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Submissions CLOSED

• Submissions CLOSED

What you’ll get

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    Virtual classes curated by award-winnng novelists, poets, short-story writers and essayists from around the world.

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    A literary community to read your work, provide detailed and useful feedback.

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    Writing, revision and editing guidelines from experienced teachers.

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    Unique writing prompts and student facing reading materials.

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    A beautiful certificate after completion.

What you need to know

Welcome to Ubwali Masterclass. The magazine accepts applications from interested writers to join a small cohort of students who participate in a week-long virtual writing masterclass offered by award-winning writers from around the world. The class is cross-genre, giving participants the tools to create, revise, and edit their work.

There are five fee-paying spots, regardless of nationality or residence, available at a cost of $30 per participant. Writers at any stage of their writing journey are welcome.

All applicants must complete this application form and submit a 1000-word prose sample or a single poem not exceeding five pages as a Word or PDF attachment. Writers may submit in only one genre. Writing samples must be unpublished at the time of the application and must remain unpublished until completion of the class. If accepted to attend for free, authors must wait at least two years before re-applying. Authors who occupy a paid spot may apply to attend as frequently as possible.

Applications close as soon as the class is filled.

The masterclass is held in August.

Apply here

Scholarships

The following scholarships are available and DO NOT require a separate application.

The Frances Ogamba Scholarship for African Writers (FOSAW) to five writers from and residing in Africa, regardless of publication history.

Ubwali Alumni Scholarship (UAS) to two former Ubwali writers, regardless of nationality.

Ubwali Scholarship for Zambian Writers (USZW) to three Zambian writers who have been published in Ubwali.

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Testimonials

• Testimonials

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    The host made each of us feel right at home. I don't think I would've been as participative without that feeling of freedom she gave me from the start. I loved how down-to-earth the instructors were.

    Chris Baah

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    Class interactions and the reading material have both really exposed me to a wider expanse of literature and ways of being a writer.

    Mukandi Siame

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    I liked the personified interaction with the tutors as well as the writing exercises and I am now looking at my writing with a newly informed angle.

    Naomi Nduta Waweru

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    I loved how engaging the masterclass was. It was not like a class, where the teacher gives information then leaves. There were moments taken for us to write, engage with the instructor, give feedback, and ask questions. The engagement was my favourite part.

    Katheu Kilonzo

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    The Masterclass gave me more of a solid base from which to launch my writing career. The exercises we did have also made me more aware of the strengths and weaknesses in my own writing and the tools I can use to improve them. I've also been made a lot more confident to submit my work. The writers I met during the workshop also seem to be a great support network .

    Musonda Mukuka

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    The tutors were amazing! I found the workshops well curated and the conversations from my fellow cohorts organic and valuable. The readings/feedbacks made the sessions even more enjoyable.

    Iyanuoluwa Adenle

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    The masterclass improved my writing life by introducing me to new ways of thinking on various aspects of writing, career, and genre i.e place, revision, memory, and how words can unearth truest voice, I can see the missing link I was searching for, to improve my writing. On a mental aspect, talking to instructors further along on their writing journeys speak so passionately about craft, was encouraging in helping envision what could be.

    Mwenya S. Chikwa

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    I loved how genuinely warm, kind, and generous all of the instructors and facilitators were. They made the masterclass a truly open and supportive space to share and receive insight about craft, the writing life, and artistic philosophy.

    Chii Ọganihu