Blog
Alum Sophia Huneycutt Named 2025 Fiction Fellow in Prestigious Poets & Writers Publicity Incubator
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 days ago
We are excited to celebrate the remarkable achievement of WritingWorkshops.com alumna Sophia Huneycutt, who has been selected as one of only ten 2025 Fiction Fellows in the highly competitive Poets & Writers Get the Word Out Publicity Incubator, led by acclaimed publicist May-Zhee Lim. You can read the full press release here.
This prestigious fellowship represents a transformative opportunity for early-career authors. Under the mentorship of May-Zhee Lim, a creative force in publishing who has worked with prize-winning authors including Hernan Diaz, Olga Tokarczuk, and James McBride, Sophia will participate in six online publicity workshops and seminars with leading media, events, marketing, and sales professionals. The program is designed to help fellows develop and execute publicity strategies that will maximize the exposure of their forthcoming books and propel their literary careers forward.
A Rising Literary Voice
Sophia's debut novel, The House Built on Alligator Bones, is forthcoming from Dutton/Penguin Random House in Fall 2026, a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication to craft. Impressive achievements have marked her journey to this moment: her short fiction has won the Porch Prize, judged by Kevin Wilson, and has appeared in distinguished publications including Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, STORY, Nashville Review, and The Greensboro Review. She has also received creative and financial support from the de Groot Foundation, Tin House, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and other prestigious organizations.
The WritingWorkshops.com Connection
We are honored to have been a small part of Sophia's writing journey. In 2023, Sophia worked with Kelly Luce through our Short Story Critique and MFA Prep program. Kelly, author of Pull Me Under (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux) and editor-in-chief of The Commuter at Electric Literature, provided thorough constructive feedback, line editing, and guidance that helped Sophia refine her craft and prepare her work for submission. It's deeply gratifying to see how far she has come since then.
A Community of Support
The Get the Word Out fellowship embodies the kind of comprehensive support that emerging writers need to navigate the complex world of book publicity. Fellows not only receive expert guidance but also contribute to a peer learning community, sharing strategies and amplifying each other's impact. This collaborative approach mirrors our own philosophy at WritingWorkshops.com, where we believe that writers thrive when they have access to both expert mentorship and supportive community.
Sophia joins an impressive cohort of 2025 Fiction Fellows, including Hillary Behrman, Denise Derya Brandt, Kim Coleman Foote, Rachel León, Kat Lewis, Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay, Radhika Singh, Grace Spulak, and Diana Xin. Together, they represent the next generation of literary voices that will shape contemporary fiction.
Join Our Community of Writers
Sophia's success story exemplifies what's possible when talent meets opportunity and support. Whether you're working on your first short story, preparing MFA applications, or polishing a manuscript for publication, WritingWorkshops.com offers personalized mentorship from accomplished authors and editors who understand the creative journey. We invite you to explore our comprehensive range of online creative writing workshops and discover how we can support your unique path as a writer. From manuscript critiques to application preparation, our programs are designed to meet you where you are and help you reach your literary goals. Join us and become part of a vibrant community where writers like Sophia transform their dreams into published reality.
