Please note: the 2023 Program Application Period has closed.

After our most successful fundraising year ever, Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and Literary Agents of Change (LAoC), are excited to announce that we are once again able to provide $6,000 grants to six fellows for the Summer 2023 LAOC Fellowship Program.

Our 2022 program was a resounding success for both Fellows and Host Agencies. We heard from our Host Agencies that they were delighted with the Fellowship experience and appreciated the support they and the Fellows received via check-ins and programming. 

Our Fellows were thrilled to be given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with an industry to which there are so many barriers to entry. Several are now determined to pursue a career in publishing.

For 2023, we will build on what we’ve learned to provide an even more seamless and supportive experience for both Host Agencies and Fellows:

• Heads of agencies and intern coordinators at Host Agencies will attend a presentation by a highly trained DEI expert on how to build an anti-racist workplace. 

• We vet all applicants for the Fellowship and will pair you with a Fellow best suited to your agency.

• We check in regularly with Host Agencies  throughout the 10 week Fellowship and problem-solve any issues that arise. We also offer one on one support to our fellows. 

• We will be offering a slate of panels for the Fellows throughout the summer that will cover editorial, marketing, publicity, subsidiary rights, and literary scouting as well as a big picture overview of the role of the agent to give them a robust understanding of the industry.

• We carefully select our school partners with several criteria in mind. They are schools from which the publishing industry does not traditionally recruit and a majority of their students must be from underrepresented communities. This year, participating schools include The City College of New York, Medgar Evers College, Mercy College, Lehman College, SUNY Old Westbury, William Paterson, Montclair State University, and Rutgers Newark.

Important dates:

January 1: Application period begins

March 1: Last day for Host Agencies to submit expression of interest in hosting a fellow, along with a copy of your internship job listing, and/or a summary description of your contemplated internship program

March 22: We will provide the finalists’ materials to you.

April 15: Interviews between Host Agencies & Fellows are wrapped up. 

June 5: Fellowship session begins and runs for 10 weeks.