June 21, 2017
Call for Applications from PEN Canada Writers in Exile Creative Writing by Correspondence Program Humber School for Writers
The Humber School for Writers is seeking applications from PEN Canada’s writers-in-exile for its Creative Writing by Correspondence Program in the September 2017 term. A full scholarship is available to writers who: a) are working on a book-length project - creative non-fiction, memoir, novel, book of short stories or volume of poetry b) have a post-secondary degree c) are Ontario residents d) can demonstrate financial need e) can write with sufficient English proficiency.
Humber’s Creative Writing-Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry graduate certificate program is a distance studio program offering aspiring writers the exceptional opportunity to work at home. There are no formal classes on site. Individual courses are offered in a non-traditional way with a distinguished faculty member (typically a published Canadian author) critiquing your work of creative non-fiction, memoir, novel, book of short stories or volume of poetry. For more experienced writers, the dialogue is one of peer-to-peer. The program is intended for students working on book-length projects. The program is customized to address the particular needs of your manuscript and may include assessments of your handling of plot, story, character, dialogue, pace and style, or may focus on the particular needs of the manuscript as determined by the writing advisor. The term runs for 30 weeks from September 2017-April 2018. Graduates have the satisfaction of completing a large body of work, which may include all or parts of a novel, volume of short stories or a book of poetry. Students are also referred to writing competitions. At the recommendation of an advisor, Humber may also help to connect exceptional students to its network of Canadian agents and publishers. Humber is noted for its exceptional faculty including authors of world stature. This faculty list has included Edward Albee, Martin Amis, Peter Carey, Miriam Toews, David Mitchell, Nino Ricci, David Adams Richards, the late Timothy Findley, Paul Quarrington, the late Carol Shields and Alistair MacLeod. A virtual café exists through Blackboard, Humber’s online learning system, to encourage writing students to interact and build a sense of community. To apply, please forward the following documents to Hillary Higgins at [email protected]. 1) A 15-page writing sample • preferably an excerpt from the writing project you wish to pursue 2) Proof of a having acquired a post-secondary degree • for example: a copy of your university or college degree, or a transcript 3) Proof of financial need • for example: a copy of your most recent tax return, or a letter stating that you are receiving government assistance The application deadline is July 15, 2017. If you have questions or difficulties providing the following documentation, please indicate this in your application.