Shanghai Residency – Alumni

Shanghai Writers Residency

New Zealand’s literary exchange with China is available through a partnership between the New Zealand China Friendship Society, the Michael King Writers Centre, the Shanghai Writers Association, and Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

After a break in the residency exchange programme due to the global pandemic, we are very happy to announce that, Melinda Szymanik has been selected as the fourth New Zealand writer to join the 2023 Shanghai Writers’ Association’s International Writing Programme.

Melinda will join writers from eight other countries around the world for two months in Shanghai in September and October this year. The writers receive free accommodation in an inner-city apartment, a small stipend for living expenses and air travel.

For an update on Melinda’s time so far see here.

In September 2019 we welcomed Sun Wei to the centre for her residency. Described as one of China’s most original and leading voices,  Sun Wei, Shanghai born and bred, is a former journalist, documentary filmmaker, and corporate general manager. She has published 23 books including novels, a novella collection and two short story collections.

Since the exchange began in 2013, three other Chinese writers have also enjoyed a residency at the  Centre  In 2013 Huo Yan, a young writing star from Beijing, took up the first Rewi Alley Fellowship, followed by  acclaimed novelist Xiao Bai from Shanghai in 2015. In 2017  Yin Jian Ling held the two-month residency. Yin is a poet, essayist, novelist, literary critic, illustrator and translator; a versatile Chinese writer of children’s literature, who has covered a wide range of subjects. 

In 2018 Frances Edmond was the recipient of the exchange and she wrote ‘One cannot live in a place even for a short time without it becoming a part of the psyche, leaving its imprint on the essence of who you are.  The opportunity provided by the Shanghai residency, the experience of living and writing in that enormous, vibrant, hospitable city is a rare gift, one to be treasured and always remembered’. 

In 2016 Heidi North Bailey was the recipient of the exchange. Heidi said at the time:

‘I’m having a marvellous, stimulating and productive time. The Shanghai Writers Programme has organised some thoughtful activities for us including visiting a writer’s home, and we have participated in several stimulating cross-cultural literary discussions. But I am also having plenty of time to put hands to keyboard and write. Being here is such a gift’. 

For more on Heidi’s exchange see here.

In 2014 Alison Wong was the first New Zealand writer selected to join the international writers’ programme.  Alison wrote of her experience:

The residency  was invaluable as research for my new book, but also for stimulating fresh creativity and inquiry through exposure to a completely different environment, language and culture. The connections made, whether with Chinese or other international writers were personally and professionally rewarding’

 

Melinda Szymanik – Shanghai 2023 1798 1798 Michael King Writers Centre

Melinda Szymanik – Shanghai 2023

Melinda is a Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland based, award-winning author of stories for young people including picture books, short fiction and novels. She also writes poetry for adults and children. Melinda regularly visits in schools, and teaches…

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Sun Wei – MKWC 2019 1751 1751 Michael King Writers Centre

Sun Wei – MKWC 2019

Shanghai born and bred, Sun Wei is a former journalist, documentary filmmaker, and corporate general manager. She has published 23 books including novels, a novella collection and two short story collections. Her novels have won…

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Frances Edmond – Shanghai 2018 1134 1134 Michael King Writers Centre

Frances Edmond – Shanghai 2018

Frances was the third writer to go to Shanghai as part of our international exchange and had this to say about her experience: We were thirteen writers from around the world, a lively and diverse…

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Jian Ling – MKWC 2017 470 470 Michael King Writers Centre

Jian Ling – MKWC 2017

Yin Jian Ling held a two-month residency. Yin is a poet, essayist, novelist, literary critic, illustrator and translator.

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Xiao Bai – MKWC 2015 760 760 Michael King Writers Centre

Xiao Bai – MKWC 2015

Xiao Bai who held the 2015 Rewi Alley Fellowship at the Michael King Writers Centre.

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Heidi North – Shanghai 2016 680 680 Michael King Writers Centre

Heidi North – Shanghai 2016

In 2016 Heidi North was the recipient of the exchange. Heidi said at the time: ‘I’m having a marvellous, stimulating and productive time. The Shanghai Writers’ Programme has organised some thoughtful activities for us including…

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Alison Wong – Shanghai 2014 225 225 Michael King Writers Centre

Alison Wong – Shanghai 2014

Alison Wong who took part in the 2014 Shanghai Writing Program in Shanghai. Alison says of her residency:    ‘The Shanghai International Writing Programme was invaluable as research for my new book, but also for stimulating…

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Huo Yan – MKWC 2013 239 239 Michael King Writers Centre

Huo Yan – MKWC 2013

Huo Yan, from Beijing, who held the Rewi Alley Fellowship at the Michael King Writers Centre in 2013.

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