Jack Straw Writers Program 2027
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Please contact us at arts@jackstraw.org or 206-634-0919 if this application format is not accessible to you for any reason.
Jack Straw Cultural Center is now accepting applications for the 31st year of the Jack Straw Writers Program, with Curator Harold Taw. To date, the program has included more than 350 writers from the Pacific Northwest and beyond who represent a diverse range of literary genres. Each year, an invited curator selects 12 fellows.
The purpose of the Jack Straw Writers Program is to introduce writers to the medium of recorded audio; to develop their presentation skills for both live and recorded readings; to encourage the creation of new literary work; to present the writers and their work to the public; and to build community among writers.
Participating writers are presented in live readings, in the printed Jack Straw Writers Anthology; and on the web and radio. Each year an invited curator selects the participating writers from a large pool of applicants based foremost on artistic excellence. Among past curators are program co-founder Rebecca Brown, Claudia Castro Luna, Anastacia- Renée, Matt Briggs, Stephanie Kallos, Jourdan Imani Keith, E.J. Koh, Donna Miscolta, Nisi Shawl, and Shawn Wong. Writers receive training in vocal presentation, performance, and microphone technique to prepare them for public readings, interviews, and studio recording. Their recorded readings and interviews with the curator are then used to produce programs for SoundPages, our literary podcast, and for selected radio broadcast.
The Writers Program requires participants to be on-site at Jack Straw Cultural Center for a number of small-group activities, such as an introductory orientation, workshops for microphone/voice technique and live performance, in-studio interview session with the program curator, and live readings - pending any necessary adjustments due to COVID-19 or other emergencies. Most of these activities take place between January and June. Additional Writers Program readings will take place around the community throughout the year, including a final reading with all of the writers in November. Work appearing in the Jack Straw Writers Anthology may not be previously published material, and any subsequent publication of this work must acknowledge the Jack Straw Writers Program.
Selection Process Writers Program applications are evaluated and awarded by an invited curator. The curators change each year. All applicants will be notified of the results in writing. Please allow at least five weeks after deadline dates for the review and notification process to be completed. The first Writers Program mandatory meeting will take place in January 2027.
The 2027 Writers Program Curator is Harold Taw. Harold is a playwright, novelist, and multi-form writer. A 2011 Jack Straw Writing fellow, his debut novel was Adventures of the Karaoke King (Lake Union Publishing 2011). His short stories, essays, and plays have featured on NPR, in a New York Times bestselling anthology, in literary journals and podcasts, and in The Seattle Times; his screenplay Dog Park was a 2023 LA LGBTQ+ Film Festival winner. With The 5th Ave Theatre’s Writers Group, Harold wrote the book for two musicals: Persuasion (2015), based on Jane Austen’s final novel; and original one-act The Missed Connections Club (2014). Persuasion had its world premiere at Taproot Theatre Company in 2017 and its California premiere at Lamb's Players Theatre in 2018. He wrote the book and lyrics for In a Better World: a Multiverse Musical, which had a staged reading funded by 4Culture, and the original play C[Y]PHER, which had a staged reading funded by City of Seattle and presented by Infinity Box Theatre Project. C[Y]PHER will have its world premiere produced by Pork Filled Productions in August 2027.
Selection Criteria The Writers Program typically receives a hundred or more applicants, from which 12 writers are selected. Curator selections will be based primarily upon the excellence of the work represented in the support materials provided by the applicant, with the goal of curating a demographically and stylistically diverse group of writers who will work together well as a group.
QUESTIONS? Please carefully read the Frequently Asked Questions on our website.