The National Book Critics Circle recently announced a new initiative to support the development of aspiring young book critics, the NBCC Emerging Critics Fellowship.
There will be five inaugural fellows for the one-year fellowship, which will emphasize training and guidance. The fellows will engage in both pragmatic and philosophical discussions on book reviewing, from identifying reviewing opportunities to the ethics of reviewing, while being mentored by the eight members of the NBCC’s Emerging Critic Initiative Committee and other NBCC board members. The fellowships will include a year’s membership in the NBCC, admission to all of the organization’s events, and an invitation to its annual reception in New York City.
Applications for the 2017 fellowships are due on January 27, and the first class will be announced by March 5. Each applicant must submit a resume, three writing samples, a 300-500 word statement of purpose, and two references.
“We are seeking a broad range of applicants,” the NBCC stated in a release, “[and] will be selecting those who have demonstrated a genuine interest and commitment to engaging in critical conversation about books.”
