- APPLICANT REGISTRATION
- FIRST SEASON RESULTS
- ABOUT US
- …
- APPLICANT REGISTRATION
- FIRST SEASON RESULTS
- ABOUT US
- APPLICANT REGISTRATION
- FIRST SEASON RESULTS
- ABOUT US
- …
- APPLICANT REGISTRATION
- FIRST SEASON RESULTS
- ABOUT US
The Frontline Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction is designed to benefit nonfiction writers and journalists working in the Chinese language. The fellowship provides up to US$7,000 in funding to help storytellers complete a project of their choice. Recipients benefit throughout their fellowships from mentorship, guidance, workshops, and editorial support. Fellowships culminate in substantial stories then published through the most influential media platforms.
Submissions for the fellowship are accepted on a rolling basis, with at least one selection cycle every six months. To submit for consideration, applicants must have a long-form project — such as a full-length article or book — in progress. Proposed projects must be fully nonfiction in approach, and must rely on in-depth interviews and original research.
Selections for the program are based on the quality and relevance of submitted projects, as well as demonstrated professional experience. The program welcomes applications from academics and non-professional journalists, so long as the proposed project is aimed at the broader public. We encourage applications from journalists and writers from minority backgrounds, particularly for work that challenges readers with a true, contextual understanding of the stories shaping their lives.
The Frontline Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction, jointly funded by Matters and the Renaissance Foundation (RFHK) in 2021, nurtures nonfiction writers working in the Chinese language through grants, one-to-one mentorship, publication assistance, and community workshops. In 2024, this support has been extended to translation with the inauguration of the Non-Fiction Translation Fellowship in collaboration with the Duke Story Lab at Duke University.
Winner List for the Fourth Season
"Thailand - Dreamland: Trans Chinese Are Turning to Thailand"
Author: Elgar Hu
Editor: Samuel Chai
"Siam: The Distant Land Where Grandpa Never Arrived"
Author: Jolin Lee
Editor: Yujie Guo
"Dilemmas of Literature During Wartime: Ukraine's De-Russification and the Identity Crisis"
Author: Xuyang Mi
Editor: Ding Xie
"Living by a Nuclear Neighbor: Stories from Hengchun"
Author: Shun-Wei Wang
Editor: Jui-Lin Chuang
"NHS: Foreign Workers in a Flipped World"(European Migrants Writing Award)
Author: Shuqiong
Editor:Mei Chi So
Participants
All applicants who write in Chinese, regardless of nationality, profession, or age, are welcome to apply. Please submit a project proposal and a writing sample.
Grants
First place: $7,000 USD
Second place: $5,000 USD
Third place: $2,000 USD
Mentorship
Fellows will spend 8 to 12 weeks in the fellowship, which includes reporting, writing, workshop attendance, and direct engagement with editors.
Apply for the Fellowship
To apply, please submit a proposal -
- Up to 2,500 words outlining the topic you want to cover, and why this topic is important, timely, or relevant;
- Detail the topics, issues, themes, challenges, stakes, or questions your project will cover.
- Things to consider also include: Why you are the best person to write about this topic, and how you plan to implement the proposal.
- Describe your relevant experience and/or past works, and tell us why this fellowship is right for you;
- Include a budget outline for any travel, reporting, and research expenses you may require.
In addition to your proposal, we require an 800 - 1500 word writing sample.
*Note: The proposed project MUST NOT have received grants or funding from other competitions. This includes but is not limited to: works that have won prizes in other competitions; works that have received creative grants from other organizations; works produced for media organizations under full-time hire; and works that have been contracted to publishers. The fellowship reserves the right to revoke grants and awards in the event of violations.
To find out about what happens after your submission,
Click on the right
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After Your Submission
Applicants will generally hear back within 4 to 6 weeks of submission. The fellowship first reviews all applications for eligibility and sends them to the selection committee. The committee will then select the strongest proposals – usually 8 to 10 – for follow-up interviews.
When interviews are completed, the selection committee reconvenes to select the fellows based on the strength of the project and the available budget. We also provide individual feedback on applications not selected.
To find out more about the prizes,
click on the right
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Grants and Prizes
Each season, five fellows are selected based on their proposals and writing samples. The selection process does not involve a ranking. A grant of $1,000 is provided to each fellow to begin their project.
Upon completion of fellows' projects, the fellowship determines the rankings based on their final pieces, with $7,000, $5,000, and $2,000 USD awarded to the first, second, and third places, respectively. Fellows will receive the remaining amounts of the prizes based on their respective positions.
How do I apply?
1Tell us a bit about yourself
1. Your name
2. Your email and other contact information
3. Any nonfiction publication or relevant experience
2Prepare the Proposal
We ask for a proposal of up to 2,500 words, outlining the topic, issue, theme and challenge that your project intends to cover.
3Prepare Your Writing Sample
Please prepare a writing sample related to the topic to give the selection committee an idea of your writing ability and style, and to convey your passion for the chosen topic
4Submit
Please use this link to submit your application. If you have any questions, please send an email to fellowship@matters.town. We will get back to you within two business days.
How are winning entries selected?
Selection Committee
There are 32 members on our selection committee. They are prominent nonfiction writers and journalists in the Chinese-speaking world as well as publishers and media personalities.
Scores and Votes
Each entry will be assessed, discussed and selected based on theme, creativity, feasibility, and the author's past achievements. The committee will select the strongest proposals for follow-up interviews.
Interviews
Online interviews will be scheduled to explore each applicant’s ideas and motivations.
Selection Committee Members
(in alphabetical order by last name/first letter)
AI Xiaoming
Annpo
Breakazine
CHAN Koonchung
CHEN Chun
CHEN Yi-Shan
CHOY Bao Yuk Ling
CHUANG Jui-Lin
FANG Kecheng
FU Yue
GAO Ya-Ning
GU Xiaoqing
GUO Yujie
HO Hsin-Chieh
JIANG Xue
KU Yu-ling
KWAN Chun Hoi
KWAN Tin Lam
LAM Oiwan
LEE Haochung
LEE Koey
LI Daisy Yuet Wah
LI Jingrui
LI Jill
LIANG Yu-Fang
LIU Chih-Hsin
LIU Shao-Hua
LIU Zichao
Lo Han
LO Shuyi
Michael Berry
Mimiyana
NING Hui
QIAN Jianan
QIN Liwen
SO Mei Chi
TAM Vivian W.W.
TOH Jin-Xuan
TONG Christophe Yui
TU Feng-en
WANG Jasmine
WU Qi
XIE Ding
XIE Haitao
XU Xiao
YAN Fei
YEUNG Tin Shui
YANG Xiao
YANG Yin
ZHANG Han
ZHANG Hui-Qin
ZOU Sicong
© 2022MattersFrontline
fellowship@matters.town