PREE to convene constellation of literary stars in Kingston

From May 24-28, 2020, the digital magazine PREE ( preelit.com) will be holding its first writing studio ( preewritingstudio.com) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, in collaboration with the Prince Claus Fund and the Department of Literatures in English. Designed to take place immediately before Calabash International Literary Festival, PREE’s writing studio will bring together some of Jamaica’s and the region’s top writers.

Comprising a Booker Prize winner – Marlon James; a Wyndham Campbell Award winner – Ishion Hutchinson; an Oprah Magazine best of 2019 author – Nicole Dennis-Benn; the 2018 winner of the BBC National Short Story Award and the 2017 winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize – Ingrid Persaud; a winner of the Forward Prize for Poetry – Kei Miller; and award-winning poet and author of How to Say Babylon – Safiya Sinclair; the line-up for PREE’s first Writing Studio is designed to provide attendees with expert instruction in the craft of writing by tutors who are at the top of their game.

PREE’s first writing studio ( preewritingstudio.com) aims to showcase the region’s intellectual property and propel new writers into the world equipped with the best writing training available from globally renowned authors.

According to its editor-in-chief Annie Paul, “With this landmark literary event, PREE aims to establish itself as a matrix for innovative contemporary writing in, from and about the Caribbean.”

Unlike PREE’s literary magazine, which focuses on highlighting authors in and from the Caribbean region, the PREE Writing Studio welcomes applicants from around the world. Featuring small classes of 5-6 students per tutor, the four-day residential workshop will provide participants with focused, meaningful engagement, having their work critiqued by peers and tutors, and receiving personalised feedback that they will be able to use to enhance their writing.

Alongside this unique experience, there will be two sessions on the path to publication and in-depth advice on how to turn your manuscript into a book by Sharmaine Lovegrove, publisher of Dialogue Books, an imprint of Little, Brown UK, and part of Hachette, a leading global publishing house. In addition, there will be a non-fiction/essay writing workshop led by author of Walking While Black and acclaimed essayist, Garnette Cadogan.

The deadline for registration is February 29.

For more information on costs and how to apply please see: https://preewritingstudio.com/ or for more information please contact: preewritingworkshop@gmail.com