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Virginia Woolf said a woman needs a 'room of her own' if she is to write. For the women (and a few men) I've taught in my writing workshops, Bahrain is the perfect room to begin the writing journey.
This island is rich fodder for storytelling, and anything Middle Easterny is currently hot material in the publishing world.
Writing is a portable exercise; it goes wherever you do. Like many famous writers of the past, living abroad often helps reassess the meaning of 'back home'. I exist between different cultures and on the borders of diverse religious traditions. Writing is how I speak about these experiences. I am an American Muslim who recognizes the importance of my perspective at this historical moment. Writing is like a conflict resolution technique for inner demons and the political ones that define our world.
It is undeniable that expat life provides time and convenience to explore a creative side. I am a member of Elham, Bahrain's Creative Arts Group. At Elham's sessions, many hinted they wanted to explore writing yet lamented the lack of opportunities. I started the workshops with this in mind, but I also desired to expand my knowledge about the writing process. I didn't know what to expect when I started teaching six months ago. Would anyone even come, I wondered?
People came indeed. They came from South Africa, Ireland, Jamaica, Pakistan, UK, India, US, Germany, Canada, Indonesia. We met in my little majlis room around a green patio table for eight. Some joined because they love writing. Others joined because they had a story to tell such as Corina Zanner-Entwistle who wanted to document her sister-in-law's unsolved murder in Johannesburg.
Carol Reeder came to write about her unique family in the Canadian North; an intriguing tale of aurora borealis with hard-drinking and hard working folk.
Maeve Skinner found courage to begin her fascinating memoir about growing up in British Malay and her 30-plus years in Bahrain.
Anthony Gillett, one of the few men who enrolled, brought his 140,000-word science fiction novel to a new level.
Bahrainis came to share their unique perspectives. In their prose, they spoke about how multi-cultural elements are intrinsic to everyday life - as well as issues regarding a country developing faster than many people want.
Interestingly, most Bahrainis wrote about the past or created alternative, dreamlike realities in their writings.
We soon discovered the meetings weren't just about words. Many came with personal stories they'd never told to anyone. In the 'women only' sessions, literary themes gave way to thoughts on marriage, emotional eating, motherhood, and politics.
Georgine Newman-Alowode explains, "I learned a lot from my classmates because of their wonderful ideas and perspectives. Their struggles and triumphs remind me that I am not alone as writing is a lonely discipline."
But bonding wasn't the only benefit - there's really good writing in Bahrain. Tameen Faridi hit her first 10,000-word story in the class. She shares that "for someone who was looking for a supportive and encouraging environment to do some serious writing, the workshops provided the perfect answer. Being able to discuss and share this creative journey with other aspiring writers has been a deeply enriching experience."
There were discussions on the nuts and bolts of creative writing, of course. However, nothing pleased me more when personal transformations took place.
Barbara Engel-Khonji sums it up, "For a few moments while writing, I will not be mother, wife, daughter, sister nor friend - just myself. I write letters, short stories or prose. Writing allows me to document and reflect on my life - it clears my mind. During the process of writing, I am reconnecting with myself, I am finding my voice, again - literally."
The 'voice' of a writer is a vague term. Yet it is one that has particular resonance in this region. The stereotype of the Arab world is one defined by silent, voiceless women in black. Therefore, it may sound odd to many that I found my voice in this tiny island.
The workshops and the larger dynamics of Bahraini society did something special to my soul. I found power as a beautiful American-Muslim writer. Prior to my arrival in Bahrain, the word 'beautiful' as self-description was painful to utter.
I paused before hyphenating the American + Muslim part. Bahrain's culture was a space of my own to grow. This probably wasn't exactly what Virginia Woolf had in mind!
I depart Bahrain at the end of this month but urge my fellow writers to carry on. The workshop participants, who I now consider my friends, set me on a journey of wonderful self-discovery.
Bahrain was that special 'room of my own' that opened a door to an improved part of me. Shukran, my friends, and maasalamah.
