Call for Application: Saseni! Short Story Workshop by Hargeysa International Book Fair, Somaliland.

Deadline: June 8, 2019.

Workshop dates: 15-18 July 2019

Intermediate and established writers based on the African continent with an idea for a new short story that needs time, space and feedback to develop further are invited to apply for the Saseni!/Hargeysa International Book Fair four-day writing workshop focused on the short story form and facilitated by Nadifa Mohamed and Billy Kahora. Writers will have the opportunity for the stories they work on to be part of the first Saseni! anthology of short fiction which will be published by Huza Press in 2020.

The workshop will offer a series of daily sessions focused on craft, which will explore character, plot and writing’s relationship to place and language, as well as the practicalities of drafting, revising and editing. Writers will also have time each day to read short fiction and focus on their own writing. Each writer selected for the workshop will also have one-on-one tutorials with both of our two experienced workshop facilitators as well as a chance to share their work with peers and get feedback.

An academic writing workshop, organised in collaboration with the journal Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies and the Universities of Exeter and Bristol, will take place concurrently offering opportunities to build new creative-academic networks and collaborations.

Accommodation will be provided for all participants and the organizers are also able to offer limited travel bursaries for writers based on the African continent, with funding available in particular for Kenyan writers (given Saseni!’s Nairobi roots) and Rwandan writers (in partnership with Huza Press).

Saseni! is a new African creative writing teaching initiative that connects higher and vocational education and the creative arts on the African continent. As part of this work Saseni! hosts workshops and literary events, produces new publications and builds new creative writing and creative industries pedagogies.

The 12th edition of the annual Hargeysa International Book Fair will be held immediately following the workshop from 20 to 25 July with the theme of coexistence and the guest country of Egypt.

How to apply for the Saseni! Short Story Workshop:

To qualify for the workshop you must be based on the African continent.

If you’d like to be considered for the workshop, please send your application with the email subject ‘HIBF Short Story Workshop to: saseniworkshops@gmail.com

All applications should include the following:

A short fiction extract (no more than 500 words)

A title and short description for the short story you want to work on during the workshop (no more than 100 words). Note - you would need to be ready to share a first draft of the story with the workshop facilitators by 10 July 2019 ahead of the workshop.

An expression of interest (no more than 200 words) outlining your previous writing experience, what inspires you as a writer and why you believe this workshop will benefit you

Your contact details (email, phone and place of residence)

The deadline for receiving applications is 8 June 2019. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 15 June 2019.