Feature

Monsooner's Fiction Workshop 2008 organised by Rubana Ahmed the editor of Monsoon Letters and coordinated by the network coordinator G Sumdany Don, was held on 28 June at Banani. The host Monsoon Letters had opened all doors to understanding fiction more closely with the amiable efforts of Dr. Anis. With the guests flowing in, the workshop started shortly as Dr. Anis deftly broke the ice and cracked a few jokes about why it would be such a good idea to take him into our credence. Earlier the participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire about their writing habits and preferences. For some the primary focus was writing techniques and other people were indecisive about the plots of their stories. Common questions like what is fiction and how is it different from other forms of literature generated certain ideas among the audience. The basic incentives for fiction writing according to the participants were imagination or need for expression. However, Dr. Anis carefully discounted any call for expression as he said the world does not care whether we must bring ourselves out.

Therefore, we must get rid of our egos, assumptions and complexes regarding writing. Then came the issue of talent or more familiarly known as the spark. Professional writing he said requires effort and has no use for talent alone. The major difference between a professional and a proletarian is that they write for different reasons. When writing for an effect we automatically have readers at the back of our minds and obligate ourselves to an author reader compact. Thus publishing our writings take up an essential fraction of our priorities.

The effect that is being discussed can be identified in two levels such as aesthetic and emotional level. When we read a piece of writing the spectaculars are either mesmerizing or riveting. But it is also crucial that it has sufficient truth and freshness in it to be marked as convincing in the reader's judgement. Talking about inspiration Dr. Anis stressed on daily encounters. Creative adaptation can be a very effective way of exploring different writing styles. Working between languages or translation is also a good source of deriving new and individual styles. Drawing an example of one of his teachers, he suggested that we write 3 to 4 pages every week. The workshop largely focused on toolkits for beginners and included deliberations on elements of crafting and a handful of functional exercises.

Later that day with the end of the lunch break, the workshop picked up where it was left off as Dr. Anis selected some sample writings from the audience and acutely analysed them for further development. Most of the participants were writers by their own will. A few professional writers were also seen to attend the workshop with delightful eagerness. Rubana Ahmed presented Dr. Anis with some books and the latest issue of Monsoon Letters. The workshop arrived at its closing stages with Nabeel and Jonathan performing some guitar tracks.

OFFICE ARITHMETIC
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

SHOPPING
A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.