The Humber School for Writers is seeking applications from PEN Canada’s Writers-in-Exile members for its 28-week graduate certificate online mentorship program commencing in September 2024.
The PEN Canada-Humber College Writers-in-Exile Scholarship (a full scholarship) is available to a writer who:
- is working on a book-length project – creative non-fiction, memoir, novel, book of short stories or volume of poetry
- has a post-secondary degree
- can write with sufficient English proficiency.
- is a member of PEN Canada’s Writers in Exile program
Humber’s Creative Writing – Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry graduate certificate program helps you improve your writing from the comfort of your own home. You’ll work one-on-one with a professional writer-mentor to improve your short stories, poems, memoir, or novel-in-progress, learning how to develop plot, story, character, dialogue, pace and style through feedback on your own manuscript. The program is intended for wirters working on book-length projects, and graduates have the satisfaction of completing a large body of work which may include all or parts of a novel, a volume of short stories, or a book of poetry. For more experienced writers, the dialogue is one of peer-to-peer. The term runs for 28 weeks from September 2024-April 2025. The scholarship recipient must apply to the program through Ontario Colleges.
Humber is noted for its exceptional creative writing mentors including authors of world stature. Past mentors include Martin Amis, Peter Carey, Miriam Toews, David Mitchell, Esi Edugyan, Nino Ricci, Margaret Atwood, Lawrence Hill, Anne Michaels, Edward Albee, Ha Jin and Alistair MacLeod. Recent international authors have included Jenny Offill, Nell Freudenberger, and Ben Fountain.
This is a project-based program in which you meet the learning outcomes by working through your own manuscript. As well, you will attend weekly online classes synchronously or asynchronously to discuss craft, readings and the writing process to support your development.
Eligibility
Applicants must be a current member of the PEN Canada Writers in Exile program.
To become a member, you must be an immigrant writer or artist whose voice was suppressed in your home country and then came to Canada seeking refuge, justice, or freedom of expression. If you fulfill this criteria and would like to become a member, please email queries@pencanada.ca to receive the membership application form.
How to apply for the scholarship
To apply, please email the following documents to PEN Canada at queries@pencanada.ca
- A 15-page writing sample, preferably an excerpt from the writing project you wish to pursue.
- Proof of having acquired a post-secondary degree. For example: a copy of your university or college degree, or a transcript.
The application deadline is Monday, July 15, 2024.
If you have questions or difficulties providing the documentation, please indicate this in your application.
