The nation's first comprehensive practicum for creative writers of color

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What is Muses & Melanin?

Join us for an online Program Info Session on May 14th at 6pm Pacific time! To register, email [email protected] and put "May 14 Info Session" in the subject line. Registration is required for this virtual session.The 2025 cohort application is now open for submissions!The nation’s first fully funded, comprehensive, professional development career-accelerator practicum that helps talented creative writers of color establish sustainable literary careers in a #PublishingSoWhite* industry. Designed for talented California creative writers of color who aspire to become professional authors, this 8-month Fellowship is designed for people who do not yet have a lengthy list of publishing credits, are not under a publishing contract, do not have literary agent representation, and do not have a doctoral degree in English, Creative Writing, or Literature (a Master's degree in these subjects is fine, such as an MFA or MA). A Bachelor's degree is required. Admission is competitive.Why a program for writers of color?In the publishing industry, BIPOC creative writers do indeed have differentiated concerns. The resources, strategies, positioning approaches, and industry savvy shared in the Fellowship are specifically geared to support and advance writers of color. Fellows graduate with:
• a built-in network
• pragmatic tools and processes for building a literary career
• a breadth of actionable steps
• work submitted to publications, contests, residencies, grants, and fellowships
• and much more.The #PublishingSoWhite hashtag became popular during the racial reckoning and activism of 2020, but even years later, the industry's complexion has not changed at the rates for which we'd all hoped in summer 2020. Witness this 2024 New York Times article: Publishing Pledged to Diversify. Change Has Been Slow.*This hashtag existed on Twitter before summer 2020, but the national and global outrage following the Breonna Taylor and George Floyd assassinations propelled the hashtag to viral proportions in literary circles.

FELLOWSHIP COMPONENTS

Fellows complete a comprehensive learning and support curriculum that equips them with the strategies, tools, and knowledge they need to transition from creative writing students or hobbyists to professional authors. The Fellowship launches participants into the literary profession with a series of professional development workshops, writing workshops, and co-working sessions. During the last four months of the program, Fellows submit their work to publications, conferences, residencies, and contests. The fellowship launches attendees into the literary profession with a series of professional development workshops, two Weekend Intensives, and co-working sessions. As a hybrid program, Fellows must be able to attend kickoff weekends and occasional onsite meetings in San Francisco. Applications for the 2025 program open April 28th. Contact the Fellowship if you'd like to be notified when the application opens, with “M&M Notification List” in the subject line.

the curriculum

You will attain a broad set of professional practices that transmute your talent into actionable, tangible skills. You can put these skills into immediate effect to elevate the trajectory of your literary career. Increase your chances of earning grants, landing artists' residencies, getting published, and beginning a sustainable author career. After completing these curriculum components, many Fellows have garnered their first literary grant, conference panel invitation, or publication credit. Curriculum components address the particular concerns that we face as authors of color, and cover items such as:
• how to demonstrate a rising trajectory (remembering that most people who are awarded grants, fellowships, and residencies are on their way up, not already there)
• the best places to locate opportunities. You'll visit and conduct research on several trustworthy websites offering the most lucrative funding.
• how to create and use a literary calendar to pry open doors of opportunity
• where to locate legitimate, respectable markets
• approach concerns that arise for us as writers of color in the publishing industry and at literary conferences
• becoming proficient in navigating the publication landscape, including learning about the different types of publishers
• how to craft a clear, concise artist statement for funding and residency applications
• what the most popular submission platforms are and how they make your life easier
• how to create industry-standard marketing materials such as your literary resume, author bio, artist statement, and online profiles
• avoid common and costly mistakes in your CV and bio that mark you as an amateur
• how to market yourself as a professional author
• how vetting committees review your application
• write your author bio
• creating a Research Collection Sheet to identify individualized markets particular to what you write
• practical tips on formatting submissions that look professional
• explore options for financial support
• receive a comprehensive packet of handouts to guide you as you build your careerOver the eight-month program, you will attend two Weekend Intensives, workshops, co-working sessions, guest-speaker sessions, and optional one-on-one consultations. Those Fellows who meet attendance and assignments requirements for graduation participation will participate in a formal Graduation Ceremony & Reception at San Francisco Public Library's Koret Auditorium. Graduates are awarded a Literary Launch Package consisting of practical and fun elements to help launch a sustainable author career, including seed money to start their literary bank accounts.

"This program helped build my confidence and was immensely helpful in the progression of my literary career. The program did a good job of pushing us along. Even if I didn't feel ready I had to take the steps which pushed me to recognize that there'll never be a perfect moment and it's better to just do it. I received three offers from journals to publish my essay."
"What I learned: Insights on what funders look for and how to position yourself well for a professional writing career (and that it’s not impossible!) Going through different types of applications and their processes, exploring conferences. Truly invaluable opportunity! Very grateful to have been part of this initial cohort and programs like this are so so important to support!"
"What we were doing and learning is legitimate and works, as evidenced by the success of my cohort. Aspects of the program that were most helpful for my development: 1. Knowing about the different writing groups and how some of them were unions that offered benefits and health insurance. 2. All the different submissions software and how detailed Lyzette was when sharing the different conferences/fellowships/scholarships. 3. Practicing with our ears and how to read better. While I'm the only one from my cohort who hasn't found success, I have a new confidence that I'll get there by summer."