Our Authors
Writing
The Reading and Writing Development department is a unique aspect of Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP) not found at many other commercial publishing companies and reflects the company’s core value to identify and support new voices in literature. In addition to acquiring works by well known authors in English or Arabic, BQFP provides training and development for aspiring writers through workshops, seminars, and conferences. These various programs feature strands in English and Arabic for writers of varying genres – from fiction, non-fiction, and poetry – and levels.
Writing Workshops
The BQFP monthly writing workshops range in topics such as Writing for Children, Novel, Memoir, Essay, and Opinion writing. Sessions can range from a two hour meeting to several days of consecutive weeks depending on the facilitator and his/her skills and interests. Past workshops have been offered by children’s author, Sally Grindley, writing coach Carol Henderson, author Shelina Zahra Janmohamed, and BQFP Reading and Writing Development Director, Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar. To learn more about upcoming writing workshops, please email bqfp.events@qf.org.qa with WRITING WORKSHOPS in the subject line.
Young Writers Workshop
October 16, 2010
Styled along the Summer Writing Institute which is offered for adult writers, these seminars are for aspiring writers of ages 9-13. It is BQFP’s first workshop for this age group with both an English and an Arabic session held simultaneously at the BQFP Villa, each for a group of 20 children.
The Arabic workshop “ كيف تصبح كاتباً “ will be run by famous Children’s Author Taghreed Najjar, who has written over forty books for children aged 3 – 10.
Kathy Hoopmann will be running the English workshop "Fun with Storytelling” and the author of thirteen books for children and teens with translations into ten languages, including four books into Arabic.
The workshop for 14+ will focus on essay writing with Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, co-editor of the Qatar Narratives series and brainstorming ideas for the My Father Initiative.
The workshops will run on Saturday Oct. 16 from 10:00 – 1:00. Spaces are limited and avialbility is on first come, first seved. Register now at bqfp.events@qf.org.qa
Six Steps to a Story: Creative Writing Workshop with author Leila Aboulela
October 3-November 7, 2010
Six Steps to a Story: Creative Writing Workshop with author Leila Aboulela. Her 2005 Bloomsbury title, Minaret, garnered much critical acclaim and was nominated for the Orange Prize and the IMPAC Dublin Award. The Sudanese novelist and playwright will be teachings six consecutive weeks to be held Sunday evenings between the hours of 17:00 and 19:00at the BQFP offices at Qatar Foundation. The workshop will begin on October 3 and conclude November 7, 2010. Because there are a limited number of spaces, early registration is highly recommended. There is a fee of 500 QR for the general public and 250 for student participants. Seminars are open to the public on a first come first, first serve basis and more registration is available online via their website. For more information on the above please call +974-4454-2431 or email bqfp.events@qf.org.qa.
Writing workshop in Arabic with author Najwa Barakat
September 26-October 1, 2010
Renowned Lebanese writer Najwa Barakat was in Doha conducting a series of Arabic-language creative writing workshops entitled Mohtaraf: How to write a Novel. The three-day seminar ranfrom Sunday, September 26 to Tuesday, September 28 and consist of an intensive program to teach writers crucial skills and techniques that will aid them in composing their own novels. Sessions took place from 16:00 to 19:00 at the BQFP offices at Qatar Foundation. This workshop is modeled after an ongoing program held in Beirut, Lebanon which receives aspiring writers of all ages from the Arab world who are not only interested in the literature, but also theatrical and screenwriting. Space is limited, so applicants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.
“Telling Your Story” project with the Ministry of Culture and Sally Grindley
September 25-October 9, 2010
In partnership with the Ministry of Culture, BQFP will host UK children’s author, Sally Grindley to work with children from conflict zones; Palestine, Sudan, Iraq and others who are living in Qatar. Ms. Grindley will work with the children on creating their stories – with an Arabic translator – to produce a series of books by children about their experiences of their homeland. This is not the first visit by Ms.Grindley who has already visited Qatar in October 2009 to do a series of workshops related to writing for children. She is the author of the Fafa series to be published by BQFP in collaboration with the Al Jazeera Children's Channel.
Summer Writing Institute
Begun in 2009 and now an annual program the Summer Writing Institute (SWI) is a weeklong intensive course designed for writers who are interested in developing their craft in a particular genre with a group of other participants. Past tracks have included Fiction and Non Fiction writing and the dates for the second SWI have been announced: May 31st – June 3rd, 2010. The tracks being offered for the 2010 SWI are in development to expand the initial offerings in both English and Arabic. To receive updates about SWI 2010, please email bqfp.events@qf.org.qa with SUMMER WRITING INSTITUTE in the subject line.
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