AUK Professor Conducts Workshop on Creative Arabic Writing

Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad, Instructor of Arabic at the Department of Arabic and Foreign Languages, conducted a 3-day workshop on creative writing at Iris Media headquarters in Selmabad, Bahrain. The workshop was entitled: Gates to the Soul: Mechanics of Creative Writing, and was hosted by the Bahraini Majaaz Cultural Group, and sponsored by Iris Media, Bahrain.

During the workshop, students were introduced to the subject of creative writing through exercises that emphasized new ways of thinking, and paying attention to descriptive details. The workshop stimulated students to explore their creative potential by discussing short films and paintings, as well as by critiquing each other's creative pieces in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. Students found assignments such as detailed description of paintings, and visiting and describing new places on their own particularly interesting.

On the final day of the workshop, students read their final drafts of poetry, short stories, and creative essays to their classmates, who responded back with written critiques. According to Mohamad: "When the students started to focus their attention on the creative task, sudden joy transpired in the workshop. They started to understand that creative writing is an enjoyable hard work."

Upon completing the workshop, participants received certificates of completion, and Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad received an appreciatory certificate from Poet Karim Radhi of the Majaaz Group for conducting the workshop.

Majaaz Cultural Group was founded by a group of Bahraini poets, theatre directors, and intellectuals. They hold ongoing cultural activities such as poetry evenings, scenario-writing workshops, and book review nights, in addition to owning bookstore (@majazculture).

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd October 2013

Photo courtesy: Majaz Culture Group