Exploring Iranian Identity: A Writing Workshop

2 Sundays 9:30am–5pm
June 5 & 12, 2016
Persian Center | 2029 Durant Ave. | Berkeley, CA

Whether you are part of an older generation that immigrated from Iran during the revolution, belong to a younger generation born or raised in the United States (perhaps with only one Iranian parent), are an immigrant in pursuit of greater freedoms, a student on a short-term visa, or are married to an Iranian, you are part of a new wave that experiences otherness. Your stories, poems, and memories are part of a larger narrative that deserves to be written and shared with others.

A safe and supportive place to explore Iranian identity through writing led by acclaimed authors Anita Amirrezvani and Persis Karim.

In this two-day, multi-generational writing workshop, you will explore your identity through writing by working in an intimate setting with two experienced, well-published writers: Anita Amirrezvani and Persis Karim. Through a series of writing exercises you will be guided and helped to get your story on the page, either as fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. The workshop includes writing techniques and feedback on your work as well as goal-setting for your project. By the end of the workshop you will have a clearer sense of how one’s identity can inform one’s voice. You will also be provided with concrete suggestions on how to further polish your work, and a list of publications to which you can submit your story or poem.

Participant Reviews of Past Workshops

It was well worth flying all the way from Shanghai for it. —Azita Naeher

You gave us a space where we all felt safe to open up and trust each other. —Katherine Whitney

It was totally everything I wanted it to be—and then some. —Nasimeh Bahrayni

Workshop limited to 18 people.
$350 for general/$250 for students.
Workshop fee includes printed materials, snacks/tea
Cancellation Fee: $75

SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP IN TWO EASY STEPS:

  1. Send your payment via Paypal to workshops@anitaamirrezvani.com
    NO LATER THAN May 15, 2016.
  2. Register by filling out this form.

Returning alumni will receive a discount to take the workshop a second time.

Workshop Leaders

Anita Amirrezvani was born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in San Francisco. Her first novel, The Blood of Flowers, has appeared in 25 languages and was long-listed for the 2008 Orange Prize for Fiction. Her second novel, Equal of the Sun, was published by Scribner in 2012. She is co-editor of Tremors: New Fiction by Iranian American Writers. Anita teaches in the MFA Program in Writing at the California College of the Arts.

Persis Karim has edited three anthologies of Iranian-American literature including A World Between: Poems, Short Stories and Essays by Iranian Americans (1999), Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been: New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora(2006) and most recently, Tremors: New Fiction by Iranian American Writers (2013, with Anita Amirrezvani). Her poetry has been published in numerous national journals and magazines. She teaches literature and creative writing at San Jose State University.