VONA/Voices Workshop for 2011

The Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA) at the University of California at Berkeley invites applications from unpublished as well as published writers of color -- anyone dreaming of writing as a serious pursuit.

The Voices Workshop is a special gathering of writers who spend 1 week working with authors s 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. 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 for everyone in: Poetry, Fiction Writing, Memoir, and Political Content in Story, Memoir and Poetry

Workshops for Alums in: Fiction, The Poetry Collection, Memoir.

We also offer two Residencies which are 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.

2011 faculty: Elmaz Abinader, Faith Adiele, Junot Díaz, Ruth Forman, M. Evelina Galang, David Mura, ZZ Packer, Willie Perdomo, Diem Jones.

Application Deadline: 04/18/2011. To apply, go to the VONA website.