【Taiwan Literature Base】WiR Regular Activity | The Authentic Voice: Creative Writing for Beginners

Saras Manickam's collection, My Mother Pattu, published by Penguin SEA, has been recognised by PEN Malaysia as one of the most significant books by women writers in Malaysia. The titular story won the regional prize for Asia in the 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Contest. Another, Charan, won the DK Dutt prize. The stories in her collection are authentic, unsentimental, yet wryly humorous, with each story celebrating the resilience of the human spirit as it confronts the truths of the past and present without turning away. Saras Manickam worked at several jobs while writing her stories. Her various work experiences enabled insights into characters, and life experiences, shaping the authenticity which mark her stories.

Saras Manickam will host three creative writing lectures specifically designed for beginner writers during her residency. The lectures will focus on reading her acclaimed short story collection My Mother Pattu, and through thought-provoking questions, will guide participants to explore their inner "Authentic Voice" using techniques such as stream of consciousness and free-flow writing.

Lecture Outline
Ⅰ. Text Reading: Reading an extract from the book, My Mother Pattu
Ⅱ. Creative Writing: Stream of consciousness writing (free-flow writing)
Ⅲ. Questions and Discussion: See discussion topics following

Session 1：Lose Your Ego
Date：September 6th (Sat.) 2PM-4PM
Venue：Muse Garden, Taiwan Literature Base

Why is it important to ditch the ego when writing?
Seeking authenticity instead of sensationalism in writing fiction – why the author's voice of authenticity is important.
What went right with the activity? What felt awkward?

Session 2：Giving Voice to the Marginalized without Resorting to Sensationalism
Date：September 7th (Sun.) 2PM-4PM
Venue：Muse Garden, Taiwan Literature Base

The danger of sentimentality and sensationalism.
The writer's responsibility towards those who don't have a voice.
The importance of keeping the perspective honest.

Session 3：Writing about Sensitive Topics without Whining to Victimhood: Racism and Discrimination
Date：September 13th (Sat.) 2PM-4PM
Venue：Muse Garden, Taiwan Literature Base

Racism and discrimination from a young person's perspective.
Why particularly a young person?
How are the young influenced by the realities around them?
Why is it important to write without victimhood?
　
Notice：The activity will be conducted mainly in English.

More Information：
https://event.culture.tw/mocweb/reg/NMTL/Detail.init.ctr?actId=50142&utm_source=NMTL&utm_medium=index&utm_campaign=50142&request_locale=en&useLanguage=en