Open Call: Nanjing International Writer’s Residencies

• The theme for 2024 program is “Life is Better with Literature”. Literature is born from daily life, giving us unlimited imagination, and at the same time, under the guidance of literature, they learn to experience life with a broader perspective of the world and more delicate emotions. With the 2024 program, they would like to invite six writers to deeply experience the life in the historical city of Nanjing. This may include the literary events, reading clubs, cultural adventures, city walks, random encounters and meetings etc., simply to probe into diversified aspects of Nanjingers’ life today.
• With “Life is Better with Literature” as the theme for 2024, they hope that the daily life in Nanjing will become an inspiration for literary creation, and that literature will ultimately light up the brilliant sparks of their lives.

Benefits

• 2-week in-person residency in Nanjing City of Literature;
• Tours to culture landmarks and literary places in Nanjing;
• A selection of local literary activities;
• Dialogue with Nanjing writers, poets, translators, literary organizations, and students;
• The flight tickets, food, accommodation and local transport will be provided;
• And stipend of 1200 USD for each writer-in-residency.

Selection Criteria

• Selected participants are supposed to:
  • Be connected to a UNESCO City of Literature (either a resident or one who works or studies in that city, or has other connections with that city as recognized in writing by a UNESCO City of Literature office)
  • Have at least three-year experience in writing, or at least one published work (book in print, all genres acceptable), or have received awards that are recognized by your local literary communities.
  • Be willing to interact with Nanjing’s literary communities, emerging and established writers; as well as to partake in local literary activities;
  • Write a piece of work in English (no less than 1000 words, or 50 lines for poetry) that is inspired by the residency, or translate Chinese stories, poems or prose into English; (All the virtual writers will retain the copyrights of their works. Please understand the works might be used for promotional purpose by Nanjing Literature Center)
  • Be fluent in spoken English, or Chinese.

For more information, visit City of Literature Dunedin.