guineetim: 11/08/2011 Application Deadline: VONA/Voices at the University of ...

http://www.as.miami.edu/dev/english/creativewriting/voices-at-um

WORDS ARE MIGHTIER

The University of Miami?s MFA in Creative Writing Program and VONA Voices Writing Workshop announce the first VONA/Voices regional writing workshop to be held January 13, 14, and 15, 2012 at the University of Miami. The Voices of our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA) is dedicated to nurturing writers of color and has been holding summer workshops for twelve years in the Bay Area.? This pilot ?winter? program was initiated by writer, M. Evelina Galang, Director of Creative Writing at the University of Miami, and Diem Jones, Executive Director of VONA, who have collaborated on designing an intensive 3 day, daylong workshops in the following:

Telling our Tales in Fiction and Non-Fiction?with?Mat Johnson

The writers offer stories to each other that present a narrative representation of a story of family, culture, place, and situation. Theses portrayals whether fact or fiction have a dynamic life in the narrative. The participants exchange their work and share their ideas.

Blogging, Logging, an On-line Presence?with?Elmaz Abinader

As the contemporary Belle Lettres, Blogging is the journal of the times. As strongly personal as it is, the imperative is to inspire outwardly. The bloggers study contemporary themed and unthemed blogs and generate pieces in the workshop; which are shared and studied.

Poetry, Lyricizing and Speaking?with?Willie Perdomo

Acknowledging the traditions of written, spoken, drummed, danced and signed poem, the poets in this class develop their works with a consciousness of their place in the Diaspora, the anxiety of identity and the demand of the public voice. The participants exchange their work and share their ideas.

The workshops will begin on Friday, January 13 and end with a participant writer reading on Sunday, January 15.? Writers in the workshops will exchange their work, discuss craft and strategy, generate new writing, and develop writing communities. Classes will be held at on the University of Miami Coral Gables Campus.

Interested applicants can?APPLY NOW?by completing an application form and supplying a writing sample:

Poetry: 5-10 poems (not to exceed 20 pages)
Prose (fiction or nonfiction):? up to 20 pages
Blog:? 10-15 pages of creative work (does not need to be blog-type)

Deadlines:

Applications: November 8, 2011.
Applicants notified by December 1, 2011.
Deposit:? December 10, 2011
Payment in full:? December 22, 2011.

Words are Mightier?is open all writers-of-color with or without experience in workshopping, writing or publishing.? ?This opportunity is particularly appealing to writers who haven?t been able to attend our West Coast workshops because of the time and financial commitment. We welcome both VONA alums and new writers to apply? says Diem Jones,

The three workshops will be limited to 10-12 writers and will meet Friday ? Sunday between 9am-12:30 pm and 2:30pm-5pm.? A faculty reading, which is open to the public, will be held on Saturday night. The workshop participants will present their work on Sunday night.

The tuition for the weekend is $475 and those seeking residency will be offered a special lodging price at the?Holiday Inn?.

Who is VONA??
Established in 1999, Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation has presented the Voices Writing Workshops at the University of San Francisco and UC Berkeley for 12 consecutive years. The VONA Voices Writing Workshop is dedicated to nurturing developing writers of color. Each year nearly 140 writers come from around the country and around the globe to work with renowned writers of color.

As the only Multi-genre workshop for writers of color in the nation, VONA provides developing writers a place where they can explore their craft in an atmosphere of support and understanding, where they can exchange with great writers ideas and inspirations, where they can gain empowerment to move from VONA to a writer?s life with authority and confidence.? The University of Miami MFA in Creative Writing warmly welcomes the VONA/Voices community for this special weekend of workshops.

For more about VONA/Voices, go to?www.voicesatvona.org

APPLY NOW