Call for Applications: Summer Writing Residency – On Memory, Place & Power

OVERVIEW      

Fiker Institute presents a month-long, in-person summer residency in Dubai for emerging and established creative writers, focused on the production of short stories. Centered on the theme of “Memory, Place & Power,” the residency is process-led and designed to provide dedicated time, structure, and editorial support for writers seeking to advance their craft and develop publication-ready works. 

Selected writers are expected to work from Fiker Institute’s Library for a minimum of three days each week, including a kickoff session, four weekly editorial workshops, and two formal manuscript reviews, and to produce at least 3,500 words of original fiction over the course of four weeks. 

At the conclusion of the residency, completed short stories will be reviewed for publication, determined on the basis of literary merit and the quality of the final manuscript. Interested writers can apply here.

TIMELINE

21 June 2026: Deadline for submission of applications

30 June 2026: Notification of offers

6 July 2026: Deadline for accepted applicants to confirm participation

14 July – 7 August 2026: Residency period

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must:

1. Work primarily in prose, preferably short stories.
2. Submit work in English.
3. Be able to reside in the UAE for the full residency period. This is not a remote opportunity.
4. Be able to participate in a kick-off session, weekly in-person editorial check-ins, plus reviews at the two-week and four-week marks.

We welcome applications from serious writers looking for inspiration. Selection will prioritize the strength of the writing and the depth of the proposed project.

WRITER EXPECTATIONS

We expect selected writers to:

1. Produce a short story of a minimum of 3,500 words.
2. Work from Fiker Institute’s Library with regularity (at least three days per week, Tuesdays–Sundays, during opening hours).
3. Attend:
   • A kick-off session at the start of the residency
   • Weekly in-person check-ins (editorial guidance + project tracking)
   • Midpoint editorial review (around the end of Week 2)
   • Final editorial review (end of Week 4)
4. Adhere to strict standards of originality and creative integrity, wherein no artificially generated text or AI-assisted content will be presented as a draft or final work. 
5. Bring work into the room: drafts that can be discussed and revised.
6. Participate in a small cohort ethos: thoughtful exchange, confidentiality, and generosity of attention.

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESIDENCY

Fiker Institute will provide:

1. Library membership (Tuesdays–Sundays) for the duration of the residency, including on-site use of books for research and development.
2. A writer’s honorarium of 2,000 AED 
3. A kickoff session and weekly in-person editorial check-ins with a Fiker Institute team member: close reading, structured feedback, and planning for the week ahead.
4. Two formal editorial reviews with the wider team:
   • Week 2: trajectory review (structure, language, stakes, form)
   • Week 4: consolidation review (revision strategy, next steps, readiness of manuscript)
5. Where possible, introductions to Dubai’s literary and arts community through events and discussion sessions hosted at Fiker Institute.
6. Certificate of Participation
7. Consideration for publication, upon successful completion of the residency

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Writer statement (max. 400 words): writing practice, forms of choice, and themes of interest that you have explored
3. Project proposal (max. 300 words): potential ideas, what you plan to develop during the four weeks, and why this residency’s structure would help
4. Work sample:
   • Prose/creative nonfiction/drama: up to 8 pages (excerpts allowed)
5. Confirmation of availability for the full residency period (in person)