The Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation at University of San Francisco invites applications from unpublished as well as published writers-of- color --anyone dreaming of writing as a serious pursuit. The Voices Writing Workshop is a special gathering of writers who spend 1-2 weeks working with authors and artists of color. This workshop honors the literary traditions of heritage and culture and promotes the styles, voices, forms and concerns of writers-of-color and their connections to the literary world. Held at The University of San Francisco, The Voices Workshop creates an intimate and interactive community with an atmosphere of sharing and engaging.

The Workshops:
All workshops are intimate gatherings of writers who take their writing seriously and are looking for an experience that will nurture them as writers; heighten their awareness of writing as a political, social and literary tool; and provide a community that supports each writer as they explore issues that require a profound sense of trust and professionalism. This year, we offer workshops in Poetry, Novel, Fiction Writing and Memoir & Creative Non-fiction, a Residency and a week-long masters intensive in Political Content in Poetry, Story and Memoir. And for the first time ever, we offer advanced workshops specifically designed for VONA alum.

When applying, specify the workshops you'd like to attend in order of preference. You may attend one workshop per week, if accepted; but not two weeks in the same genre. The workshops are limited to ten writers chosen on the quality of their work, their commitment to and their enthusiasm for the direction of the Voices mission.

A residency is held both weeks and is directed to writers who are interested in a one-on-one mentorship and concentrated writing time. The week is spent with the master writer who guides them through rewrites and toward a greater awareness of the writing process and their identities as writers.

All participants are encouraged to consider staying on campus in the housing facilities to deepen their experience of exchange.

To be considered for admission to the Voices Writing Workshops please submit the following:

Poetry: 5 - 10 poems (not to exceed 20 pages)

Novel: up to 25 pages of a novel excerpt

Fiction Writing: up to 20 pages of short fiction

Memoir & Creative Non-fiction: up to 20 pages of a non-fiction narrative

Residency: up to 15 pages of a non-fiction, novel, short fiction or 5-10 poems (not to exceed 20 pages)

Political Content : up to 15 pages of any genre

Building a Poetry Collection: Up to 30 pages of poetry

All applicants should email their application manuscript (as an attachment) to info@voicesatvona.org with your name and the workshop name in the title of the document.

For example: AbinaderNovel1.doc

Upon acceptance, you will be asked to submit your workshop manuscript for each of the weeklong workshops and the residency.

Completed Application: Please provide contact information, history, experience, vital statistics and personal essay in response to the questions, including information on scholarships.

Application Deadline: April 7, 2010.

Please contact us after that time to see if we're accepting rolling applications.

After Acceptance: Confirm your workshops and the dates you wish to attend

Send a Deposit of $100.00 per workshop within ten days of notification. (Accepted participants will recieve an invoice via email.)

Indicate if you will be in residence in campus housing, so we may reserve a spot for you.

Choose the final manuscript(s) you wish to have discussed during the workshop, which you will upload electronically by May 15, 2010 via an online portal (link supplied after acceptance).

Scholarship recipients will be notified of their award amount and balance due. All fees for both weeks are due by May 30, 2010 and will be made through PayPal.

GO TO THE APPLICATION

FEES AND FINANCIAL AID

* regular weeklong workshop $550
* masters seminar $350
* residency $450
* room and board $400 (includes meal card) A $100.00 non-refundable deposit is due

To assure your spot in the workshops. A limited number of partial tuition scholarships are available, based on need and availability. Resources are limited and requests are always greater than available funds.

HOUSING AND ACCOMODATIONS

Workshop participants are housed in modern dormitory suites on campus and will have access to the university library, bookstore, computer labs and sports facilities. The accommodations are single rooms and all meals are included in the fee. Staying on campus is highly encouraged but not required. Non-resident workshop participants can purchase Individual meals from the campus dining facilities.

The VONA Program

A Sunday night welcome introduces the participants to the Voices Writers Workshop, allows an initial meeting with the instructor, gives vital information for the week, and includes a campus tour. Voices participants will get an opportunity to meet each other in an informal atmosphere.

Regular workshops meet from Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. To 12:30 p.m. Some classes may require outside reading as well as in-class writing. Classes may be extended To the afternoon through arrangements between the instructors and participants. The afternoons provide time for the one-on-ones with the instructors except for Wednesdays and Fridays. All workshops are participatory and ask the writer To be a lively member of the class community.