About the Workshop

Distinguished author Yumna Kassab will lead a community-focused writing workshop for adult writers of all abilities. This workshop is open to anybody with a passion for creative writing, who would like to join in a conversation with others about writing practice.

Participants will think about ways to give themselves permission to write, and to embrace writing in ways that feel comfortable. The emphasis is on reflection upon one’s own relationship to creative writing – rather than the pressure to share work publicly (unless participants would like to do so). Topics for discussion will include why we write; writing beyond one’s doubts, and finding ways to give ourselves permission to write; subjects worth writing about; how to discover your ‘core material’ as a writer; and how to maintain a creative practice.

Note: this workshop is for adults (18+) only. Places are limited and will go to those who apply first. As Parramatta’s inaugural Laureate in Literature, Yumna will also offer a second PHIVE workshop for 13 to 17-year-olds with a passion for creative writing.

This is a collaboration supported by the Sydney Review of Books, the Writing and Society Research Centre (WSU) and City of Parramatta.

About Yumna Kassab

YUMNA KASSAB is the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature. Born and raised in Western Sydney, Yumna has let her connection to Parramatta shape her writing over the years. Her latest novel Politica (Ultimo, 2024) is a timely exploration of the lasting impact of war and revolution on a town, its people, and their lives. Yumna’s books have been short-listed for the Miles Franklin Award, the Prime Minister’s Literary Award and the Stella Award, among many other accolades. She completed her schooling in Parramatta, except for two formative years when she lived in Lebanon with her family; following which she studied medical science at Macquarie University and neuroscience at Sydney University. Yumna also works as a high school teacher in Parramatta. She would like this workshop to enable writers of all abilities to find a comfortable space in which to experience both the permission to write, and the pleasure of writing. As Parramatta’s Laureate in Literature, Yumna is writing a ‘Dictionary of Parramatta’ celebrating the many communities, cultures, stories and places of this region.