the heaf and the friends award
The Halls Emerging Artist Fellowship (the HEAF) is awarded to a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Creative Writing MFA program who has not had a book of fiction, poetry or other creative work published or accepted for publication as of the postmark date of application. The Halls Emerging Artist Fellowship recipient must reside in Madison during the fellowship year and will receive the same stipend and benefits and have the same teaching, reading and other responsibilities as provided here with respect to the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing's other fiction and poetry fellows. There may also be additional responsibilities unique to this fellowship.
The Friends of Creative Writing Award (the Friends Award), made possible by a generous gift by an anonymous donor, will provide $8,000 to a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Creative Writing MFA program who has not had a book of fiction, poetry or other creative work published or accepted for publication as of the postmark date of application. The Friends of Creative Writing Award recipient is not subject to the residency requirements nor the teaching and additional responsibilities of the HEAF.
Applications
The recipients of the HEAF and the Friends Award will be determined by an outside, anonymous judge. Applications should be postmarked by the April 1st prior to the fellowship year and must include the following:
- A resume or vita
- A cover letter indicating whether you are applying for (1) just the HEAF, (2) just the Friends Award or (3) both. If both, we will assume your first choice is the HEAF. If you prefer the Friends Award, please let us know that.
- A writing sample consisting of either 10 pages of poetry (single-spaced and stapled with no more than one poem per page, new poems starting on new pages) or up to 30 pages of fiction (double-spaced and stapled). Fiction applications must consist of either one short story or a novel excerpt. NOTE: Your name must not appear anywhere on your manuscript and, while previously published work may be submitted, your manuscript must in no way indicate that your work has been published.
- For the HEAF only: a personal statement that includes (1) a book project proposal, (2) a list and description of your teaching experience (other than classes taught at UW, (3) a list and description of any administrative skills you may have relating to writing or to a writing program such as editing, website work, computer skills, running of reading series or workshops, and (4) a single paragraph on why you want and how you would use this fellowship.
- A single cover sheet listing your name, address, phone number, email address and the title(s) of your writing sample, as well as the genre in which you are applying.
- A stamped self-addressed envelope for our decision.
There is no application fee. You need not provide names of recommenders or letters of recommendation. Persons applying for both the HEAF and the Friends Award should send in only one application. For additional information about the application procedure, see the Previous Book and Writing Sample sections of the Frequently Asked Questions. The Eligibility and Selection sections of the FAQs do not apply.
You are ineligible for the HEAF and the Friends Award if you previously received and accepted any fellowship from the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing. Recipients of the Friends Award are ineligible to receive it again; however, former recipients of the Friends Award may apply for the HEAF. The HEAF and Friends Award will not be given to the same person in the same year.
The Halls Emerging Artist Fellow and the recipient of the Friends Award will be notified by May 1st. We will post the names of the recipients as soon as possible here.
No more than one Halls Emerging Artist Fellowship or Friends of Creative Writing Award will be awarded for a given academic year. The Institute may decline to give the fellowship or the award in any year it deems appropriate. If you have any questions not answered here or want more information, contact Jesse Lee Kercheval.