Prose Workshop: Decolonizing Your Voice with Siham “Sam” Inshassi

5 weeks: Tuesdays, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus

Can you use your native language/slang in your writing? Should you translate, when, and how much? When and how much should you explain your culture or community in your writing? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you are not alone. Typically, these questions boil down to audience—who you are talking to, or rather, who you want to talk to. Often the confusion comes because much of what we are still told regarding what good writing looks like is from the lens of Western neocolonialism.

In this workshop, we are going to challenge this narrative and explore what it is to write from a decolonized place. The goal is to hone your voice to align more truly to your identity and the identity of your true audience. We will read and discuss short excerpts from authors at various levels of decolonization, do in-class writing, and create, workshop, and revise a larger at-home writing project.

This workshop is designed for prose writers (fiction or nonfiction), and while this content is catered toward BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, all are welcome to join with an open mind and collaborative spirit. All experience levels welcome.

Siham “Sam” Inshassi is a Palestinian American author, currently working on her first novel, and is the recipient of the 2023 Miami Book Fair Emerging Writer Fellowship in Fiction. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The New School, where she was awarded the Ignite Fellowship, working with the New York Women’s Foundation. Her work focuses on culture and identity politics, both in the home and beyond, with particular focus on psychology and human nature and their relationship to cultural dynamics. She’s a passionate advocate for the Palestinian cause and intersectional solidarity. She’s been published in The Margins, The Inquisitive Eater, Brooklyn Magazine, and The Drum, among others. You can find her on Instagram @thestoriedayrab .

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Scholarships Available for MDC Students

Miami Book Fair is offering two (2) full-tuition scholarships for MDC students interested in attending the above-listed creative writing workshop. Applicants must be currently-enrolled, (full time or part time) degree-seeking Miami Dade College students with a demonstrated financial need. Deadline to apply is July 21 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Click here to apply: https://mdc.formstack.com/forms/mdc_student_scholarship_application