The Speculative Literature Foundation is pleased to announce Deirra Clyburn as the winner of the 2023 Working Class Writers Grant.
Clyburn’s winning piece is called “A Second Skin.” Deirra Clyburn is a writer and illustrator based in Richmond, Virginia. In her writing, diversity is a driving force and inspiration. She loves to explore themes of estrangement, found family and romantic love through a speculative and supernatural lens. She is a recipient of the 2016 silver key in the Scholastics art and writing award. She is currently working on her first novel, Nova. Learn more at 2023 Working Class Writers Grant.
Since 2013, the Working Class Writers Grant has been awarded annually to speculative fiction writers who are working class, blue-collar, financially disadvantaged, or homeless, who have been historically underrepresented in speculative fiction due to financial barriers which make it hard to access the writing world. Such lack of access might include an inability to purchase a computer, books, and tuition, or to attend conventions or workshops. Often, these writers, many of whom work more than one job, have less time to write. The SLF seeks to bring more of these marginalized voices into speculative fiction. Visit speculativeliterature.org/grants for more information.
Launched in January 2004 to promote literary quality in speculative fiction, the Speculative Literature Foundation addresses historical inequities in access to literary opportunities for marginalized writers. Our staff and board are committed to representing racial, gender, and class diversity at all levels of our organization. This commitment is at the heart of what the Speculative Literature Foundation stands for: equal access to create and advance science fiction, fantasy, and horror literature. We strive to enable writers at any stage of their career and of any age, any ethnicity, any gender expression, from any location and of any economic or social status, who want to learn about, or create within, the speculative arts. For more information, visit speculativeliterature.org.
The SLF is a 501(c)3 non-profit, entirely supported by community donations. If you’d like to be involved with our efforts, please consider joining us as a member for $2/month, at speculativeliterature.org/membership.
The Speculative Literature Foundation is partially funded by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, Village of Oak Park, Illinois Arts Council Agency, National Endowment for the Arts and Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation.
[Based on a press release.]