Organizer Information
The United World Colleges (UWC) is a global educational movement and international network of schools dedicated to making education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Under its official short course branch, the international office endorses specialized, high-impact community initiatives that advance the movement's visionary frameworks. This program is developed and led by seasoned writer, experimental fiction author, and theater practitioner Dr. Nandita Dinesh, a UWC Mahindra College alumna who has served as a faculty member at United World Colleges across India, Armenia, and the USA.
Title & Description
Write Imagined Worlds: A Virtual Cohort-Based Fiction Writing Programme
Write Imagined Worlds is a virtual, intensive fiction writing course designed to guide authors through the sequential phases of story architectural layout, manuscript development, and market distribution paths. Structured as a supportive 12-week cohort, the curriculum combines interactive weekly group workshops with private, one-on-one professional mentorship. The educational journey is segmented into three distinct modules: exploring experimental forms (visual aesthetics, multilingualism, autofiction, and interactive texts), drafting structured chapter breakdowns, and mapping out personalized publishing pathways (traditional publishing, Amazon self-publishing, or hybrid alternatives). The experience culminates in an official, virtual, TEDx-style group showcase where participants present their final creative products to an international audience.
Categories
This course is strictly dedicated to:
- Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, and Novel Development.
Eligibility
- Experience Benchmark: Open to writers at any stage of their artistic journey; instructional exercises are scaffolded to benefit first-time novelists and established authors alike.
- Age Requirement: Open to participants aged 16 and older. For applicants under the age of 18, a formal consent form signed by a legal guardian must be completed and filed with the instructor.
- Language Requirements: The primary language of facilitation and group interaction is English; however, participants are completely free to write their actual creative fiction in the language of their choice, utilizing automated translation tools to support the peer feedback cycle.
- Commitment Rule: To preserve a cohesive environment, participants must commit to the entire 12-week timeline. Part-time attendance is not permitted.
Program Benefits & Awards
- 12 Weeks of Expert Instruction: Direct training under Dr. Nandita Dinesh across advanced layout, planning, and experimental fiction mechanisms.
- One-on-One Consultations: Two separate, highly individualized two-hour private tutoring sessions throughout the final month to accelerate project development.
- UWC Short Course Certificate: Participants automatically qualify for an official international certificate, provided they meet strict attendance targets (missing no more than one group session per month, completing both 1:1 tracks, and delivering a final showcase speech).
- Publishing Mentorship: Actionable, tailored advisory breakdowns detailing traditional, self-directed, or alternative publishing pipelines.
- Global Network Integration: Membership in a tight-knit international cohort of writers and placement in the international UWC program index.
Application Fee
- Tuition Fees: The full program registration cost is USD 350, structured to be paid in two equal installments:
- First Installment: 50% due immediately upon initial program registration.
- Second Installment: 50% due at the exact halfway milestone of the course.
How to Apply?
https://nanditadinesh.com/fiction-program
Key Dates
- General Cohort Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
- Official Cohort Launch Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Final Presentation Showcase: Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM US PST
Location
This program functions entirely as a virtual workspace. All live critique blocks, workshops, digital modules, and final TEDx-style group events occur completely Online.
Additional Details
Because writing tools are designed to translate effectively regardless of structural styles, authors working in hybrid genres, autofiction, or multi-lingual texts will find tailored modules specifically curated for their trajectories. For regional communities or artistic networks seeking to enlist a cohort group together, customized institutional rates can be requested by contacting the director natively at nanditadinesh@gmail.com.