NOTICE: THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED. YOU NO LONGER NEED TO BE A PAID SUBSCRIBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS GROUP.
Meet Ferwa Jaffery from London, England. A writer of novels and plays, she's "particularly drawn to the borderlands where art and creativity meet spirituality." She has graciously offered to host our new fiction-writing group on The Raft.
Thank you, Ferwa! I’m so grateful for your deep engagement on The Raft.
Here’s our starting point for this group:
Members will likely meet in a monthly Zoom.
Members will present extracts of their own writing.
Equally important, members will engage with the work of others by practicing respectful curiosity and sharing personal impressions.
This will not be a traditional writer’s group, focused primarily on “feedback” and “critique.” Nor would it have classroom-style teaching of techniques. Instead, we will be a democratic, shared group, based on mutual respect and curiosity. Participants will find support, insight, and growth during the creation and refinement of their stories.
“I really envision this group as a shared, safe, space where we can work to bring curiosity, reflection, and personal impressions to each other’s work—hopefully leading to greater insights and clarity for each writer and whatever growth they need on their own unique creative journey.” —Ferwa Jaffery
This group will develop over time to meet the unique needs of its participants. But, to begin, it will be based broadly on five “essential affirmations” (proposed by Pat Schneider in Writing Alone and with Others):
Everyone has a strong, unique voice.
Everyone is born with creative genius.
Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or educational level.
The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer’s original voice or artistic self-esteem.
A writer is someone who writes.
Interested in joining?
Email Ferwa by clicking the button. (Watch your spam in case her reply to you gets routed there.)
Let’s do this!
We have a new fiction writing group!