Indigenous Writing

• Cultural Indigenous peoples carry memory, languages, stories and ways of understanding the land. Literature is one of the most powerful means of keeping that memory alive, passing it on to new generations and bringing it into dialogue with the rest of the world.
• Literary and editorial There are voices of enormous quality with little access to specialised training, careful editing, agents and distribution channels. The programme responds to that gap and broadens the landscape of Spanish-language literature with perspectives the market has paid little attention to.
• Social and community Being published and read strengthens the identity, self-esteem and recognition of communities. Professional Indigenous authors with visible work become role models for young creators and for the education system.
• Regional By bringing together authors from several countries and peoples, it builds a Latin American network of writers who know, read and support one another beyond national borders.
• Academic It produces materials, anthologies and a body of works that can be used in research, teaching and the study of Indigenous literature and interculturality.

General objective. To discover, train, represent and project a new generation of Latin American Indigenous writers through a comprehensive, ethical and sustainable publishing programme.

• Discover authors and literary projects from 8 or more Latin American countries through an open and accessible call, welcoming works in Indigenous languages with a translation.
• Train the selected authors in a six-month workshop that develops their narrative or poetic craft and ends with a complete manuscript.
• Support each participant with an assigned mentor and editor, to strengthen their texts while respecting their voice, language and worldview.
• Train the authors in intellectual property, contracts and the management of their work, so that they can make informed decisions about their careers.
• Represent the authors professionally.
• Publish and launch the authors’ first books during the first cycle, under the Casa Hispana imprint.
• Project the works through book fairs, festivals, universities, libraries and digital outreach, and promote translation and the sale of rights.
• Build a network of alumni who mentor future generations and give the programme continuity.

• People aged 18 or over. Under-18s with prior notarised authorisation from their parents or legal guardians.
• Who identify as part of an Indigenous people of Latin America or as Afro-descendants with Indigenous roots (self-identification, no certificate required).
• Living in any Latin American country, or members of the diaspora.
• With a literary project of their own, early-stage or advanced, in any of the genres covered by the call.
• No academic background or previously published books are required.

The joint committee (Casa Hispana editors, invited Indigenous writers and a cultural mediator) will assess:

• The quality and originality of the literary voice.
• Cultural relevance and connection with memory, land or identity.
• The project’s potential to develop during the workshop.
• The applicant’s commitment and motivation.
• A balance of countries, peoples, genres and languages in the final group.

The participants will be selected and a record of the result will be published.

• Attend at least 80% of the workshop sessions (6 months, online, with optional in-person meetings).
• Hand in writing progress by the deadlines agreed with their editor and mentor.
• Finish the workshop with a completed manuscript.
• Treat fellow participants, mentors and staff with respect.
• Take part in activities that promote the programme (readings, interviews, presentations) whenever possible.

• Authorship and the economic rights of each work remain with its author.
• Any publication, anthology or single-author book will be made under a written contract with transparent terms, royalties and timescales.
• If the work draws on collective knowledge or stories, the author declares that they have the community’s consent.
• Taking part in the workshop does not oblige anyone to publish with Casa Hispana Group, nor does publication guarantee a place in the workshop.
• Personal data will be used solely to run the programme.

Call opens

To be announced

Applications close

To be announced

Committee assessment

To be announced

Selected participants announced

To be announced

Workshop begins

To be announced

Applications are sent using the form on this page. Enquiries: contacto@casahispanagroup.com.