Free five-week Next C.S. Lewis Fellowship will connect aspiring authors with professional mentorship, writing training, and the opportunity to apply for more than $100,000 in scholarships
NEWS PROVIDED BY
The Author Conservatory
Aug. 31, 2026
NASHVILLE, Aug. 31, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Is the next great novelist sitting in your classroom, writing stories after school, or filling notebooks with worlds no one else has seen?
The Author Conservatory is inviting parents, teachers, pastors, youth leaders, and other mentors to help discover young storytellers through the 2026 Next C.S. Lewis Fellowship, a free five-week experience sponsored by the C.S. Lewis Foundation and created to encourage and equip passionate young writers ages 15-30. Nominations must be submitted by October 31.
Taking place November 1 through December 5, the Fellowship will give participants access to live mentorship with industry professionals, professional writing training, an exclusive library of training resources, and the opportunity to apply for more than $100,000 in scholarships.
Behind the initiative is a larger question: Who will write the stories that shape the next generation? For Brett Harris, CEO and cofounder of The Author Conservatory, that question is connected to a long-term mission: helping train the next C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien by the year 2050.
“In an age hungry for hope and meaning, we need writers who understand that stories can do far more than entertain,” said Harris. “C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien created extraordinary stories that have continued to inspire, challenge, and influence readers for generations. There are gifted young writers today with that same kind of potential. They may simply need someone to recognize it and help show them the path forward.”
The Fellowship is designed for young people who love stories and storytelling, dream of writing and publishing their own books, and want to develop their gifts with purpose. Parents, teachers, pastors, youth leaders, and others are encouraged to nominate young writers who may have passion and ambition but lack a clear roadmap for turning those dreams into published reality.
Every nominated student can participate in the five-week Fellowship at no cost. Along the way, participants will learn from industry leaders, strengthen their writing, gain practical insight into the path toward publication, and connect with a community of other young writers serious about developing their craft.
The initiative builds on The Author Conservatory’s broader approach to preparing aspiring writers for both the creative and professional sides of authorship. Founded by bestselling author Harris and Christy Award-winning and multiple Realm Award-winning fantasy novelist Kara Swanson, the innovative online, college-alternative program combines writing craft with business acumen. Students work with professional authors, editors, and entrepreneurs while learning how to develop and polish novels, navigate publishing, market their work, build a platform, and create additional income streams.
“As an author who seriously pursued publication in my teens and worked in the publishing industry right out of high school, I know how much courage it takes to move from loving stories to believing you might actually have a place in the publishing world,” said Swanson, president and cofounder of The Author Conservatory. “We want young writers to have experienced mentors in their corner who can help them grow their craft and understand what it takes to build a real career around it.”
Graduates of The Author Conservatory have gone on to sign six-figure publishing deals with major New York publishers and receive recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Realm Awards, Christy Awards, and NPR’s Best Books.
The Next C.S. Lewis Fellowship is an opportunity to identify that potential earlier and give young writers meaningful support as they take their next steps.
Parents, teachers, pastors, youth leaders, and others who know a promising young writer can submit a nomination by October 31 at nextcslewis.org. Young writers may also register directly at nextcslewis.org/student.
ABOUT THE NEXT C.S. LEWIS FELLOWSHIP
The Next C.S. Lewis Fellowship is a free five-week experience created to identify, encourage, and equip passionate young writers ages 15-30. Fellowship participants receive live mentorship from industry leaders, professional writing training, access to an exclusive training library, and the opportunity to apply for more than $100,000 in scholarships. The initiative invites parents, teachers, pastors, youth leaders, and other mentors to nominate young writers with the potential to help shape the future of literature.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR CONSERVATORY
The Author Conservatory is an innovative online, college-alternative program where students learn how to write and pitch novels. Founded by bestselling author Brett Harris and award-winning fantasy novelist Kara Swanson, the Conservatory promotes a “craft + business” approach to author training. Students work directly with professional authors, editors, and business coaches to develop expertise in writing, navigating the publishing industry, and building sustainable careers through entrepreneurship.
SOURCE The Author Conservatory
CONTACT: Katie Bell, 731-803-9056, katie@sparkpublicrelations.com