Writing in Color is a writing community program created by and for writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and/or People of Color* and aims to:
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Foster a supportive network of fellow BIPOC+ writers in Colorado and beyond.
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Inspire a consistent writing practice through generative writing sessions, connections to writing groups, and an annual mini-writing fest for writers of color.
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Connect writers of color to valuable resources and craft knowledge that will support them on their creative journeys.
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Celebrate community member’s successes and walk together through writing challenges.
By offering free monthly meetups, opportunities to connect with other BIPOC+ writers, and an annual Writing in Color Fest, our mission is to amplify the voices of marginalized authors and provide access to an inspiring and supportive community of BIPOC+ writers.
*BIPOC+ includes but is not limited to African, Indigenous, Native, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Arab, and Multiracial heritage.
Monthly Meetups
Lighthouse hosts monthly meetups to provide a forum for writers of color to share the stories of their writing, including lessons learned, workshops, panel discussions, and their relationships with their writing and the writing world. Writing in Color sessions currently take place on Zoom and in person.
Writing in Color Fest
Join us for a festival specifically designed to welcome, celebrate, and amplify voices of writers of color. Whether working on a novel, memoir, short fiction, poetry, or hybrid/interdisciplinary forms, our experienced faculty and guest instructors will work closely with you to support your writing process. The workshops focus on the creation of new works, connecting writers and their work to larger audiences, and amplifying narratives of historically marginalized voices to build more equitable, just, and sustainable communities. The Writing in Color Fest also features free, community building, evening events which any BIPOC+ creatives are welcome to attend even if not attending classes during the festival. Writers identifying as people of color are eligible for Writing in Color Fest offerings.
The 2024 Writing in Color Fest was held on September 27-29 in person—with some virtual offerings—at Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, Colorado.
Fellowship
The Writing In Color Fellowship for Emerging Writers is awarded annually to a writer of color who demonstrates a passion for writing, a commitment to developing their craft, and a dedication to community service. This fellowship provides financial support for writers who would benefit from a year of involvement at Lighthouse but would not be able to do so without financial support. The goal is to support emerging writers of color who have limited access to traditional literary opportunities. BIPOC+* writers who reside in the United States and have participated in Lighthouse programming in the past or are planning to participate in the near future are eligible to apply.
In order to support the skills and creative passion of emerging writers in the Lighthouse community, this fellowship is intended for emerging writers of color who have not had significant access to or experience with traditional opportunities to learn and grow in the literary world.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Fellowship is February 10, 2025.
Previous Fellows
We launched the Writing in Color Fellowship for Emerging Writers in 2019. Read about the recipients here.