WRITER ALERT: Diaspora Dialogues submission call deadline extended to June 2
Looking for emerging writers of fiction,
poetry and drama in GTA
(An announement from Diaspora Dialogues)
Diaspora Dialogues invites submissions from emerging writers of short stories less than 3,000 words in length, plays of not more than 20 minutes for a maximum of 3 actors and/or up to 5 poems, with each poem being no more than 75 lines. (See below for definition of ‘emerging.’)
Deadline has been extended to June 2, 2006, was May 15, so hurry!
The focus of Diaspora Dialogues is on first- and second-generation immigrants to Canada who live in the greater Toronto region. First-generation is defined as those who were born outside the country; second generation as those born in Canada to one or both parents born elsewhere. Submissions from First Nations writers are also welcome.
The setting of the works must be, at least in part, Toronto. The project is meant to create a literature of this city. Writers are encouraged to keep this mandate in mind, but addressing this theme directly is not essential in the submission.
Through an adjudicated process, a shortlist of 20-25 writers will be chosen and each assigned (free of charge) to an established writer or dramaturge in a mentoring capacity to gain feedback on their work. A selection of the finished pieces will be produced in the Diaspora Dialogues anthology. Additionally, they will be published on the Diaspora Dialogues website and some will be published or read through print and radio partners.
The 2006 Diaspora Dialogues commissioned writers/mentors will include Lawrence Hill, Rabindranath Maharaj, Soneil Parsa, Kerri Sakamoto and Priscila Uppal among others.
Diaspora Dialogues runs a very popular monthly multi-disciplinary literary and performance festival (which the Globe and Mail recently identified as one of the five series that give the city its cultural buzz). Each short-listed writer will be given a chance to present their work to a live audience at one of these events, and the plays chosen for the program will be staged using professional actors/directors.
Launched in 2006, Diaspora Dialogues supports the creation and presentation of new fiction, poetry and drama that reflect the complexity of the city back to Torontonians through the eyes of its richly diverse communities.
Submission guidelines:
- The greater Toronto region must exist in the story or poem in some way. This can mean using the city as a physical setting. It can mean exploring what the city means to you in a psychological or metaphorical way. It can mean writing about a person, issue or geographic location that is Toronto-specific. The definition is broad, but Toronto must be somehow present in the work.
- The work must be original and not previously published or produced.
- Short stories must be 3,000 words or less; up to 5 poems may be submitted, with each poem being no more than 75 lines; plays of not more than 20 minutes for a maximum of 3 actors are welcomed. Only one submission per category per person (one person may submit one from each category if desired).
- Submissions must be in English.
- Writers/poets must not have been previously published in a full-length manuscript of their own (although appearance in magazines and/or anthologies are acceptable). Playwrights must have not had a full-length play (greater than 75 minutes) professionally produced.
- Those submitting must live in the greater Toronto region.
- Submissions must include a short biographical note and full contact information. Submissions will not be accepted electronically. If you wish your submission returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
We welcome your submission! Deadline is May 15, 2006. Early submissions are encouraged. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline.
Please mail to:
Diaspora Dialogues Charitable Organization
170 Bloor Street West, Suite 804
Toronto, ON M5S 1T9
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Helen Walsh
Tel: 416.944.1101, ext 227