Chevening Writers Series

By -

 


           The first time I saw the poster, I asked myself whether I should apply. Writing fiction isn’t exactly what I do. Also, with the Covid-19 pandemic going around, is taking part in a workshop with others a good idea?

 However, as I am writing my memoir, I thought it would be fun to apply and just see where it would take me. Besides, there are not many writing workshops in Penang which are fully sponsored for beginners. It might also be a good opportunity for me to meet up with other writers.  

I submitted my one and only fiction. I wrote it in 2018 whilst I was bored staying at home. If I am not mistaken, I was still recovering from one of my surgeries at that time. 

On the 5th October 2020, as I opened an email from Nutmag:-

Thank you for your application to the Chevening Writers Series. I am delighted to confirm your place for the full series, Fiction Track.        

            Yay! I made it!


On the first day of attendance, I was happy that the Standard Operating Procedure for Covid-19 was strictly enforced at the hotel. Everyone was wearing a mask and keeping their distance. For the participants from other states under Conditional Movement Control Order, they join the session online.

So far, it has been three Saturdays, I am already halfway through the workshop. I would say that the organisers have conducted the workshop well. There are even experience mentors to guide us through if we have questions.

I am grateful for this opportunity to be able to learn from others and also write. Even though I feel my writing is not up to par for fiction yet, it is always good to try something different and get the creative juice flowing.

I do not know where this would lead me, but as long as I am open-minded and willing to learn, I think I will be fine.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bleeding Again

By -
Image
During updating Patrick's status to a friend of mine today, Patrick called out from the bed. I looked up to his dancing eyes and smiling face. This would usually put me in smiles. Instead, I watched his face more closely than usual. Much earlier this morning, closer to 2am, his vomit was mixed with blood. He was down with flu and cough since late last week. Earlier this week since Monday, the past couple of nights had been trying to us both. He woke up a few times coughing that caused him to vomit out his milk. For my readers who have not been aware, every night his nasogastric tube attached to a machine that pumped in milk throughout the night. I do this upon the doctor's advice to assist him to gain weight. HIs running nose irritated Patrick when its mucus dripped onto his upper lip. His body temperature did not appear to reach 37.5C and beyond. He has been active, as per his normal self except during the night he appeared to be more fussy than ...
Read more

Surgery On My Baby

By -
Image
The birth of Patrick changed my marriage life from the two of us to the three of us, a family. We were excited, happy, worried followed by all kind of emotions for our baby son. So many things to learn, to experience. Breastfeeding, constant thoughts on our baby's well being especially when his jaundice appeared to rise during his first month. The lacking of sleep. There were moments I observed his breathing while he slept. We were amazed by every new mannerisms that Patrick displayed. We were so charmed when he first smiled to us. I would observed how gently my husband would treat Patrick and how Patrick would looked up to him, listening to his every word. Mummy supporting and loving baby We were enjoying ourselves as new parents until something happened in the middle of November 2017 that changed our lives forever. "There is something not right with his stools." My sister in law remarked to me while I tiredly changed Patrick's diapers. Menta...
Read more

Bario Cinnamon - From the Land of a Hundred Handshakes

By -
Image
By: Chong Sheau Ching July 10, 2018 What is it? When you buy Bario cinnamon, you get it in the form of a two and half foot - long stick. They are harvested by a group of farmers from ‘Bario Agro Biodiversity Hub,’ Bario, Kelabit Highlands in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It is trucked along a grueling logging road for twelve hours from Bario to Miri City, and then by sea freight from Miri Port to Port Klang before being transported to Kuala Lumpur, or from Miri Airport to KLIA and then transported to the city. The cinnamon trees are of the Cassia variety. They grow wild in pristine, lush, primary jungles among the flora and fauna such as those in the Bario Communal Park. The cinnamon bark harvested is thus 100% organic with ABSOLUTELY no chemicals as the trees grow in the thick Bornean jungle. Cinnamon is a traditional medicine used especially to ‘warm’ the stomach.   The Kelabits (main inhabitants in the Kelabit Highlands) also use the cinnamon bark in teas a...
Read more