Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2025 / How To Apply

Writing is often done in isolation, away from community. This, in itself, can make creative writing a very alienating experience for artists.

The organizers of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop know this and that’s one reason they have established a prestigious virtual workshop for African writers living in the continent. Eligible writers are invited to apply to the inaugural edition of the Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop. Selected writers will be notified via email.  There are no entry fees. Also, Attendance is free.  The workshop will be held virtually from the 6th through the 11th of January 2025.

Submission Guidelines For Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop

• Prose entries (fiction and creative nonfiction) should not exceed 1000 words.

• Poetry: A maximum of 5 pages.
  

• Manuscript format: Font 12 (Times New Roman or Arial), Margin: 1, Left-aligned, Double spaced. Single spaced poetry. 

• Blind submissions are preferred. Be sure to omit all identifying information. This means:
  

No name/pen name or email address should appear on your submission document. Only the story title and wordcount should accompany the first page of your manuscript.

• Apply from 15th October – 15th November 2025. They will stop receiving applications as well when the submissions cap at a 100.

• Save your entry story/poem and cover letter (which should include the title/genre of your entry and a short bio) either as a PDF or Word document and submit through this form.

• The file name of your submission must be the manuscript name only. E.g., THE HONEST POLITICIAN.

• Please submit only unpublished work.

• Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but no multiple submissions. Only one submission per entrant.  
  

Eligibility Criteria

Only writers with three or fewer publications are eligible to apply (Excluding Self-Publication). Entrants must be African and currently resident in Africa.

The Workshop

Classes will take place on Google Meets from 5PM – 7PM UTC . The following writers will handle the classes:

• Rafeeat Aliyu
  ● Sihle Ntuli
  ● Michelle K. Angwenyi
  ● Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim
  ● Gloria Mwaniga Odary

Deadline For Submissions

Application window will be open from the 15th October – 15th November 2025 or until the submissions cap of 100 is reached.

What Will Writers Gain From Attending The Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2025?

• Writers will learn how to write more eloquently.
• Participants will have a chance to have their stories critiqued constructively by other writers.
• There is an endless list of benefits. However, time and space will not allow us to enumerate them all.

Increase your chances of getting accepted:

1. Don’t panic.
2. Choose your story idea wisely. If you can, avoid old and tired storylines.
3. Make sure your story has a narrative arc, an interesting theme. Render it from an irresistible point of view.
4. Write what you know. Readers can tell when you’re being pretentious. Or better still, write what scares the hell out of you. What you don’t know can’t scare you.
5. Read a few classic short stories. I’ll recommend John Updike’s ‘Pygmalion’ and Alice Walker’s The Flowers.
6. You can find a few more fantastic short stories HERE, HERE and HERE.
7. Poets may benefit from reading the writing tips in this article based on a poetry masterclass and this guide.
8. If you’re a poet, here’s how to edit poetry.
9. Don’t be in a hurry. Do your best to find the best story ideas that will make your application stand out.

Ready to learn how to write like the great literary artists you admire, don’t hesitate. Apply to the  Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2025. Got inquiries? Forward them to idembeka@gmail.com