What we are doing

The open call for the 2025 edition has ended.

Mophradat is supporting emerging creative writers from the Arab world working in contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Published writers currently working on a new text for publication and who need time to focus on its completion can apply to this program. Each participant will receive a stipend to allow them to take time out from their daily preoccupations and complete their project.

The program offers a short sabbatical period for two or more writers per open call.

The participant would receive an amount determined by Mophradat based on the local living costs in the writer’s country of residence, and covers a period from one month up to three months depending on the writer’s need. Applicants must have a publisher interested in their upcoming work (online or print. Independent publishers, periodicals, and other literary or cultural journals qualify). At the end of the sabbatical period, they will connect with one of the advisors (from the selection committee) for a feedback session concerning their manuscript.

SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Applicants must be from or living in the Arab world. Priority is given to those writing in Arabic and those based in the Arab world.
• Applicants must be authors of creative writing including fiction, poetry, criticism, essay, and other literary forms. These sabbaticals are not for academic writing, film, or journalism.
• Applicants must be published writers with at least two prior instances of publication (books, articles, essays etc.).
• Applicants must provide a letter of interest from a publisher for the new work they are about to complete during this sabbatical. Innovative proposals in method and form will be given priority.
• Applicants must commit to taking a leave from their day jobs for the entire sabbatical period (For those who are selected: if employed, a letter from their place of employment must be provided confirming the agreed time out).

PROCESS

• All applicants, whether selected or not, will receive a response to their applications by April 1, 2025.
• Upon selection, a grant agreement will be signed between the recipient and Mophradat.
• Funds will be released in a two-stage process: 70 percent when the agreement is signed, and the remaining 30 percent at the end of the sabbatical period upon submission of the completed manuscript and a short narrative summary of what was achieved.
• The grantee engages to visibly credit Mophradat for the publication of their work, and send copies of any printed material to its office in Brussels.

*Please note that due to the high volume of applications and the confidentiality of the selection process, Mophradat cannot provide individual feedback explaining the reason an application was not selected.

**By applying to this program, you agree that, if selected, you will endeavor to realize your proposal. If the proposal is not realized within the timeline agreed upon, you may be asked to partially or fully reimburse Mophradat.

The Writing Sabbaticals is implemented with the support of Mophradat’s institutional partners.