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WEEK ONE
NAIROBI
In Nairobi, participants may enroll in
one morning writing seminar as their core class.
The seminars will meet on five days
of the first week. In addition to workshops,
while in Nairobi we'll hold lectures on the state of
Kenyan, East African, and African literature,
publishing in Kenya and the US, and
other topics concerning the global
literary community. We'll also host
readings by faculty and guest writers, roundtable
discussions with writers and publishers,
and meetings with local writers and
artists (with opportunities for
participants to engage in working on
collaborative literary and artistic
projects).
WRITING SEMINARS OFFERED :
- FICTION
- NON-FICTION
- POETRY
FICTION
These seminars will follow the typical
creative-writing workshop model: individuals
present their original work which is
closely scrutinized and critiqued by the group,
led by the instructor. Manuscripts should
exceed no more than twenty pages (double
spaced), and will be circulated electronically prior to the program (participants are responsible for bringing their own printed copies to Kenya with them).
Fiction Instructor: Josip Novakovich
POETRY
This seminar will follow the typical
creative-writing workshop model: individuals
present their original work which is
closely scrutinized and critiqued by
the group, led by the instructor. Manuscripts
should include no more than
five poems-not to exceed fifteen pages
in length-and will be circulated electronically prior to the program (participants are responsible for bringing their own printed copies to Kenya with them).
Poetry Instructors: Saskia Hamilton and Ed Pavlic
NONFICTION
This seminar will follow the typical creative-writing workshop model:
individuals present their original work which is closely scrutinized and
critiqued by the group, led by the instructor. Manuscripts should exceed no
more than twenty pages (double spaced), and will be circulated electronically prior to the program (participants are responsible for bringing their own printed copies to Kenya with them).
Nonfiction Instructor: TBA
All program seminars
are limited to 15 participants.
Sample schedule for a day in Nairobi (based on 2006 program):
Morning: Morning Workshops
(9:30AM-12:30AM in the Heron Hotel Conference Rooms)
Lunch: 1:00PM in the Heron Hotel Restaurant
Afternoon: “Writing about Africa: How can we capture the attention of the world about our own world?” with J.S. Okumu, Rasna Warah and Binyavanga Wainaina.
(2:00PM-3:30PM in the Heron Hotel main conference room)
Reading and Q&A with M.G. Vassanji
(4:00PM at the University of Nairobi)
Evening: Live music and poetry slam, 7:30PM at Club Afrique
(Meet in the lobby at 6:45PM, first bus leaves at 6:50PM)
WEEK TWO
LAMU ISLAND
A 14th-century Arab
stone town and Kenya's oldest living
settlement, Lamu is a place of great serenity
and equally great excitement: a place
that fosters a heightened state
of inspiration--the kind of environment
where one might indeed get some writing
done.With that in mind, our time on Lamu island will have
the aspect of a writing retreat to it, with
the addition of afternoon craft-based mini-workshops/lectures, opportunities for collaborative projects, and participant and faculty readings. Facutly will hold office hours for individual consultations with participants. SLS will also be
organizing and facilitating various group meals and events throughout the week,
including boat trips and
other excursions exploring the environs
of this fascinating place, for those interested.
Sample schedule for a day on Lamu (based on 2006 program):
Morning: Faculty office hours
Optional Group Lunch: 1:00PM at Jannat House
Afternoon: Literary Clinics at 3:00PM (Sign up in advance for these workshops; space is limited to ten participants)
Flash Fiction with Padgett Powell on the Jannat House Rooftop.
Stories that Never Finished with Mikhail Iossel on the Yumbe House Rooftop.
Cold Reading Poetry with Terese Svoboda on the Stone House Rooftop.
Evening: Faculty reading and group dinner option, 8:00PM at the Diamond Beach Club (meet at the main jetty at 7:15PM for transfer to Manda Island)
(Click on the pciture above to read a New York Times article on Lamu)
SAFARIS
Either before or after (bring in the new year in Masai Mara...) the SLS-Kenya program, many
participants may opt to visit one or several of Kenya's world-famous national
parks. Although SLS does not run these tours, we can suggest a Nairobi-based travel agent who does (and has proven trustworthy and reliable over the years). Typically, these safaris
last three to six days and are based out of Nairobi. Whether individual or in
groups, these safaris can be arranged at special SLS discounted prices through
our on-site agent. These parks-Masai Mara, Tsavo, Amboseli, for example-are
National Geographic staples; think the paradigmatic African savannah of
everyone's dreams and imaginings, the "big five," the sun, the sky, the
eternity…
Participants in the SLS writing seminars typically include
individuals of all ages and all levels of accomplishment -- gifted beginners
and writers who have already begun publishing; undergraduate and graduate
students of creative writing and people turning (or returning) to writing
relatively late in life. All are treated with equal respect by the SLS faculty
and staff. Please bear in mind: One does not necessarily have to be an
accomplished writer to attend Summer Literary Seminars: an abiding love of
literature, intellectual curiosity, openness to new artistic and cultural
experiences, and the sincere desire to deepen one's understanding of the
creative process while being immersed in the heady atmosphere of one of the
world's most fascinating locales, are the only prerequisites.
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