2017 SUMMER WRITERS WEEK
Hurston / Wright Foundation
INFO: For 20 years, the Hurston/Wright Summer Writers Workshop has offered a safe space for writers in intensive workshop sessions and master classes.Workshops are led by award-winning writers who are influencing today’s literature. The program features critiques, craft talks, writing time and public readings.
Hurston/Wright workshops serve emerging and experienced writers who are starting projects, developing projects or seeking to polish projects. More than a thousand writers have participated in workshops since the first session in 1996. Hosted in the nation’s capital, the program allows writers to explore storytelling in one of the world’s most intriguing and inspiring cities. Hurston/Wright is a community that supports you and your writing life.
- Fiction Workshop led by Tiphanie Yanique
- Nonfiction Workshop led by Sheri Booker
- Poetry Workshop will be led by Kyle Dargan
WORKSHOP DATES: Saturday, August 5 – Friday, August 11, 2017
LOCATION: Howard University in Washington, D.C.
APPLICATION FEE: $30
TUITION: $700 (apply to one workshop only)
DEADLINE: June 1, 2017
hurstonwright.org/portfolio_page/2017-writers-week/
PEN / BELLWETHER PRIZE FOR SOCIALLY ENGAGED FICTION
Pen America
INFO: The Bellwether Prize, which was established in 2000 by Barbara Kingsolver and is funded entirely by her, was created to promote fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships.
AWARD: $25,000 prize is awarded biennially to the author of a previously unpublished novel of high literary caliber that exemplifies the prize’s founding principles. The winner also receives a publishing contract with Algonquin Books.
SUBMISSION FEE: $25
SUBMISSIONS OPEN: June 1, 2017
pen.org/content/penbellwether-prize-socially-engaged-fiction-25000
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
TRACK//FOUR
INFO: TRACK//FOUR is open for submissions from writers and artists of color. They accept work from people of color only, as it is a safe space and a place to showcase underrepresented and often repressed voices in the literary and artistic world-- and elsewhere. Although in the future they strive to provide our lovely contributors a monetary sum for their work, they are currently unable to pay contributors. However, as of 2017, they will be nominating written work for Best New Poets, Best of the Net, and the Pushcart Prize.
- Poetry: Send up to five of your best poems. Poems should not share pages and should be single-spaced. Poems of of all forms and subject matter are welcome.
- Prose: Send up to two pieces (e.g. fiction, nonfiction, lyric essay) up to 3000 words each, double spaced.
DEADLINE: June 5, 2017
trackfourjournal.com/submissions.html
CALL FOR SCHOLARLY ESSAYS AND CREATIVE WORKS
Label Me Latina/o
INFO: Label Me Latina/o, an online, refereed international e-journal that focuses on Latino Literary Production in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, invites scholarly essays focusing on these writers for its biannual publication.
Label Me Latina/o also publishes creative literary pieces (poetry and short fiction) whose authors self-define as Latina or Latino regardless of thematic content. Interviews of Latino or Latina authors will also be considered. The Co-Directors will publish creative works and interviews in English, Spanish or Spanglish whereas analytical essays should be written in English or Spanish.
DEADLINE: June 15, 2017
NARRATIVE PRIZE
Narrative Magazine
INFO: The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative.
PRIZE: $4,000
DEADLINE: June 15, 2017
narrativemagazine.com/great-stories/narrative-prize
ELEANOR TAYLOR BLAND CRIME FICTON WRITERS OF COLOR AWARD
Sisters in Crime
INFO: The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award is an annual grant for an emerging writer of color awarded by the Sisters in Crime, a 3,600-member organization of mystery authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians.
An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work will not disqualify an applicant. This grant is intended to support the recipient in activities related to crime fiction writing and career development. She or he may choose from activities that include workshops, seminars, conferences, and retreats; online courses; and research activities required for completion of the work.
PRIZE: $1,500
DEADLINE: June 15, 2017
sistersincrime.org/page/EleanorTaylorBland
2018 EMERGING WRITER AWARDS: MARIANNE RUSSO AWARD (FOR NOVEL-IN-PROGRESS)
Key West Literary Seminar
INFO: The Marianne Russo Award recognizes and supports a writer of a novel-in-progress who possesses exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for a lasting literary career.
AWARD: Winners receive full tuition support for our January Seminar and Workshop Program, round-trip airfare, lodging, a $500 honorarium, and the opportunity to appear on stage during the Seminar. The runner-up for will also be offered financial assistance packages.
