Writing Fellowship for New Parents

The Writing Fellowship for New Parents is organised by Pen Parentis, a U.S.-based nonprofit that supports writers who are also parents through community programs and annual literary opportunities. This fellowship is awarded each year to a fiction writer who is the parent of at least one child under 10 years old, encouraging fresh creative work during a demanding stage of parenthood.

The fellowship calls for an original, previously unpublished short fiction story written in English. The word count cap is intentionally low to accommodate busy parent-writers (e.g., up to 440 words for the 2026 cycle), and all genres and subjects are welcome as long as the work is fiction. Submissions are judged blindly on criteria including creativity, narrative arc, emotional truth, and writing skill.

The competition is international and open to writers worldwide who meet the parental eligibility requirement. In addition to the main fellowship award, second and third place winners are selected and receive mentorship support and smaller cash awards. Winners are typically announced by September 1 of the contest year and the top stories may be published and showcased at Pen Parentis events.

The winner receives a $2,000 cash fellowship, a year of mentorship, and an invitation to read their story as part of a Pen Parentis Literary Salon. Winning and place-winning stories are also eligible for publication in Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine (online and in print) and inclusion in the annual Dreamers Writing Anthology.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

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