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Raise $ for 12 full scholarships to The Academy

We help ambitious writers living with limitations, by providing a three-month nonfiction program, from pre-writing to publication.

$2,875
pledged of$54,000 goal
17
0Days Left

Project Description

"Storytellers are a threat. They threaten all champions of control, they frighten usurpers of the right-to-freedom of the human spirit—in state, in church or mosque, in party congress, in the university or wherever."

— Chinua Achebe (in his novel: Anthills of the Savannah)

dark writing nook with table by a window

 

 

 

The Unexpected Shape Writing Academy helps ambitious, marginalized writers, usually living with limitations such as illness or disability, by providing a three-month nonfiction curriculum, so that they can publish essays, articles, and ultimately books in the gate-kept world of traditional publication. As a result, the canon of contemporary literature is enriched by a diversity of excellent voices.

As for the nuts-and-bolts of the Academy: we provide weekly live classes taught by me, Esmé Weijun Wang, as well as brilliant writers like Leslie Jamison, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Hanif Abdurraqib, and T Kira Madden. Co-writing sessions so that our students won’t be writing alone. Chatting and sharing on Discord with their cohort. Getting feedback from a writing coach tailored to them.

Currently, we are operating the second cohort of the Academy. The first cohort was a success; testimonials from students can be found at http://www.unexpectedshapeacademy.com

We are seeking people who support the mission of increased diversity and the raising of unheard voices in the publishing industry who would be interested in helping to crowdfund 12 scholarships for the Track B component of the Academy: everything provided in Track A, with the addition of a writing coach tailored to the writer's needs. We currently give 2 scholarships per cohort, as generously donated by Carli Cutchin, but are always overwhelmed by applicants to our scholarship program. In order to better serve the community, we need more scholarships to give to these ambitious, deserving students-to-be, and hope to use the money from this crowdfunding to provide 3 additional scholarships for the next year (four quarters) of the program.

 

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Where is my money going?
    • All of the money raised, save for the Stripe fees automatically taken out, will go toward scholarships for the 3 Track B students in each cohort in 2023. (Tuition includes the cost of running the Academy, such as paying writing coaches and visiting teachers.)

 

 

AL
08/10/2022
Monetary Contribution
$100
M McR
08/09/2022
Monetary Contribution
$25
08/08/2022
Monetary Contribution
$50
Claudia Ng
08/08/2022
Monetary Contribution
$1,000
Victoria Shi
08/08/2022
Monetary Contribution
$50
Long Vo
08/08/2022
Monetary Contribution
$15
Courtney Gustafson
08/08/2022
Monetary Contribution
$50
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

17 Supporters
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About the Entrepreneur

San francisco, CA
Created 1 Campaign

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

17 Supporters
Select this reward