Southern food is more than comfort — it's a complex, soulful story told through ingredients, recipes, and memory. Rooted in resilience, adaptation, and cultural exchange, the Southern table holds the legacy of Indigenous farmers, African traditions, European influences, and the hands of generations who made much from little. Every dish — from gumbo to cornbread, collard greens to shrimp and grits — carries echoes of migration, survival, celebration, and home.

The Flavors of the South Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for culinary writers to explore and elevate the rich tapestry of Southern cuisine. The fellowship includes a two-week residency in the Writers' Colony's acclaimed culinary suite — a fully equipped kitchen and writing space designed in collaboration with KitchenAid and Renovation Style magazine — plus a $1,500 unrestricted stipend to help cover expenses.

This fellowship is open to writers working at the intersection of food and storytelling, including (but not limited to) cookbook authors, food columnists, recipe bloggers, cooking show scriptwriters, culinary memoirists, and food-focused content creators. Projects must center on Southern cuisine — whether that's soul food, barbecue, Appalachian country cooking, Tex-Mex, Cajun, Miami Cuban, Lowcountry, or another flavor deeply rooted in the South's diverse culinary heritage.

Please note: previous WCDH fellowship recipients are not eligible to apply for this fellowship at this time.

Applications will be reviewed by an internal panel, with final selections made by our guest judges: Crescent Dragonwagon (James Beard Award-winning cookbook author), and Kat Robinson (PBS food personality and Southern food historian).

The submission period opens on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Deadline is 11:59 PM CST on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The winner will be announced no later than August 31, 2026. Residency must be completed within one year of the award date.

Fellowship applications must be accompanied by a work sample and a non-refundable $35 application fee.

Writers proposing more than one project must submit a separate application and fee for each. 

The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow extends heartfelt gratitude to The WCDH Board of Directors for generously funding this fellowship. To learn about funding a fellowship supporting the genre and/or area of interest you are passionate about, visit www.writerscolony.org/sponsor-a-fellowship.

If you have questions about the application or process, please contact us at fellowships@writerscolony.org.

 

Thank you and best wishes!

PLEASE NOTE: We encourage you to save your progress as you work, or to prepare your materials offline before entering them into the application form.

To ensure a fair and thoughtful review process, only applications that are fully completed and follow the provided guidelines will be considered.

We recognize that writers work in many forms and processes, and we are committed to making this application as accessible as possible.

Applicants are welcome to submit either a written response or a short video (3–5 minutes) for any open-response questions.

This option is offered in support of applicants who may communicate more effectively through spoken word.

Judging for the fellowship is conducted blindly to ensure fairness and eliminate bias. Judges do not have access to any contact information, allowing them to evaluate submissions solely on their merit. Contact details are for office use only and are used to notify applicants of their status or to request any missing information. This process helps maintain integrity and objectivity in the selection process.

NOTE: Do not include any identifying information in this section (including your name).

You may respond in writing or via short video (3–5 minutes).

NOTE: Do not include any identifying information in this section (including your name).

You may respond in writing or via short video (3–5 minutes).

The Flavors of the South Fellowship is designed to amplify Southern food culture. We want to support projects with strong potential for visibility and impact, and we encourage fellows to share their residency experience with their audiences.

NOTE: Do not include any identifying information in this section (including your name).

You may respond in writing or via short video (3–5 minutes).

Your work sample should represent your best recent work connected to food, Southern culture, or culinary storytelling. Written samples should be no more than 10 pages double-spaced, clean and legible.

NOTE: Do not include any identifying information in this section (including your name).

You may respond in writing or via short video (3–5 minutes).

 

Fellowship recipients are expected to share their skill set through a community service project. We offer options both remote and in-person — a cooking demonstration, a food writing workshop, a reading, a school visit, a talk to a civic or cultural group, participation as a judge in a future fellowship, or another engagement that fits your unique strengths.

Upon acceptance, we will work with you to identify the right opportunity and set up a venue and schedule where your talents and gifts can nourish others. Whenever possible, you will receive written notification of the outreach plan before you arrive.

A $35 nonrefundable application fee supports the administration and review of fellowship applications.

 

The following questions are optional and voluntary. Demographic information is collected solely to help the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow assess the reach and inclusivity of the Flavors of the South Fellowship and to support our ongoing commitment to equitable access for all writers.

Your responses will not be used in the evaluation of your application and will not affect your eligibility or selection.

All data is kept confidential and reported only in aggregate form.