1st Annual
FIGUES CAMP
July 17-20, 2014
Big Bear, California

Empire of the Senseless

Les Figues Camp is a 4-day / 3-night (July 17-20) writing engagement with workshops, talks, readings, and conversations led by Les Figues Press editors, authors and guests. Hosted at a family-owned compound of original log cabins in Big Bear, California, Figues Camp provides intensive and intimate conversations about writing and the social imaginary.

Featured faculty and guest readers include: Lucy Corin, Prageeta Sharma, Matias Viegener, Teresa Carmody, Vanessa Place, Elena Karina Byrne, and Melissa Buzzeo.

Workshops meet for two sessions, from 10:00-12:30. Workshops are limited to six participants. While workshops leaders have proclivities toward particular genres (Melissa—lyric; Teresa—narrative), the groups are not genre-bound. In the afternoons, all campers participate together in craft workshops led by a featured faculty member. In the evenings, after a sit-down dinner, campers give a reading of their work along with faculty members.

The tuition for attending Figues Camp is $995 ($750 for current students; $500 scholarship campers). Tuition includes all camp activities (workshops, talks, and readings) plus lodging and nightly dinners. [Note: Each camper will have her/his own bed (unless campers request otherwise), but campers will be sharing rooms/space with other campers. Also, campers will be responsible for their own breakfast and lunch; a refrigerator is available.]

Proceeds from Figues Camp will help establish the Kathy Acker Fellowship at Les Figues Press. The Kathy Acker Fellowship will be a 9-month, part-time paid position supporting an emerging writer/artist, literary editor, or arts organizer. Kathy Acker Fellows will learn the ins-and-outs of small press publishing while also completing a creative/curatorial project, to be presented in the Spring.

Admissions Process

Apply by June 5 to receive priority consideration. 

Applications will be reviewed by a board consisting of Les Figues staff editors and Figues Camp workshop leaders. Acceptance is based on the strength of the writing sample and suitability to the camp theme: Empire of the Senseless.

Admissions are rolling and applicants should expect to receive a response within 4 weeks. Once accepted, a deposit must be made to reserve the enrollment spot.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we are now able to offer Figues Camp scholarships. A select number of Figues Camp applicants will be eligible to attend camp for $500 total. Scholarships are need-based. To apply for a scholarship, please include a short statement (300 words max) about your current situation and why you want to attend Figues Camp.

Application Guidelines

To be considered, please fill out the form and upload the following in one document through Submittable:

• A short 1-2 paragraph bio/introduction
• A 10 page writing sample
• If you would like to be considered for a Figues Camp scholarship: include a short statement (300 words max) about your current situation and why you want to attend Figues Camp.

Your writing sample may be or include previously published work, though we are most interested in seeing current work that you will potentially bring to Figues Camp.

Along with your application, there is a $5 application fee to cover the cost of Submittable and application processing. All applications must be submitted through Submittable.

Apply by June 5 to receive priority consideration.
Scholarship deadline: June 16, 2014

Submit your application to Figues Camp here.

If you have any questions about the applications process, please email us at [email protected].

This event is supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from The James Irvine Foundation.