-
MIRTA DESIR SELECTED FOR PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE & WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS BLACK CREATIVES FUND REVISIONS WORKSHOP
Penguin Random House, in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, announced the recipients of the 2022 Black Creatives Fund Revisions Workshop, an initiative created to support Black writers as they revise and strengthen book-length manuscripts. The program provides selected participants with editorial guidance, financial support, and direct access to publishing professionals, helping advance projects toward publication.
The Black Creatives Fund was established to address longstanding inequities within the publishing industry by offering meaningful resources to Black writers at critical stages of their creative development. Through the Revisions Workshop, participants receive focused feedback from Penguin Random House editors and industry experts, along with funding intended to support dedicated time for revision and creative growth.
Among the writers selected for the 2022 Revisions Workshop was Mirta Desir, whose manuscript Saving Jude was chosen as part of the program. Her selection reflects the workshop’s emphasis on projects that demonstrate strong narrative voice, emotional depth, and the potential to contribute meaningfully to contemporary literature.
The 2022 cohort represented a wide range of genres and storytelling approaches, including fiction, nonfiction, and works for young readers. Participants were selected through a competitive review process, with an emphasis on originality, craft, and the ability to engage readers through authentic and compelling storytelling.
The Revisions Workshop is part of the broader mission of the Black Creatives Fund, which offers grants and professional development opportunities to Black writers across multiple stages of their careers. By pairing financial support with editorial mentorship, the program seeks to create sustainable pathways for writers and increase representation within the publishing landscape.
Mirta’s participation in the Black Creatives Fund Revisions Workshop adds to a growing body of recognition across creative disciplines and highlights her continued engagement with storytelling platforms that value craft, intention, and representation.