Applications are open to become a 2026 Kimbilio Fellow
THE PROCESS
If you are a serious-minded, committed writer with a solid grounding in the fundamentals of fictional craft, you should consider applying to become a Kimbilio Fellow.
The retreat will take place at WILDACRES in Little Switzerland, NC, August 10-16, 2026. You are required to attend the entire retreat, arriving for a 5:30pm dinner meeting on the 10th and departing on the morning of the 16th, no later than noon. Tuition is covered by Kimbilio, and we provide transportation to and from Charlotte/Douglas Airport in North Carolina (CLT). Participants are responsible for their own transportation to North Carolina as well as a small fee that partially covers the costs for room and board with the amount varying by size of the chosen accommodation. Fees for a room shared with one other fellow are $325 for the retreat week. The is a ten dollar application fee which covers Kimbilio’s costs related to the application process, which include paying our retreat jury and the costs of using the submission platform.
The application process consists of:
An essay of no more than 150 words describing what attending the Kimbilio Summer Retreat means for you or what you hope to gain from the experience.
A 20-page, double-spaced, 12-point font manuscript of fiction (short story or novel excerpt). If submitting a novel excerpt, you may include a short summary of no more than 200 words. Juries will not read beyond the page limit. The summary page does not count as part of the 20-page excerpt.
Apply through Submittable between now and March 31, 2026!