SUBMISSION FEE: $10
DEADINE: June 30, 2017 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT)
kwls.org/awards/emerging-writer-awards/
2018 EMERGING WRITER AWARDS: CECELIA JOYCE JOHNSON AWARD (FOR A SHORT STORY)
Key West Literary Seminar
INFO: The Cecilia Joyce Johnson Award recognizes and supports a writer of a short story who possesses exceptional talent and demonstrate potential for a lasting literary career.
AWARD: Winners receive full tuition support for our January Seminar and Workshop Program, round-trip airfare, lodging, a $500 honorarium, and the opportunity to appear on stage during the Seminar. The runner-up for will also be offered financial assistance packages.
SUBMISSION FEE: $10
DEADINE: June 30, 2017 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT)
kwls.org/awards/emerging-writer-awards/
EMERGING VOICES FELLOWSHIP
PEN Center USA
INFO: The Emerging Voices Fellowship is a literary mentorship that aims to provide new writers who are isolated from the literary establishment with the tools, skills, and knowledge they need to launch a professional writing career.
LITERARY MENTORSHIP BENEFITS
By the end of the Emerging Voices Fellowship, a writer will leave with:
- Seven months of guidance from a professional mentor and written notes on their current writing project.
- An author photo and bio.
- A logline—the short summation of the project in progress.
- A clear action plan for finishing this project.
- Writing life, and craft tips, from notable visiting authors.
- An editing guide from a professional copy editor.
- Insider knowledge of publishing from agents, publishers, and editors.
- An individualized submission guide for literary journals, agents, residencies, and fellowships.
- Improved reading technique from a professional voice coach.
- Public reading experience for a variety of audiences.
- An understanding of how to be an effective workshop participant.
- Lifetime membership in PEN Center USA.
- An introduction to the Los Angeles literary community.
FELLOWSHIP COMPONENTS
The seven-month fellowship includes:
PROFESSIONAL MENTORSHIP: Emerging Voices Mentors are carefully chosen from PEN Center USA’s membership and from professional writers based in Los Angeles. The Mentor-Fellow relationship is expected to challenge the fellow's work and compel significant creative progress. Over the course of the fellowship, Emerging Voices Fellows and Mentors should meet three times in person, and be in contact at least once a month. In these three meetings, Mentors will offer written feedback on the Emerging Voices Fellows’ work in progress. Authors who have been mentors in the past include Ron Carlson, Harryette Mullen, Chris Abani, Ramona Ausubel, Meghan Daum, and Sherman Alexie.
CLASSES AT THE UCLA EXTENSION WRITERS’ PROGRAM: Participants will attend two free courses (a 12-week writing course and a one-day workshop) at UCLA Extension, donated by the Writers’ Program. Program Manager will assist the Emerging Voices Fellows with course selection.
AUTHOR EVENINGS: Every Monday, fellows will meet with a visiting author, editor or publisher and ask questions about craft. Fellows must read each visiting author's book before the evening. A schedule of Author Evenings is distributed at the first Emerging Voices orientation meeting.
Click here for info for the Emerging Voices Author Evening Series, which is open to the public.
MASTER CLASSES: After completing the UCLA Extension Writers' Program courses, Emerging Voices Fellows will enroll in a Master Class. The Master Class is a genre-specific workshop with a professional writer that affords fellows the opportunity to exchange feedback on their works in progress. The 2017 Master Class Instructors are Alex Espinoza (fiction and nonfiction), and F. Douglas Brown (poetry).
VOLUNTEER PROJECT: All Emerging Voices Fellows are expected to complete a 25-hour volunteer project that is relevant to the literary community.
VOICE INSTRUCTION CLASS: The Fellowship will provide a one-day workshop with Dave Thomas, a professional voice actor. The Emerging Voices Fellows will read their work in a recording studio and receive instruction on reading their work publicly.
PUBLIC READINGS: Fellows will participate in three public readings, The Welcome Party, Tongue & Groove Salon, and the Final Reading. Fellows have read in various venues and events including the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Silver Lake Jubilee, Skylight Bookstore, The Standard, Downtown LA, and Hotel Café. The fellowship culminates in a Final Reading showcasing the progress each fellow has made in his or her work.
STIPEND: The fellowship includes a $1,000 stipend, given in $500 increments.
The Emerging Voices Fellowship runs from January to July. Participants need not be published, but the fellowship is directed toward poets and writers of fiction and creative nonfiction with clear ideas of what they hope to accomplish through their writing.
DEADLINE: August 1, 2017.