I’m an Associate Lecturer on the MA in Creative & Life Writing and the BA English & Creative Writing at Goldsmiths. Alongside Camilla Grudova, I’m a Tutor on the Writing Literary Short Fiction course for the Granta Writers’ Workshop.
Teaching
Experience and Qualifications
Academic Experience
I’ve previously been an Associate Tutor in the Department of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at UEA. I’ve supervised students on the MA in Creative & Life Writing and MA in Creative Writing & Education at Goldsmiths, the MFA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, and the MA in Literary Translation at UEA. I am currently supervising a PhD Creative & Life Writing candidate at Goldsmiths, have acted as internal examiner for a PhD upgrade in Creative & Life Writing and external examiner for a PhD viva in Translation Studies.
I’ve additionally given multiple guest lectures at King’s College London on creative-critical writing and Goldsmiths on DIY music cultures.
Course, Masterclass and Workshop Experience
I’ve created and delivered creative writing and literary translation courses, masterclasses and workshops for Arvon Foundation, British Library, The Poetry School, Writers & Artists (Bloomsbury Publishing), New Writing South, Tate Modern, CAMP, Hastings Writers’ Workshop, Workshops4Gaza, British Centre for Literary Translation (UEA), American Literary Translators’ Association, Bristol Translates Summer School (University of Bristol), De La Warr Pavilion, Grand Union Gallery, Conditions Studio Programme, Flatland Projects, as well as for various universities and institutions in the UK, Europe and the US including The Queen’s College (Oxford University), University College London, Boston University, and the Academy of Fine Arts Prague.
I independently give online courses in Writing Experimental Memoir, Writing Experimental Fiction, Writing Creatively About Art, Writing Short Fiction, and Making a Start with Literary Translation, along with one-off thematic workshops. To keep informed about my upcoming in-person and online courses and workshops, I recommend following me on Instagram and subscribing to my Substack.
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.
Academic Qualifications
PhD Creative and Critical Writing, UEA (2024)
MA Language, Culture and History: German Studies, UCL (2012)
BA (Hons) Media and Modern Literature, Goldsmiths (2009)
Testimonials
“The way Jen designed and delivered the 10 two-and-a half-hour sessions was inspiring. Her understated yet authoritative approach to leading the group meant everyone felt heard and had the opportunity to raise questions. When we were workshopping each other’s writing, she maintained a constructive and supportive dynamic. Her passion for language, editing and the craft of writing is contagious. I appreciate the obvious time and effort she put into creating our sessions and they exceeded my expectations. If you have the opportunity to take one of Jen’s workshops or do a course with her, grab it with both hands.” – Sarah Woodley, student on the MA Creative and Life Writing, Goldsmiths
“Jen Calleja’s remarks on my writing, especially her guidance on areas to improve, were truly helpful.” – Granta Writers’ Workshop course participant
“I loved the clarity, eloquence, and relevance of Jen’s presentation […] It was rich [and] informative.” – Writers & Artists (Bloomsbury Publishing) workshop participant
Feedback and Mentoring
Mentoring
*My books are currently OPEN for mentoring*
I mentor writers and literary translators independently on a case by case basis. I am usually booked up for work 3-12 months in advance, so cannot often start immediately. If you are interested in including me in a funding bid for mentoring, do get in touch as soon as possible as I am unlikely to respond to last minute requests.
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 National Centre for Writing, the British Council, and London Book Fair. I have also mentored around fifteen literary translators independently.
Selected Workshops & Mentees
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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.
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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.
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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.