What is the Writer Fellowship Program?
INKspire’s Writer Fellowship Program is a free, year-long program designed to support and develop emerging women and non-binary writers (aged 18-24). This program offers a structured opportunity to gain hands-on publishing experience, build a professional writing portfolio, and engage with Toronto’s literary community through mentorship, workshops, and collaborative projects.
Writer Fellowship applications are currently closed. Please subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep up with our programs and the latest opportunities!
What will you do?
As a Writer Fellow, you’ll join a year-long program designed to elevate your writing and publishing experience. You will:
What areas can you specialize in?
While Writer Fellows will focus on one platform, they will have the opportunity to contribute across multiple areas.
Writer Fellows will specialize in one of the following platforms:
What is the
capstone project?
Our writers collaborate with local arts organizations to apply what they’ve learned in our program and contribute meaningfully to Toronto’s literary community.
Past capstone projects include hosting an open mic with East End Arts, organizing a literary festival with Draft Reading Series, reporting on the Regent Park Film Festival with Street Voices, and coordinating a fundraising event with Firefly Creative Writing.
Who are the Writers-in-Residence?
Journalist
Erica Ngao
Current Writer-in-Residence (2025/2026)
Erica Ngao is a writer, editor and fact-checker in Toronto. She’s currently the Impact Manager at Indiegraf, a technology company making local journalism more accessible. Prior to Indiegraf, she was the associate editor at Reader’s Digest Canada. She has also worked at ELLE Canada and The Walrus.
Playwright
Rochelle Ellar
Past Writer-in-Residence (2023/2024)
Rochelle Ellar is a Canadian-Caribbean Black, femme, queer, and neurodivergent artist. They are a founding member of the theatre troupe “The Madville Collective,” and a member of Workman Arts. Rochelle’s work challenges Western ideologies by exploring them through different styles, structures, and frameworks.
Screenwriter
Janet-Rose Nguyen
Past Writer-in-Residence (2022/2023)
Janet-Rose Nguyen is an award-winning writer/director. Her work explores the awful ways humans treat each other using comedy, horror, feminism, and queerness, with a focus on the Asian diaspora. She was a Top 10 Finalist of the Screencraft Horror Competition for her feature film “Cedar Falls Bay.”
Questions?
Watch the Q&A Event for more information
More questions? We’d love to answer!
What our Writer Fellows say...
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