This is a wonderful fellowship story that deserves much wider reportage.
This week the winners of the First Chapter, ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship were announced tonight at the ceremony of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Programme Details
The fellowship pairs ten emerging writers with internationally published authors, offering one-on-one coaching, workshops, and access to industry experts. Selected from nearly 100 applicants penning their first fiction novel in Arabic or English, this fellowship, ow in its fourth year, stands as the region’s only mentorship programme of global standard for aspiring fiction writers.
No room here to list all the winners and mentors, but what matters is the concept.
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Festival Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said in a press release: “This Fellowship is putting the writing scene in the UAE on the map, attracting international publishers by showcasing the incredible writing talent we have here. Our talented homegrown writers thrive on this programme, thanks to the dedicated authors who mentor them with one-on-one feedback.”
Comprehensive Support
Fellows receive six hours of one-to-one mentorship, participate in workshops led by resident mentor Annabel Kantaria, and attend meetups and talks from industry experts. The programme also offers introductions to international agents, editors, and publishers, and access to short writing classes from international partner institutions. Each year, the group undertakes a field trip to esteemed literary institutions, such as the Gotham Writers Centre in New York and the Faber Academy in London.
Success Stories
Two previous graduates have secured publishing deals:
Sara Hamdan, a first-year graduate, won a two-book deal with US publisher Holt. Her novel ‘What Will People Think’ will be published in May 2025.
Saba Brelvi, from the second year, will have her novel ‘The Squatters’ published by The Dial Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for North American distribution. This follows her signing with New York literary agent Alexa Stark at Writers House.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
