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Writing otherness: how do we write different perspectives from our own?

Writing otherness: how do we write different perspectives from our own?

by Cathy Hayward -
Number of replies: 0

Sharlene Teo

There has been much discussion in the literary world about writing different perspectives from our own. In response, we are delighted to be holding a two-day course in June, led by writer Sharlene Teo, which will explore ways of navigating and presenting characters in fiction by confronting our biases, privileges and stereotyped perceptions.

In this exploratory space, you can improve your ability to view your work critically and make deliberate decisions about your writing. At the same time you can develop characters and step outside your comfort zone through private and shared writing exercises and interactive challenges.

This course is open to all abilities. An open-minded approach and willingness to listen to and learn from fellow participants is essential.

Dates/ times: This is a two-day course which runs from 10am-4pm each day - Thursday 20th June and Friday 21st June. 

Course tutor: Your course tutor is Sharlene Teo. Sharlene is lecturer in creative writing at the University of Surrey. Her debut novel Ponti was published by Picador and Simon and Schuster in 2018. It won the inaugural Deborah Rogers Writers' Award, was shortlisted for the Hearst Big Book Award and Edward Stanford Award, and longlisted for the Jhalak Prize.

Her work has been translated into eleven languages and appeared in publications such as the GuardianMcSweeney's, the TLSLitHubGranta and Vogue. She completed an MA in Prose Fiction and a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of East Anglia where she received the Booker Prize Foundation scholarship and the David TK Wong Creative Writing Fellowship. She holds fellowships from the University of Iowa International Writing Program, the Sozopol Fiction Fellowship and the Vil·la Joana Residency.

The venue: The Friends Meeting House is an accessible venue and has easy acess to transport links. Lunch is not included but there is tea and coffee on site. Students are free to bring a packed lunch or buy something nearby.

Fee: The £200 fee includes VAT and we can supply a VAT receipt if needed. To book your ticket, go to our Eventbrite page. 

Tickets are only refundable under exceptional circumstances - the associated Eventbrite fees are not refundable (as Eventbrite does not refund them to us).

We welcome everyone, no matter how you identify or how others perceive you.

Any questions, please email cathy@creativewritingprogramme.org.uk