Workshop: The Making of a JB Anthology

A city isn't just a collection of buildings and people, of course; it is also a collection of stories. Most of the major cities of the world have inspired anthologies that show -- in fictional, essay or verse form -- how each metropolis has shaped the imagination of writers. Examples are the Time Out Book of London Short Stories (1998), Writing New York (2008), and Malaysia's very own Urban Odysseys: KL Stories (2009). Has the time come for JB to have its own anthology?


The Making of a JB Anthology is a workshop programmed and conducted by Amir Muhamad and presented by JOHO and Matahari Books.

The purpose of the workshop is to encourage writers to come up with stories set in, and related to, the JB experience, and to show how these experiences might be similar to, or different from, those of other cities. If there is enough interest, an entire book can be published, using the successful participants as the core team of writers. The workshop and stories will be bilingual / dwibahasa.

The workshop will be divided into 3 parts

1. Looking at examples of 'city stories' set in other parts of the world; discussions of how actual spaces and incidents can inspire fiction; also suggestions on crafting personal essays. (90 minutes)
   
2. The participants will work on the first draft of their own stories, with specific guidelines, which can be fiction or non-fiction. (120 minutes)
3. The participants present their drafts to the rest of the group for feedback and discussion. (90 minutes).
   

Who Should Take Part
People who write, or want to write. And who have experienced JB, or parts of JB, well enough to have stories to tell.

Each participants must bring:
1. Paper & pen or laptop
2. Digital still camera / handphone that can take pictures
3. An active imagination

Duration: 5 hours (12pm - 5pm)
Group Size: 20 people
Date: May 30, 2010
Location: Lost Malaya
Price: RM50 prior to May 20 / RM60 after May 20

If you are interested to attend this workshop, please email to us at johobaru@gmail.com with your details before May 28, 2010.

Amir Muhammad

Amir Muhammad is a writer and independent filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur. He was educated at the University of East Anglia and has been writing for Malaysian print media since the age of 14, notably the New Straits Times.

In year 2000, he wrote and directed Malaysia's first DV feature: Lips to Lips. Some of his works have also been featured in a number of international film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. The most notable is The Big Durian. A full retrospective of his work was screened at the 2008 Pesaro Film Festival, Italy.

He started publishing non-fiction books in 2007 under his company Matahari Books and is taking a break from film-making.