RICHARD J. FELLINGER
Harrisburg, PA
CURRENT POSITIONS
Writing Fellow, Elizabethtown College, since 2012
- Teach English and Communications classes and oversee The Writing Wing. Classes include Short Story, Introduction to Literature, Multi-Media Journalism, first-year writing, and honors first-year writing.
- Duties at The Writing Wing include overseeing writing tutors, creating writing resources for students, conducting workshops for faculty and students, and mentoring advanced students with their own manuscripts
Adjunct Instructor, Drexel University, Creative Writing MFA, since 2023
- Teach Packet Exchange Course, which provides in-depth manuscript feedback, in graduate Creative Writing Program.
EDUCATION
M.F.A. in Creative Writing, Fiction, Wilkes University, January 2010.
Concentration: Teaching Track
Thesis: A study of character development and epiphanic endings in short stories.
GPA 4.0
M.A. in Creative Writing, Wilkes University, January 2009.
Thesis: A collection of 12 loosely linked short stories, titled The Belt, about people from Pennsylvania’s Rust Belt.
GPA 4.0
B.A. in Liberal Studies, University of Pittsburgh, April 1991.
Minors in English and Communications
GPA 2.9
PREVIOUS TEACHING AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Instructor, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pa., 2010-2012.
Taught first-year writing classes focusing on research and expository writing.
Adjunct Instructor, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa., Fall 2009.
Taught first-year writing classes in expository writing.
Facilitator, Elizabethtown College, Spring 2009.
Taught fiction workshop at college’s Institute for Learning in Retirement.
JOURNALISM EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
State Capitol Reporter, MediaNews Group, Harrisburg, Pa., 2000 to 2009.
Covered Pennsylvania Capitol for company’s four papers: York Daily Record, Lebanon Daily News, The Evening Sun of Hanover and Public Opinion of Chambersburg.
Staff Writer, Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia, Pa., 1997 to 2000.
News writer at weekly tabloid newspaper, circulation 125,000. Covered city politics, features and sports.
Staff Writer, The Mercury, Pottstown, Pa., 1995 to 1997.
Reporter on municipal beat at daily newspaper, circulation 30,000. Beat included local government, police, courts, schools and features.
Staff Writer, South Philadelphia Review, Philadelphia, Pa., 1993 to 1995.
Reporter at weekly newspaper, circulation 72,000. Covered news and sports.
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Summer of ’85, novel, 2021, TouchPoint Press.
Made To Break Your Heart, novel, 2017, Open Books.
They Hover Over Us, collection of short stories, 2012, Snake Nation Press.
Short Fiction
Seven Hills Review
Excerpt of novel, Summer of ’85, 2019 issue
Atticus Review
Short story, “Her First,” November 2011.
Epiphany
Short story, “The Stuff Left Behind,” Summer 2010 issue.
Forge Journal
Short story, “Bottled,” July 2010 edition.
Freight Train Magazine
Short story, “The Night Smoke Finds Religion,” June 2010.
Short Fiction, cont.
Potomac Review
Short story, “A Completely New Life,” Issue 45 in spring 2009.
Red Cedar Review
Short story, “He Never Talked About You,” 2009 edition.
Willow Review
Short story, “My Obituary,” Spring 2009 issue.
Audience Magazine
Short story, “Flashbacks,” Fall 2009 issue.
The Bracelet Charm
Short story, “Nothing Left To Discuss,” Fall 2009 issue.
PANK
Short story, “They Hover Over Us,” May 2009.
The Loyalhanna Review
Short story, “Knots,” 2008 edition.
Westview
Short story, “The Cousin Couple,” Fall/Winter 2006 edition.
Non-Fiction
Ink
Essay titled “My Fake News Story,” included in anthology of journalism stories, Hippocampus Books, 2022
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and LNP (Lancaster Newspapers)
Series of op-eds on media and politics, 2016 to present.
You Vs. The Clipboard
Essay on coaching youth sports, “Casey at the Bat,” on Web site created by Time, Inc., Dec. 2010
Philadelphia Magazine
Profile of governor candidate Bob Casey Jr., “The Prince of Pennsylvania,” Feb. 2002.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Seven Hills Review Novel Excerpt Contest, 2022, runner-up for An American Girl
Page Turner Awards, Writing Mentorship Award, 2022, shortlisted for novel-in-progress An American Girl.
Seven Hills Review Novel Excerpt Contest, 2018, first prize for Summer of ‘85.
American Fiction Awards, General Fiction, 2021, finalist for Summer of ‘85
NYC Big Book Award, General Fiction category, 2021, distinguished favorite for Summer of ‘85
Hollywood Book Festival, General Fiction competition, 2021, honorable mention for Summer of ‘85
Somerset Novel Award, 2016, finalist for novel Made To Break Your Heart.
Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction Award, 2011. Won literary fiction prize for short story collection, They Hover Over Us
Top Ten Summer Read, 2012, Midtown Scholar bookstore, Harrisburg, Pa., for They Hover Over Us.
Pushcart Prize nominee, 2009, for short story “A Completely New Life.”
Flash Fiction Contest, Red Cedar Review, 2008, first place for story “He Never Talked About You.”
Fiction Contest, Crab Creek Review, 2008, finalist for story “The Stuff Left Behind.”
Beverly Hiscox Scholarship for Excellence in Writing, Wilkes University, 2009.
Engaging Educator Award, Elizabethtown College, 2016, nominated for award rewarding a faculty member for engaging students in and out of the classroom.
RELATED ACADEMIC AND LITERARY EXPERIENCE
Judge, Louise Baugher Black and Pownall awards, Elizabethtown College, 2021, 2022. Judged entries for student awards in non-fiction and creative writing.
New Faculty Liaison, Elizabethtown College, Fall 2020. Liaison to help new faculty understand the workings of the college’s Student Life Division.
RELATED EXPERIENCE, cont.
Featured author, Virtual Festival of Books in the Alleghenies, July 2020
English Department “Summer Melt” Host, June 2020. Hosted welcoming event for incoming English majors at Elizabethtown College.
Senior Honors Research Project Committee Member, 2019. Served on committee that evaluated novella by senior Rebecca Easton titled Happy Pills.
Emerging Scholar Mentor, 2021. Mentor to students Katelyn Godfrey and Sydney Savvas in Elizabethtown College’s program for high-achieving students.
Featured reader, Author’s Night, Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, Pa., February 2018
Featured author, Allegheny Regional Festival of Books, Bedford, Pa., Sept. 2018
Emerging Scholar Mentor, 2017. Mentor to Professional Writing Major Melissa Spencer in Elizabethtown College’s program for high-achieving students.
Committee Member for Student Life Well-Being, Fall 2017. Worked on committee charged with defining well-being for college community.
Search Committee, Elizabethtown College baseball coach, Fall 2017. Served on committee charged with recommending new college baseball coach.
Judge, Carper Award, Elizabethtown College, 2013. Served on committee that
judged entries for first-year writing award.
Reader, James Jones First Novel Fellowship, 2009 and 2010. Judged entries for award to an American author of a notable first novel-in-progress.
Faculty Mentor, Elizabethtown College baseball team, 2013-2018.
ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC TRAINING
Safe Zone training, completed August 2015
Title IX training, completed December 2019
Teaching Online Essentials Course, completed June 2020