Apply for Nanjing's 2024 Residency

We're excited to share that our friends at Nanjing City of Literature have opened applications for their 2024 residencies programme. They are offering 6 residencies in 2024 to writers, poets and translators from all UNESCO Cities of Literature.

Nanjing International Writers Residency builds a bridge for the city’s literary community to develop mutual understanding with its international counterparts. The annual programme started in 2019 and has hosted 24 writers, poets and translators from the Cities of Literature network.

Nanjing boasts a literary tradition of over 1800 years. The city was the capital of China for about 400 years across six dynasties, and the heritage of those dynasties and its diverse contemporary culture have made it an engaging destination for travellers to China.

The Theme

The theme for 2024 is 'Life is Better with Literature'. Literature is born from daily life, giving us unlimited imagination, and at the same time, under the guidance of literature, we learn to experience life with a broader perspective of the world and more delicate emotions. With the 2024 programme, they would like to invite six writers to deeply experience the life in the historical city of Nanjing. This may include the literary events, reading clubs, cultural adventures, city walks, random encounters and meetings etc., simply to probe into diversified aspects of Nanjingers’ life today.

With “Life is Better with Literature” as the theme for 2024, Nanjing City of Literature hope that the daily life in Nanjing will become an inspiration for literary creation, and that literature will ultimately light up the brilliant sparks of our lives.

Applications are open until Monday 30 September. The residency starts late October, into November, and lasts two weeks in Nanjing.

What Nanjing City of Literature Residencies Offer

• 2-week in-person residency in Nanjing City of Literature
• Tours to culture landmarks and literary places in Nanjing
• A selection of literary activities
• Dialogue with Nanjing writers, poets, translators, literary organisations, and students
• The flight tickets, food, accommodation and local transport will be provided
• A stipend of 1200 USD for each selected writer

Applicants must:

• Have a connection with a UNESCO City of Literature, whether through birth, residency, or established connection with the local City of Lit office (us!)
• Have at least one of the following: three years writing experience; one published work; an award recognised by the local literary community (eg Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awards)
• Be willing to interact with Nanjing’s literary communities and take part in local literary activities
• Write a piece of work in English (no less than 1000 words, or 50 lines in poetry) inspired by the residency, or translate Chinese stories, poems or prose into English (All writers will retain the copyright of their work. The work may be used for promotional purpose by Nanjing Literature Center)
• Be fluent in spoken English, or Chinese

How To Apply

• a CV
• headshot and passport photo
• a writing extract
• written outline of your connection with a City of Literature

If you would like any advice, help or support with your application, please do get in touch!