I’m an Associate Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Goldsmiths.
In Spring/Autumn 2025, I’ll be a Tutor on the Writing Literary Short Fiction course for the Granta Writers’ Workshop.
PhD Creative and Critical Writing, UEA (2024)
MA Language, Culture and History: German Studies, UCL (2012)
BA (Hons) Media and Modern Literature, Goldsmiths (2009)
Upcoming Online Courses
Writing Experimental Fiction (online)
Monday 3 February 2025 6.30-8.30 PM (UK) via Zoom
Monday 10 February 2025 6.30-8.30 PM (UK) via Zoom
Monday 17 February 2025 6.30-8.30 PM (UK) via Zoom
In this three week online course I will give a brief introductory talk at the start of each session before we discuss and explore a range of approaches and practical tasks. There will also be some reading before the sessions and a reading list at the end. There will be two pricing options: £110 (max. 12 participants, minimum 6 participants) or £135 to additionally have a 1hr feedback meeting over zoom on up to 5,000 words produced during the course or outside of it and to discuss your writing in general.
Please send messages of interest to the below address. jenniferannecalleja [at] gmail [dot] com
In case these dates don’t work, I will possibly do the course again in March on the same days and at the same times, but this will depend on interest.
Academic Teaching
I’ve previously been an Associate Tutor in the Department of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at UEA. I’ve also supervised students on Birkbeck‘s MFA Creative Writing and UEA‘s MA Literary Translation programmes. I’ve given multiple guest lectures at King’s College London (on creative-critical writing) and Goldsmiths (on DIY music cultures).
Workshops and Courses
I’ve created and delivered creative writing and literary translation courses, masterclasses and workshops for the Arvon Foundation, The British Library, The Poetry School, New Writing South, Writers & Artists, Hastings Writers’ Workshop, Grand Union Gallery, Flatland Projects, the British Centre for Literary Translation Summer School (UEA), the American Literary Translators’ Association, Bristol Translates Summer School (University of Bristol), as well as for various universities and institutions in the UK and US.
I also provide ad hoc online courses in writing and literary translation.
My workshops and courses are for writers writing in English and/or literary translators working from any language into English. Fiction, poetry, and German-to-English literary translation are my specialisms.
If you’re an organisation, institution or university looking to book a creative writing and/or literary translation workshop I can create a workshop suitable for different abilities and skills.
I have some limited capacity in January and February 2025 to give feedback on your work-in-progress, especially fiction, creative non-fiction, and experimental work. You can also gift these to someone else who you think might like some support with their writing project.
2 pages of written feedback on up to 15,000 words – £200
3-4 pages of written feedback on up to 30,000 words – £375
2 pages of written feedback on up to 15,000 words + 1hr Zoom – £225
3-4 pages of written feedback on up to 30,000 words + 1hr Zoom – £400
1hr Zoom to chat about your writing (no reading or written feedback) – £25
Contact me on the email address below to book or to ask for a quote on a larger project. jenniferannecalleja [at] gmail [dot] com
Mentoring
I mentor writers and literary translators independently on a case by case basis. I’m currently mentoring one writer while they work on their debut novel, and have capacity for one more.
I’ve previously been a Poetry Mentor for Book Week organised by the Jewish Book Council and for the charity Arts Emergency, and a Literary Translation Mentor for the British Council and London Book Fair.
My books are currently *CLOSED* for one-on-one literary translation mentoring.
My most popular workshop has been my Creative Masterclass for Writers and Translation, which I teach over the course of a weekend at the British Library. This course has been running since 2018 and takes place twice a year.
The course was creative, stimulating, encouraging and friendly, and was exactly as described […] Jen Calleja was a skilled, intelligent, confident and encouraging tutor.
Masterclass participant , British Library
John-Baptiste is undertaking a 12-hour mentorship with me focusing on translating literary fiction and non-fiction from German to English.
Read a conversation between John-Baptiste and I about the mentorship at New Books in German magazine
From my perspective the experience has been incredibly enriching.
John-Baptiste, New Books in German magazine
I mentored Julijia as part of the British Council/London Book Fair Emerging Translator Scheme.
Jen Calleja provided me with valuable context for the literary translator’s network in the UK, introduced me to the work of the Society of Authors and the Emerging Translators Network, as well as some editors and publishers, and even edited my sample translations, which was very generous of her. All of that worked as a confidence-building experience and it would have taken much longer otherwise or might not have happened at all.
Julija Gulbinovic
I give literary translation mentorships for 2, 4, 6 or 12 hours in 2-hour sessions in person or over Skype. Please contact me for details.
My workshops have been in association with places including Grand Union Gallery, Doolin Writers Festival, King’s College London, Edinburgh Universities’ Summer School, University College London and British Centre for Literary Translation.
I can give literary translation, creative writing, and creative translation workshops of any length – from 2 hours to multiple sessions over the course of many weeks.
I’m offering an online course in Making a Start with Literary Translation comprising six two-hour sessions. The first hour will be practical exercises and discussion on things like writing, approaches, ethics, and working with(in) the publishing industry, the second hour will be a discussion of a translation by one of the participants in the group to give insight into the editing and redrafting process. Before the course you will need to provide a short translation of prose, a few poems, or a few pages of theatre from any language into English (specifics will be given over email).
Spaces limited to 6. The full price is £180. By booking a place you will have to commit to all six weeks.
Email jenniferannecalleja at gmail dot com with the subject LIT TRANS SPRING 2024 to book a place.
It…made it clear to me that I would like to pursue literary translation as at least a part of my career – it had always seemed so terrifyingly inaccessible before so it was really nice to meet a friendly real human who actually does it for a living and made it seem much less so.
Workshop attendee
I’m offering an online course in Reading and Writing Short Fiction comprising six two-hour sessions for the first time. The first hour will be practical exercises and discussion of a specific story or stories sent in advance. The second hour will comprise a discussion of a draft story by one of the participants in the group – also sent in advance of meeting – with time for asking more general questions about writing and publishing. Before the course, you will need to be willing to provide a draft story (specifics will be given over email). No previous experience of writing is necessary.
Spaces limited to 6. The full price is £180. By booking a place you will need to commit to all six weeks. To book a place, email jenniferannecalleja at gmail dot com with the subject SHORT FICTION 2024.