ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL WRITING PROGRAM

The IWP is a 3-month residency at the University of Iowa, USA. The participants will spend 10 weeks in residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and participate in literary and creative writing programming with other writers from around the world. They will have a chance to strengthen their writing skills, share knowledge and techniques, and work with translators to help their countries' literary works reach a wider audience. A variety of field trips will be planned along with ten days of individual travel within the U.S. at the conclusion of the program.

The Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate, Lagos is responsible for recruiting potential candidates for this program. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding will be for cultural exchange activities in the field of writing translation, and presentation of original literary work, and to conduct research. The focus of the program will be to examine current trends in literature (including fiction, drama, poetry and screen writing) in the U.S. and worldwide with particular emphasis on countries with significant Muslim populations, and to explore the creative process involved in writing. Further details are available on the IWP website www.uiowa.edu/iwp. The IWP provides a unique intercultural experience for participants who have achieved literary distinction in their own countries.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

* Literary translators and writers whose publications and careers focus on nonfiction (journalism, cultural commentary, biography and memoirs)

* Participants must be comfortable with cross-cultural dynamics and interested in close interaction with other artists from a multiplicity of diverse cultures.

* The candidate should be early to mid-career, and must have at least one published volume or the equivalent in works that have appeared in significant publications (anthologies, journals, literary magazines) over a period of at least two years.

* Nominees must be fluent in English.

* The candidate cannot be a resident of the United States or currently in residence in the US. * Some prior form of national or local recognition for the candidate's literary achievements is a desired qualification.

HOW TO APPLY

The application form is currently unavailable but we hope to receive them by Monday, March 6, 2006. If you are interested in participating, we ask that you include a résumé or C.V. that indicates your publications, and that you send us a representative example of your writing, 10-20 pages in English translation. Thank you for your help with this. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely,

Chinenye Nonyelum Uwadileke

Cultural Affairs Assistant

U.S. Consulate General

2 Broad Street

Lagos, Nigeria

E-mail: uwadilekecn@state.gov

Tel: (2341) 2633713; 2634868-9

Mobile: 0803-402-3263

http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/