Banff Centre for the Arts: Introducing the Program in Literary Journalism

This summer, from July 4 to July 16, Banff is offering a new program, Literary Journalism. Meetings are in-person on the Banff campus. Self knows one of the instructors, Charlotte Gill.

Self was at Banff Writers Studio, seven years ago, when she was just starting her novel, and the feedback she got from her mentors was invaluable. She wishes she could enroll for this program, as she’d do anything to get back to Banff again, but she’s not a journalist. (The only caveat was that she got fat. They give you a food allowance at the start, and there are five eateries to choose from. By the end of the five weeks, everyone in her program was complaining how much weight they’d gained. Then we had to pose for group pictures, which was really embarrassing.)

At the MacLab, she once sat one table over from k. d. lang — exciting, except she didn’t find out until after k.d. lang left. Part of the Writer’s Studio is giving a public reading, and self signed up for the very last day. She was so nervous, she had to drink a glass of wine beforehand. The story she read from was “Sand,” and had — profanity! There was some restless movement from the audience when she uttered the first word. After that, only laughter. So great.

btw, it took a while, but “Sand” finally found a home last year, in Pembroke Magazine:

Banff Centre’s Literary Journalism 2022 program encourages the exploration of new ideas in journalism and experimentation in writing. Designed to challenge and stimulate, the program aims to inspire creative pieces of nonfiction and to assist the writers in their completion. A preeminent space for long-form journalism, this residency emphasizes the strengths of thorough and articulate reporting, distinctive storytelling, and literary devices.

Application Deadline: March 9, 2022

Complete information can be found here.

Mendocino Coast Writers Conference

Self was a guest faculty in the 2007 Mendocino Coast Writers Conference and would highly recommend it to aspiring writers.  The conference emphasizes “encouragement, expertise, and inspiration.”

In conjunction with the conference, a writing contest for registered participants offers $200 in prizes in the following categories:  novel excerpt, short fiction, nonfictin, and poetry.  Deadline for entries is May 15.

In addition, the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference makes available five full scholarships in a new program, Five Under-Twenty-Five Program.  All scholarship applications are due by May 1.

Check it out, dear blog readers!

2012- 2013 Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellowships in Contemporary Asia

The primary focus of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University is contemporary political, economic, or social change in the Asia-Pacific region (Northeast, Southeast, and South Asia) or topics in international relations and international political economy.  Fellows must be in residence for at least three academic quarters, beginning Fall 2012.  They take part in Center activities throughout the academic year, and are required to present their research findings in center seminars.  The fellowship includes a stipend of $45,000 plus $3,000 in research expenses.

Applicants should submit:

1. a brief research statement (not to exceed five typed pages)
2. curriculum vitae
3. three letters of recommendation

Deadline for receipt of all materials:   December 31, 2011.

Official announcement, here.

Stay tuned.

Latest Grant Rejection

One thing good about applying for a Silicon Valley Artists Grant is: they actually

Oh, What a Gorgeous Afternoon

Self took the li’l crits for a walk (their first walk of the week, my bad!). She bought a trellis from Wegman’s, on which she hopes to twine a clematis (as soon as it warms up a little more). And, in a true feat of organization and forward-thinking, she’s already figured out what to make for dinner: Belgian Beef Carbonnade, which is a truly fab stew (that, come to think of it, she hasn’t made for years) which involves beer, vinegar, lots of celery leaves and onions, parsley and garlic.

In addition, this morning, self finally coaxed herself into beginning the process of applying for a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (NEA website says she’s already waited too long: deadline is Mar. 5, and applicants are encouraged to apply at least 10 days early). Self had to resort to all sorts of tricks to even bring herself to the point of deciding to apply. Here are some of the reasons she used to shore up her resolve:

• If self waits much longer, self will be dead.
• There is no application fee.
• In spite of the fact that just figuring out how to register took self hours, she had better do it this year, when she isn’t (by some miracle) teaching. Imagine if she had to check papers, teach a class, and figure out how to download Acrobat 8.1, merely so that she could read the application instructions! She would be so stressed her hair would turn white!
• Notification will be made in December. Which means self will not get the bad news until the very end of 2009.
• If self wins, maybe she can finally put money down on a new car.
• If self wins, people will be very impressed and she can probably wheedle them into doing her a few favors. In fact, she can probably live off the glow of annointment for a whole decade. (Self figures she’ll probably be too old in 10 more years to have another go. This is her one, her only chance — ha ha ha ha!)

Self better get back to filling out those gazillions of forms. Stay tuned, dear blog readers.

Columbia Fellowship in Modern Southeast Asian Studies

The Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University invites applications for its:

2009-2010 Postdoctoral Fellowship
MODERN SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES

Candidates from