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 9th to the 13th of January 2024.
Submission Guidelines For Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop
Prose entries (fiction and creative nonfiction) should not exceed 1000 words.
Poetry should be a maximum of 5 pages.
Manuscript format: Font 12 (Times New Roman or Arial), Margin: 0.5. Left aligned, Double spaced.
Poetry can be single spaced.
Submissions will be judged blindly, so please omit all identifying information. No name/pen name, or email address should appear on your submission document. Only the story title should appear on the manuscript.
All submissions must be sent via email to [email protected]
In a PDF or Word document as an attachment.
The subject line must include the word 2024 SUBMISSION + your name, surname, and title of the story.
Use your name, surname and title of your story in the file naming section. i.e., Save your file using the following conventions: FIRST NAME, LAST NAME_STORY TITLE. E.g., JANE DUNNAMIS_THE HONEST POLITICIAN.
Please submit only unpublished work.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but no multiple submissions. Only one submission per entrant.
Add a cover letter in the body of your email, including your name, title of story, word count, address, contact details, and bio.
Any submissions that do not meet ANY of the guidelines will be deleted unread.
Successful candidates will be contacted via email.
Eligibility Criteria
Only writers with three or fewer publications are eligible to apply (self-publication is excluded).
Entrants must be African and currently resident in Africa.
The Workshop
Classes will take place on Google Meets from 3PM – 5PM CAT by the following writers:
- Jamal Mahjoub
- Natasha Omokhodion
- Kasimma
- Uche Peter Umezurike
Deadline For Submissions
Application window will be open from 1st November – 30th November 2023 or until the submissions cap of 100 is reached.
What Will Writers Gain From Attending The Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop 2022?
- At the end of the workshop, stories produced by the participants will be considered for publication in Isele Magazine.
- 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.
How to increase your chances of getting accepted:
- Don’t panic.
- Choose your story idea wisely. If you can, avoid old and tired storylines.
- Make sure your story has a narrative arc, an interesting theme. Ensure that it is rendered from an irresistible point of view.
- 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.
- Read a few classic short stories. I’ll recommend John Updike’s ‘Pygmalion’ and Alice Walker’s The Flowers.
- You can find a few more fantastic short stories HERE, HERE and HERE.
- Poets may benefit from reading the writing tips in this article based on a poetry masterclass and this guide.
- If you’re a poet, here’s how to edit poetry.
- 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 2024. Got inquiries? Forward them to [email protected]