Creative writing, a form of artistic expression, draws on the imagination to convey meaning. This includes poetry, fiction, scripts, screenplays, and creative non-fiction. Writing is a work in progress and there is always room for alterations and improvements. Are you looking for a space that promotes awareness of the nitty-gritties of the editorial process and how you, as a writer can really raise the standard of your work? Well then here’s a great opportunity! The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with The Seagull School of Publishing (India), will conduct a workshop on editing for creative writing from 23rd to 26th May. Let’s explore what this workshop has to offer!

1. MAKE THE CUT AT MAKING THE CUT

Making the Cut is a workshop designed for editors as well as creative writers who would like to further their editing skills. The practical, four-day workshop leading to a certificate will provide participants a crucial understanding of the role of editing in producing successful literary manuscripts and tricks of the trade. Every writer is an editor, but what makes a good editor? And how can editing transform a good work into a great one? These are some of the questions explored in Making the Cut.

2. SEAGULL SCHOOL OF PUBLISHING

The founder of Seagull Books and The Seagull School of Publishing, Naveen Kishore, expresses a persistent curiosity in the creative writing field fostered in Sri Lanka and looks forward to exchanging knowledge and experience with his contemporaries here. Commenting on this collaboration he said, “The world is a family. The gift of wisdom is gathered over the years. What we inherit, must be passed on. It is in this spirit of sharing that we wish to connect with the community of writers and publishers in Sri Lanka and help build bridges between the Seagull School of Publishing and you.” Commenting on the process of editing, Naveen added “while good editing remains a largely invisible component of publishing—as it should be—it is nonetheless essential to making good literature visible in the world.” Seagull School of Publishing arrives at Sri Lanka with a team who is experienced in the domain. Joining with you would be Sunandini Banerjee, who is a Senior Editor and Chief Designer at Seagull Books and Bishan Samaddar, an Editor at Seagull Books. Both of them are also lecturers at the Seagull School of Publishing.  Neloufer De Mel, Chairperson of The Gratiaen Trust, said of the upcoming workshop “Naveen Kishore and The Seagull School of Publishing are highly regarded worldwide for their contribution to English literature, and The Gratiaen Trust is proud to be associated with them in this endeavor.”

3. THE GRATIAEN TRUST

You might have heard about the Gratiaen Prize. And definitely about its Founder, Michael Ondaatje as the Sri Lankan-born writer who won the Booker Prize for The English Patient. Established in 1992, The Gratiaen Trust has over the years, worked closely with academics, writers, publishers and other professionals from Sri Lanka’s literary world to promote better works of creative English writing. This workshop is yet another initiative by The Gratiaen Trust who wants support and promote literary excellence in Sri Lanka.

4. CELEBRATING WRITTEN ART

When you read a composition of vivid language, your mind sees the words, paints a visual picture, and spurs imagination. Sounds familiar? It is similar to the brain stimulation that you might experience through any work of art. The connection between your mind and the reader's mind is language. This connection is further amplified through a good editorial process and there are many stages and layers involved in the course of editing. Fostering a culture of written art, this workshop attempts to nurture all aspects involved in the production of a creative expression.

5. A NUDGE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Making the Cut will give you the motivation you need to catapult your work off the pages of your notebook! The Gratiaen Trust has launched a series of workshops that aims to add value to the quality of creative output of Sri Lankan writers. So what will the workshop cover? All aspects of the editorial process from structural and content editing to maintaining a prose style; from fact-checking to working with authors, translators, designers and publishers. And there will be more. Participants will gain deeper insights into good editing practices across genres, (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translation, etc) as well as how the publishing world works. Up to 15 participants will be selected to join the workshop.

The last date to submit applications is the 28th of February 2019.

For more details on how to submit applications, please send your queries to: gratiaenworkshops@gmail.com

Event will be conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of English (PGIE) at The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda from 23rd to 26th May