Ever thought you could make a difference? Why not explore your creative potential and express your inner voice through writing?
Aliran will be holding a weekend writers’ workshop at the end of July:
- Date: 27-28 July 2019 (Saturday/Sunday)
- Time: 9am to 5pm each day
- Venue: Aliran office, 103 Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, Penang
- Theme: Writing for Change in New Malaysia
- Registration fee: RM20, covers lunch and refreshments for two days
- Medium of writing: Either Malay or English
- Target group: Anyone above 18 (including the young-at-heart!) interested in writing to make a difference (those who have not attended previous workshops)
Your facilitators:
- Dr Prema Devaraj, Aliran president, co-editor of Aliran newsletter
- Henry Loh, Aliran newsletter coordinator and co-editor
- Dr Azmil Tayeb, political scientist and winner of the 2019 Colleagues’ Choice (social science category) book prize, awarded by the International Convention of Asian Scholars
- Anil Netto, Aliran co-editor, blogger and former Malaysia correspondent for Asia Times and Inter-Press Service
Pre-registration is required.
Participants are expected to stay for the full two days and will be given practical mentoring on writing an article, which will be completed by the end of the second day. This article will then be passed to our editorial team to be considered for publication on the Aliran website.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
A certificate of participation will be presented to all those completing the two full days of the workshop.
Why this workshop?
The new Malaysia offers exciting new possibilities. For the first time in a long while, you are freer to express your opinions on a variety of issues you may feel strongly about. What should the new Malaysia be like and how can it improve the lives of the people. What ideas do you have to make it a better place?
This workshop provides a safe space for you to express yourself and unleash your inner voice through writing. Through this two-day process, guided by our facilitators, you will gain the confidence to become a published writer and share your thoughts with the public. In doing so, you will be able to make a difference in the new Malaysia.
Programme
8.30am – Registration and light refreshments
9.00 – Introduction – why this workshop (Prema)
- Icebreaker
- Participants’ expectations
9.30 – Key issues in New Malaysia (Azmil)
- Discussing the critical issues of the day
- Thinking about possible topics
10.30 – Coffee break – Continue thinking about possible topics
11.00 – Writing tips – Part 1 (Henry)
- How to draw readers in
12.00 – Writing tips – Part 2 (Anil)
- How to write clearly and concisely
1.00pm – Lunch
2.00 – Writing tips – Part 3
- Using an online app to improve clarity
3.00 – Picking your topic, planning your article (Azmil)
- Preparing the skeleton/bullet points for the article (participants)
3.30 – Tea break/Writing the introduction
4.30 – Sharing the intro
5.00 – End of Day 1
Day 2
8,30am – Light refreshments and coffee
9.00 – Sharing the introduction
10.00 – Overcoming writers’ block (Henry/Azmil)
- Start writing
10.30 – Coffee Break/Continue writing
11.00 – Carry on writing
1.00pm – Submit first draft/Lunch
2.00 – Sharing and feedback on drafts
- Each participant learns from what others have done, how they have done it, what to avoid etc….
3.00 – Continue writing/polishing up the article
- Revision of drafts – to come up with a final version of the article
- Submit final drafts
4.30 – Tea break – Facilitators’ sharing
- A discussion on what motivates and inspires
- Evaluation – finding out what participants think of the workshop; suggestions for future workshops
5.00 – Presentation of certificates; Workshop ends
Registration form below
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
