Fiction & Poetry
Fiction and poetry are the lifeblood of Under the Volcano. Seekers of story and argonauts of the imagination, our participants may be published or unpublished, “emerging” or seasoned, speculative or realistic, but all are deeply committed to honing their work in a community of accomplished peers. We invite applications from writers across the Americas and beyond—in both English and Spanish—who are ready to take their voice to the next level.
Guest readers and presenters add a rich layer to the conversation, with talks open to all program participants, regardless of genre. See the list of special guests on our faculty page for a glimpse of those already confirmed for January 2023.
Who's Who
in Creative Writing @ UTV
Our masterclasses are led by master writers from across the English- and Spanish-speaking worlds. Current and past faculty include:
Founding faculty: Maureen Howard & Grace Paley
Russell Banks
David Barstow
Tyrone Beason
Breyten Breytenbach
Francisco Cantú
Cyrus Cassells
Alberto Chimal
Sandra Cisneros
Jennifer Clement
Gabriela Damián
Mark Doty
Álvaro Enrigue
Carolyn Forché
Adam Foulds
Betty Fussell
Reyna Grande
Jessica Hagedorn
Maureen Howard
David Huerta
Joyce Johnson
Mónica Lavín
Jonathan Levi
Sandra Lorenzano
Valeria Luiselli
Tim MacGabhann
Paul Muldoon
Verónica Murguía
Sabina Murray
Grace Paley
Alicia Quiñones
Emily Raboteau
Nelly Rosario
Elizabeth Rosner
Aysegül Savas
Francisco Segovia
Owen Sheers
Sheree Renée Thomas
Ginger Thompson
Luisa Valenzuela
Chuck Wachtel
Alison Wearing
Alejandra Xanic
What makes our program unique
Our writers
at a glance..


Fellowships
for Poets and Fiction Writers
We currently offer five full fellowships to writers of fiction or poetry—three in English and two in Spanish. Our Black Writers Matter Fund offers sliding scale support to qualified Black applicants (talent + need).
Selected Alumni Books
Our alumni are publishing non-stop and we couldn’t be more proud. Hardly a week goes by without word of another novel, short story collection, memoir or poetry chapbook by one of our alumni. Many of the titles on this page began at Under the Volcano and grew by leaps and bounds before our eyes.
“I have never felt so supported to achieve what I want. I “leave” this experience with my heart filled with joy, with my brain like a Christmas tree, full of new ideas, and with a sense that I have finally met my tribe.”
María Mínguez
“I walked away feeling enriched, and like I can actually make a career out of writing, instead of a dream.”
Melissa Watkins
“Sin Under the Volcano y la beca no hubiera logrado este premio.”
Montserrat Rodríguez Ruelas
“Receiving the Imagination Unbound fellowship proved that the years I spent working my fingers to the bone and sharpening my writing to the finest point possible changed my life for the better.”
Alex Jennings
“UTV ha cambiado mi manera de entender qué escribo y desde dónde escribo. Me voy feliz y con toda la inspiración para seguir mi sueño.”
Diego Arellano
“Three weeks of inspired and enthusiastic teaching, rigorous editing and encouragement to continue writing. I wish each session could have been longer. “
Janet Dawson
“Under The Volcano es una experiencia de imaginación: nos llama a imaginar nuevas formas de escribir y nuevas formas posibles de hacer comunidad. “
Daniel Escoto
“The residency is a poetic vaccine. Thankful each day for the poetic protection! “