Fiction Writers Program at the Oxbelly Retreat – Internship at the University of Georgia Spring 2026

Students are invited to apply for a Fiction Writers Program internship which will allow them to review the work of some of the most talented contemporary aspiring writers in the world.

Students accepted for this internship will help review applications for the 2026 Fiction Writers Program (https://www.oxbelly.com/about). Interns will join a selection of reviewers from all over the world to review applications from January 19 - February 13.

In the first stage, UGA interns will be asked to review between 40-60 applications each, depending on the volume of applications received for the first stage. Interns will also join the reviewing for the second stage, where the batch of applications will be no more than 25 applications, with a screening time between February 17 - March 10

The application review will entail reading two rounds of applications, which usually include:

1. A one-page Writers Statement

2. A 500-word bio

3. Fiction sample of no more than 5000 words

*Students participating in the internship will receive a small monetary award granted through the Willson Center.

*Students participating in the internship are expected to enroll in FCID 4100: Humanities Internship Course, with Professor Lasek-White, which will include four in-person meetings on 1/14, 2/18, 3/18, and 4/22 from 8:35-11:15 a.m. in 230 LeConte during spring 2026, along with the work done for the internship. For questions about the course, contact Professor Lasek-White (cmlwhite@uga.edu)

To Apply: 

Please submit a one-page cover letter stating why you are interested in the internship and how it would benefit you. The letter should cover your interest in reading fiction and close-reading experience. Also attach a resume along with your application. To apply for the internship, please send your materials to John Kuligowski (John.Kuligowski@uga.edu) with the subject line APPLICATION MATERIALS.  Applications will close on December 4th.

Information on the Fiction Writers Program at the Oxbelly Retreat

Founded in 2015 by Greek producer Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Oxbelly is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving international storytellers through a thoughtfully curated community that blends Greek hospitality with artistic vision.

The Oxbelly Retreat is an annual gathering of international storytellers, dedicated to the exchange of ideas, deepening of craft, and broadening of artistic horizons through intercultural dialogue. In 2026, the Oxbelly Retreat includes programs for writers working in film and literature to workshop their writing with both advisors and peers and to engage in dialogue across mediums through the interdisciplinary evening sessions. Each program is led by established writers in their respective fields – the Screenwriters program is led by Radu Jude and the Fiction Writers program is led by Chigozie Obioma.

The Fiction Writers program brings together writers from around the world for a week of literary and creative exchange, held at Costa Navarino in historic Messinia, Greece. The program will support ten emerging fictional prose writers committed to elevating their craft, strengthening their literary voice, and contributing to intercultural dialogues around storytelling. Fellows will engage in workshops and craft sessions led by faculty and guests who are themselves established and acclaimed writers and industry leaders, followed by unstructured time to write in the serene and transformative environment the Messinian scenic landscape offers. 

Fellows will attend interdisciplinary programming in the evenings – mostly a curated series of masterclasses exploring the craft of writing, readings, screenings and panel discussions that cut across multiple mediums. They will also have the space and opportunity to widen their interests through interactions with experts from other creative sectors and with fellows from the Screenwriters program, which runs concurrently. There is no cost to apply and all expenses for fellows are covered. 

Past Oxbelly Advisors include Maren Ade, Michael Almereyda, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ishmael Beah, Bill Clegg, Willem Dafoe, Barry Jenkins, Nick Kroll, Rebecca Makkai, Fiammetta Rocco, Dee Rees, Namwali Serpell, Simon Van Booy, and Lulu Wang among others.