The Craft of Writing: A Creative Writing Workshop offers an intellectually engaging space for the exploration of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Participants will have the opportunity to share their original writing and get feedback on it from other participants. Each submission will be closely read and discussed over the two days of the workshop.

The workshop emphasizes constructive criticism and meaningful discussion, providing participants an opportunity to refine their works while developing their analytical and interpretive skills. 

If you want to apply to this workshop, you must:
- Be over the age of 18
- Have finished high school
- Submit your original works; complete or incomplete
- Be able to commit to attending the two days of the workshop in person
- Commit to reading and commenting on your fellow participant's writing

Please apply for the workshop by Sunday, 27th July, 2026. 

If you want more information about the workshop, check the FAQs!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is the facilitator?

Samrat Upadhyay is the first Nepali-born fiction writer to be published in the United States. His debut short story collection Arresting God in Kathmandu was the winner of the 2001 Whiting Writers’ Award and his second short story collection, The Royal Ghosts, won the 2007 Asian American Literary Award. His novel The Guru of Love was a New York Times Notable Book while Buddha’s Orphan was longlisted for 2012 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. His 2014 novel The City Son was longlisted for PEN Open Book award. His story collection Mad Country was called ‘brilliant, daring. Samrat Upadhyay is a Distinguished Professor of English and the Martha C. Kraft Professor of Humanities at Indiana University, where he teaches creative writing.

Joel Kemegue is a writer from Bellevue, Washington with a B.A. in English from Washington State University. He is a former WSU Campus Civic Poet and a Cave Canem Fellow. His work explores masculinity, race, religion, generational trauma, and community. He loves reading, cinnamon rolls, watching bad movies, and complaining about nonsense. 

William E. Smith III is a M.F.A. candidate in poetry. Will was born in Honolulu, but spent much of his childhood in New England (after stints in Scotland and California). He holds a B.A. in History from Albright College, a Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard University, and a PhD in Religious Studies with a doctoral minor in English from IU Bloomington. In his writing, he explores, among other things, how the body can go awry in interesting ways, forms of relationality, and the uses of myth and religion to think through experience. He enjoys spending time with his dog Buddy, hiking, seeing wildlife, and the occasional good game of cribbage.

Julia Irmscher is a fiction writer and a Bloomington native. She works as a writing tutor at IU, where she is a Provost Scholar, and pursuing B.A.s in Sociology and English literature. When not writing, Julia plays the violin and organizes with IU’s chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America.

Will this workshop be in-person or virtual?
The workshop will be in-person.

Who can apply?
Writers above the age of 18 and who have finished high school can apply for the workshop. You should also be familiar with the fundamentals of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and submit a creative writing sample. 

In which language will this workshop be conducted?
The workshop will be conducted in the English language. 

Can I send previously published work as a sample for application submission?
Yes, send them!

Can I send incomplete and unpublished work as a sample for application submission?
Yes, send them!

Do I need to pay for this workshop?
No, the workshop is completely free. 

How will I know if I am selected for the workshop?
Quixote’s Cove will contact you via email or phone if you are selected on Saturday, August 2, 2026.

What is the timeline of the workshop?
There will be a total of two workshop sessions, which will be conducted on Thursday and Friday, August 6 and 7. It will be conducted from 02:00 to 05:00 PM. 

When is the deadline to apply for the workshop?
Please apply by Tuesday, July 30, 2026! 

How can I apply for the workshop?
You can click this LINK to apply. 

Where can I find regular updates on this and more of Quixote’s Cove’s activities?
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and LinkedIn for updates about the fellowship. If you want to know more about Quixote’s Cove and the programs we conduct, click HERE.