I’ve always loved writing workshops and circles for that collaborative feel but they were temporary and often after I worked on something in isolation. I just started a new critique circle that meets biweekly with a few other Muslim women and I’m writing a novel as I go with their feedback and ideas which feels scary and exciting at the same time! Inshallah this process works better for me!
So sorry to hear about your illnesses! 🤲🏻 Praying for your recovery. You’re a real trooper for putting this out.
Collaborative writing was the first writing I ever did. Roleplaying on forums and emails brought me to where I am today, alhamdulillah, and I still enjoy it greatly. Hoping to co-author something with someone soon!
I think you might be correct in your observations regarding editor efforts on the works of BIPOC writers. Paralleling against something I've heard from BIPOC friends in the industry too is how much harder and cleaner your work has to be compared to white peers when you get to subbing to publishers. There are a lot of disparities between how either identity is treated but the only thing I can advise for most of us is to keep going.
I have been a part of some writer groups. One of them I had to leave for Zionism reasons, another I'm still a part of despite inactivity and the third while active and full of wonderful individuals may sometimes feel disconnected from me but I think that's just a matter of how much work has been done on individual relationships within the ground.
Finding a group of writers who share your identities and who have the same goals as you do can feel amazing, motivating and full of individuals who offer great help and advice. I too have been thinking of joining more writing groups lately but sustaining one is a lot of work.
I agree, Suad, that the story only becomes better after collaborating with others but it seems to only happen you seek help from like-minded individuals!! I tend to talk my plot points out with my sisters or BIPOC writer friends. I wonder if that’s where the disparity with editors of POC books lies? They don’t have the ability to make the story better because they don’t have the cultural knowledge that they need to expand and highlight plot points… What do you think?
(On another note regarding writer groups, I recently attended the Muslim Lit Festival in Moseley, Birmingham and was enthralled by the chemistry of a real live event. Since then, I’ve been mulling over having a monthly meet-up with writers in a Moseley coffee shop. I wonder if you could mention this in your next newsletter. It would be completely free! The more, the merrier! Jzk x)
I’ve always loved writing workshops and circles for that collaborative feel but they were temporary and often after I worked on something in isolation. I just started a new critique circle that meets biweekly with a few other Muslim women and I’m writing a novel as I go with their feedback and ideas which feels scary and exciting at the same time! Inshallah this process works better for me!
So sorry to hear about your illnesses! 🤲🏻 Praying for your recovery. You’re a real trooper for putting this out.
Collaborative writing was the first writing I ever did. Roleplaying on forums and emails brought me to where I am today, alhamdulillah, and I still enjoy it greatly. Hoping to co-author something with someone soon!
I think you might be correct in your observations regarding editor efforts on the works of BIPOC writers. Paralleling against something I've heard from BIPOC friends in the industry too is how much harder and cleaner your work has to be compared to white peers when you get to subbing to publishers. There are a lot of disparities between how either identity is treated but the only thing I can advise for most of us is to keep going.
I have been a part of some writer groups. One of them I had to leave for Zionism reasons, another I'm still a part of despite inactivity and the third while active and full of wonderful individuals may sometimes feel disconnected from me but I think that's just a matter of how much work has been done on individual relationships within the ground.
Finding a group of writers who share your identities and who have the same goals as you do can feel amazing, motivating and full of individuals who offer great help and advice. I too have been thinking of joining more writing groups lately but sustaining one is a lot of work.
I agree, Suad, that the story only becomes better after collaborating with others but it seems to only happen you seek help from like-minded individuals!! I tend to talk my plot points out with my sisters or BIPOC writer friends. I wonder if that’s where the disparity with editors of POC books lies? They don’t have the ability to make the story better because they don’t have the cultural knowledge that they need to expand and highlight plot points… What do you think?
(On another note regarding writer groups, I recently attended the Muslim Lit Festival in Moseley, Birmingham and was enthralled by the chemistry of a real live event. Since then, I’ve been mulling over having a monthly meet-up with writers in a Moseley coffee shop. I wonder if you could mention this in your next newsletter. It would be completely free! The more, the merrier! Jzk x)