Call for Applications: Creative Writers Program

The Editor will be responsible for providing technical support during a book creation workshop from November 21 to December 6, 2024. During the workshop, each participant will be paired with an illustrator to bring to life an imaginative, engaging, early-grade children’s storybook, overseen by editors and children’s book experts.

Participants will receive guidance in children’s book illustrations and publishing, facilitated by professional editors, and designers. Facilitators will oversee the book creation process as well, providing participants with the opportunity to interact with and learn from experienced professionals.

Each participant will be responsible for developing an original story that resonates with young readers and reflects the theme of cultural preservation, religious freedom and tolerance in the Pacific Islands.

Objective 

• To create original, engaging, and culturally relevant children’s stories that align with the goals of the Let’s Read program and support literacy development across the Pacific Islands.

Scope

• Participate in a book creation workshop from November 21st – December 6th, 2024.
• Write an original children’s story based on provided themes, ensuring cultural authenticity and age-appropriate language.
• Collaborate with the Editor, Art Director and Illustrator to align written content with visual storytelling.
• Revise and edit stories based on feedback from The Asia Foundation and the Editor, based on agreed upon timeframe.
• Ensure that the content adheres to Let’s Read program guidelines in terms of tone, style, and language.

Expected Deliverables

• Completed draft of a children’s story, with revisions based on feedback.
• Manuscripts are expected to be between 300-44 words, or approximately 12-16 pages of a children’s storybook. The final number of words and pages will be mutually agreed upon prior to the submission of the final version.
• Final versions ready for illustration and upload to the Let’s Read platform.

Selection Criteria 

• If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please submit 1-4 writing samples totaling no more than 5 double-spaced pages or up to a maximum of 1500 words. Submissions do not need to be published works, nor do they need to be specifically written for children. Submissions, which may include completed stories, sample chapters, or essays, will be evaluated according to the following rubric:
  • Imagination: Does the writer demonstrate creativity and the capacity for imaginative thinking?
  • Characters: Does the writer demonstrate the ability to create interesting, memorable, and dynamic main characters?
  • Description: Does the writer demonstrate the ability to describe characters and settings in a natural, vivid and memorable way, such that the elements of the writing are brought to life for the reader?
  • Focus: Does the writer demonstrate the ability to choose a central theme or idea, and remain focused on that central theme throughout the writing?
  • Structure: Does the writer demonstrate an understanding of basic narrative structure?
  • Spelling and Grammar: Does the writer demonstrate mastery of the language through spelling, punctuation, and grammar choices?
• Submissions that demonstrate the above traits while writing for children will be evaluated more favorably.

Application Requirements

• The bio must include a clear headshot photograph that is cropped to a 1:1 square ratio.
• A short biography written in English (bios will not be translated), 200-300 words max
• Should be written in third person (i.e. “Ms. ABC is a self-employed scriptwriter, director, editor, and videographer. She is very passionate…”)
• One to three sentences about your background, such as your schooling, work experience, where you grew up, that is relevant to your creative pursuits.
• One to two sentences about your current projects or work, that is relevant to your creative pursuits
• One to two sentences about your aspirations as a creative, if you would like to make a full-time living out of doing this (if you’re not already), if you’d like to continue illustrating, if you’d like to teach, etc.
• Provide one to two sentence responses to the follow:
  • What inspired you to become an author, illustrator, or editor?
  • What was your favorite children’s storybook growing up or what is your favorite children’s storybook now, and why?
  • Why do you think reading and books are important?
  • What do you hope children will take away from the book that you helped create?

For more information, visit The Asia Foundation.