This English-language course explores the art of fiction writing, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on creative writing practice. Participants will learn the core principles and techniques of working with text and develop tools they can use at different stages of their writing practice.

Throughout the course, participants will develop their own literary voice, experiment with perspective and form, turn ideas into short stories, novels, screenplays, or plays, create compelling characters and dialogue, build scenes, and work with meaning, language, and structure.

The course is primarily practice-based, while maintaining a strong theoretical foundation.

The course is connected to the exhibition HIMOYA: Matrilineal Energies, Oracular Kin and its exploration of memory, heritage, family histories, mythology, and the transmission of knowledge. Regular course participants will receive free admission to the exhibition after completing the program. The guided tour will offer an opportunity to revisit themes explored during the course from a different perspective and see how ideas can take shape not only through text, but also through visual art.

The course also includes dedicated writing workshops focused on participants’ own work.

The course is open to emerging writers working on novels, short stories, plays, or screenplays; literature enthusiasts and students; as well as anyone interested in film, theatre, and the process of storytelling.

Schedule

October 10 — Ideas, Originality, Fresh Perspectives
October 17 — Show, Don’t Tell
October 24 — Language and Voice
October 31 — Characters
November 7 — Desire and Conflict
November 14 — Setting
November 21 — Symbolism, Set-ups, and Foreshadowing
November 28 — Dialogue and Scenes

Instructor

Jandos Azerbay is a poet and writer. His first novel, published under a pseudonym, was shortlisted for the Launch Pad Prose Competition and longlisted for the Somerset Book Award for Literary and Contemporary Fiction. His poetry has appeared in The Fiddlehead and Rattle.

Course language: English
Writing language: English or Russian

11:00 – 12:00 

October 10, 11, 17, 24, 25, 31

November 7, 14, 21, 28

Participation fee

Single session — 8,000 tenge
Full course — 55,000 tenge

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