A masterclass with Amita Murray by Omair Bin Nayyar Amita Murray (latest publication: Unladylike Lessons in Love, Harper Collins) took the first masterclass for the Write Beyond Borders (WBB) 2023-24 edition. On an autumnal Saturday afternoon in October, I joined eleven writers from the UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, for a lessonContinue reading “The Importance of Setting”
Author Archives: writebeyondborders
Announcement: Write Beyond Borders 2023-24 Mentees Selected
We received 200 applications in just four weeks! The standard of writing and passion for the craft made the applications a pleasure to read. After much thorough consideration, we are very pleased to announce the twelve talented mentees in our 2023-24 cohort: Zehra Khan, Pakistan Safrah Fazal, Sri Lanka Omair Bin Nayyar, UK Tara Joshi,Continue reading “Announcement: Write Beyond Borders 2023-24 Mentees Selected”
Spotlight: Ishrat Jahan
Today we shine a light on the fantastic Ishrat Jahan who, alongside her work as a researcher, also writes for The Daily Star newspaper in Bangladesh. In the extract that follows, Ishrat’s narrator says Dhaka ‘repels attempts to categorise or document it’, but Ishrat herself is able to bring the city into sharp focus, transportingContinue reading “Spotlight: Ishrat Jahan”
Spotlight: Moachiba Jamir
Today we’re very pleased to share an extract from Moachiba Jamir’s #Bestofthenet nominated story ‘Kindred’. Moa’s confident storytelling quickly draws the boundaries of the world inhabited by Mangyangba, a ninety-year-old man who has learnt to settle into the ‘uncomfortable but familiar’. Moa and our other fantastic mentees look forward to sharing their writing and theirContinue reading “Spotlight: Moachiba Jamir”
Spotlight: Tanvi Srivastava
Today we’re shining a light on the dynamic fiction writer and translator Tanvi Srivastava. Her masterful story ‘A Fall’ grabs ahold of its reader and assaults their senses – the character demands it. You’re in for such a treat at our showcase on 6th November where we’ll celebrate the journey and successes of Tanvi andContinue reading “Spotlight: Tanvi Srivastava”
Spotlight: Aisha Hamid
Today we’re shining a light on the multitalented Aisha Hamid. Her writing revolves around Pakistani women’s agency and the multiple meanings it comes to hold for them. Here are two poems that don’t hesitate to speak their mind. We hope they whet your appetite for her readings at our showcase event on 6th November. Remember,Continue reading “Spotlight: Aisha Hamid”
Spotlight: Megha Nayar
What a wonderful six months we’ve had! Our very first cohort of Write Beyond Borders mentees will be sharing their writing at a showcase event on 6th November and you’re invited. To celebrate our mentees, we’ll be shining a light on their writing over the next few weeks. Here is an extract from a shortContinue reading “Spotlight: Megha Nayar”
Emotional Resonance
A Masterclass with Emma Smith-Barton By Moachiba Jamir The last Masterclass before Write Beyond Borders broke up for the summer holidays saw a full-house of mentees, anticipating to learn about the rather elusive concept of creating emotional resonance. Mentor, Emma Smith-Barton, took up the challenge, ushering in a perspective on writing that focuses on theContinue reading “Emotional Resonance”
Setting: ‘The fabric of fiction writing’
Masterclass with Abir Mukherjee By Megha Nayar Rather uncannily for a conversation among writers, the most talked-about aspect of Team WBB’s conversation with author-mentor Abir Mukherjee was the drawings that accompanied his masterclass! Before he began expounding on the importance of setting in fiction, Abir put forth a disclaimer: the hand-drawn illustrations that accompanied hisContinue reading “Setting: ‘The fabric of fiction writing’”
Plotting your Novel
A masterclass on plot with Amita Murray By Ulka Karandikar The first “novel” I ever wrote had no discernible plot. None, zero. Zilch. Largely, it was a collection of thinly disguised versions of myself drinking cups of tea, with the odd talking Beagle (yes – it really was that bad). So, with this failed attemptContinue reading “Plotting your Novel”
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