workspace in Dock Street Theatre throughout the Festival
- Featured bio on the Charleston Literary Festival website and social media
- Participation in a featured panel during Charleston Literary Festival
- Publication of the final piece in response to Charleston Literary Festival Cato Fellowship experience on the Charleston Literary Festival website
- Networking and collaborative opportunities beyond the duration of the Festival
Who should apply?
The Cato Fellowship Prize is open to any nonfiction writer who is a current resident of North Carolina or South Carolina. Students enrolled in a college or university program in North Carolina or South Carolina are also eligible to apply. Applicants are required to be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old on November 6, 2026. Applicants should be in the early stages of their writing careers, i.e., have not published more than one book-length work with a major or independent publisher. However, previous publication is not a requirement if they have demonstrated a commitment to developing their writing by providing evidence of, for example:
- Work published in a magazine or journal, online or in print
- Work published in an anthology
- Attendance at a creative writing course
- An early stage of a manuscript
- A draft book proposal
To apply, please visit this link. The application asks for responses to three short answer questions and a 4,000-word sample of nonfiction work. Submissions will be accepted from July 6, 2026 to August 24, 2026.