Writing of Witness
Writing of Witness expands first-person narrative onto the larger canvas of the issues that connect individuals to their surroundings. Through shorter magazine pieces or book-length projects, participants in our Writing of Witness master master classes—one each in English and Spanish—take their writing from singular to plural by finding the connective tissue that makes their work come alive.
Led by award-winning writers Jennifer Clement and Sandra Lorenzano, Writing of Witness is a sister to our investigative journalism program. Taken as a whole, our masterclasses in literary non-fiction and journalism embody our core commitment to truth-telling and freedom of expression.
As part of a growing network of solidarity among writers, Under the Volcano especially encourages risk-taking candidates with intrepid projects to apply.
Who's Who
in Writing of Witness @UTV
JENNIFER CLEMENT
US-Mexican writer Jennifer Clement’s work spans not only nationalities and territories but genres, including novels, memoir and poetry. Her award-winning novels of witness— A True Story Based on Lies, Prayers for the Stolen and Gun Love— are all based on years of research into the mistreatment of domestic servants in Mexico, the stealing of girls in Guerrero, the trafficking of US guns into Mexico and Central America, and gun violence. As President of PEN Mexico, she was instrumental in changing the law to make killing a journalist a federal crime. Under her subsequent leadership as the only woman elected President of PEN International since the organization’s founding in 1921, the groundbreaking PEN International Women’s Manifesto and The Democracy of the Imagination Manifesto were created. Her past teaching with Under the Volcano includes both the English-language poetry master class and manuscript coaching module.
Sandra Lorenzano
Nacida en Buenos Aires, Sandra Lorenzano se considera así misma “argen-mex”; ha vivido en México desde 1975, producto del exilio. Novelista, poeta y colaboradora frecuente de diversos medios periodísticos, posee un PhD en literatura por la UNAM y ha sido miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores y del Sistema Nacional de Creadores del Arte. Actualmente, Lorenzano es Directora de Cultura y Comunicación Social de la Coordinación Universitaria para la Igualdad de Género, y coordinadora de “Cultura y Migración”, un proyecto internacional de la UNAM, la UNESCO y la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Escribe una columna semanal para la plataforma digital Sin Embargo.
What makes our program unique
Memory as Witness
Insights on writing from faculty members Liz Rosner and Sandra Lorenzano
Writing of Witness Fellowship
The Words of Witness Fellowship is awarded to a US-based writer of literary non-fiction whose work addresses issues of social justice, racism or the fate of the earth in an innovative way.
Testimonials
“When I was feeling overwhelmed at the sheer talent and accomplishments of the faculty, a fellow writing student said to me, “The only difference between them and us is time.”
“During my time at UTV, I built life-long friendships with the kindest people, received meaningful and encouraging feedback from a group of brilliant writers, and ate more itacates than I thought humanly possible.”
“UTV is an incredible, rich program, in a magical location, with the company of inspired writers from all over North America. Do yourself a favour and apply!”