The Bocas-Jacaranda Short Story Intensive is now closed for submissions. All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of final decisions by Monday 23 March, 2026 11.59 PM AST.

Facilitated by Celeste Mohammed

A Bocas Academy Seven-Week Session

Hosted by the Bocas Lit Fest and Jacaranda Books

Compressed. Precise. Craft-intensive. If a novel is a marathon, a short story is a focused, fever-pitch sprint to a finish line. 

A world of possibilities awaits you in the short story genre. Caribbean writers are no slouches in the field, either–one look at our glowing track record in the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is ample proof. 

Join Celeste Mohammed, winner of the 2022 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, author of Ever Since We Small and Pleasantview, on a seven-week journey designed to strengthen your skills in short fiction writing. Through online learning, live craft seminars, peer workshops, editorial feedback, and direct engagement with an international publisher, your drafts will move from patchy to polished–and you’ll refine your own unique storyteller’s voice. 

Where? Online, via Celeste Mohammed’s SureFiction teaching portal

When? Seven weeks, 6 April – 30 May (one week break during the 2026 Bocas Lit Fest)

Who? A focused cohort of 10 participants, to allow for personalized feedback and attention

How? A blended pedagogical approach of live and non-live elements, all online

Cost? Successful participants are required to pay a one-time $1000 TTD fee; two spots in the intensive will be fully-funded

This programme is for you if: 

• You’re a writer living in the geographic Caribbean, who has not yet published a full-length work of fiction;
• You’re hungry for deeper and more sustained engagement than you’ve been able to get in one-off hour-long or week-long workshops;
• You’re committed to a rigorous, enjoyable seven-week process with nine of your peers and an experienced instructor;
• You want actionable results on a set timeframe: a ready-for-submission final draft; a detailed editorial memo; a strategic submissions plan from your instructor;
• You’re keen on feedback from, and dialogue with, Jacaranda Books, an established publisher of short fiction.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit a single short story ranging from 1,500 (minimum) to 2,500 (maximum) words. Your short story must not have been published on any platform, including your own social media and/or blog, at the time of submission.

Your submitted short story must not appear in publication, on any platform, on or before 7 March 2026.

Applications can only be submitted via the Bocas Academy’s online portal, here. Any applications submitted via email will not be acknowledged. 

Your application must also include your one-page CV, and a brief statement of intent, not exceeding 200 words. Your statement of intent should indicate why you would like to form part of The Bocas-Jacaranda Short Story Intensive, and what you most hope to gain from the programme. 

If you’re applying for one of the two fully funded spots, you’ll be prompted to upload a separate 100-word statement in the submission form. Your 100-word statement should make it clear that you would otherwise be unable to attend The Bocas-Jacaranda Short Story Intensive without the financial support of the fully funded spot. You are not required to submit bank details, statements, etc.

Applications close on 7 March, 11.59 PM AST.

See the official FAQ for more information. If your question or concern is not addressed, feel free to email us directly at [email protected].