Saudi novelist, British poet offer writing tips at Riyadh panel event

Writers in Riyadh is a diverse community, powered by Unread, uniting like-minded literature enthusiasts, including budding writers and published authors. (AN photo/ Mirza Lujain)

• During the event, the authors shared their published works and discussed writing tips and techniques
• Alben pointed out that she created a distance with her emotions when writing about them

RIYADH: Saudi novelist and former surgeon Monther Al-Kabbani and award-winning British poet Astrid Alben recently took part in a creative panel discussion on writing, held in Riyadh.
Titled “A Writer’s Mind,” the session was the first event of a series by the creative communities Writers in Riyadh and Unread in collaboration with the British Council of Saudi Arabia.
During the event — staged on Tuesday at the Huna Takhassusi restaurant and community space, and moderated by theater producer Soha Khan — the authors shared their published works and discussed writing tips and techniques.
On the advice he received when aspiring to be a novelist, Al-Kabbani told Arab News: “Be true to yourself. Write what you believe in and do not worry about failure or success, just enjoy the process.
“If you are in it for fame or money, then you are in the wrong field. You are more likely to get fame and money from elsewhere than from publishing novels.”

Saudi novelist and former surgeon Dr. Monther Alkabbani and award-winning British poet Astrid Alben join forces in a creative panel discussion all about writing in Huna Takhasussi on Tuesday. (AN photo/ Mirza Lujain) 

Alben pointed out that she created a distance with her emotions when writing about them.
She said: “I avoid getting too emotionally involved when I’m writing about my emotions because ultimately it is material. My life is also my material and so when I live it, I live it, but when I write it, I create a distance.”
The speaker lineup also included Mariana F. De’ Carli Orti, who treated the crowd to a glimpse of her debut novel, “Knightsbridge Crowd“; Hafsa Amin, who is working on a set of short stories titled “The Witches of Punjab“; and Taqee Syed, who delivered captivating spoken word poetry.
Mohamed El-Ghawy, head of arts at the British Council in the Kingdom told Arab News that the Saudi-British writers’ collaboration was an example of how “culture connects us.”
He said: “I am so excited about this partnership with Unread and Writers in Riyadh. We are just starting, so get ready for a busy year full of creative activities to support the local cultural ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
“Our long-term strategy aims to meet the objectives of Vision 2030 through different programs across all art forms such as capacity building, creative collaborations, showcasing, and audience development.”
Writers in Riyadh is a diverse community, powered by Unread, uniting like-minded literature enthusiasts, including budding writers and published authors.

Saudi novelist and former surgeon Dr. Monther Alkabbani and award-winning British poet Astrid Alben join forces in a creative panel discussion all about writing in Huna Takhasussi on Tuesday. (AN photo/ Mirza Lujain) 

Unread is an international volunteer-run creative platform that supports emerging and established creatives. It aims to showcase individuals and businesses to inspire and empower the local community.
Lubna Ahmed Haque, founder of Unread and Writers in Riyadh, said: “Establishing Writers in Riyadh and kickstarting the ‘Let’s Talk Creative’ series in collaboration with our partners, the British Council KSA and Huna, is all part of our commitment to supporting the creative community.”
On the calendar of events planned for the year, she added: “Through our online publication and events, we are dedicated to showcasing creatives and sharing practical tools with the hope that it inspires people to pursue the creative passion that brings the soul to life.
“We are so excited to be expanding here in Saudi Arabia and cannot wait to connect with the creatives in this beautiful part of the world.”