Qalam

Qalam Creative Writing Programme

Qalam Creative Writing Programmeme is a platform that nurtures Emirati talents by enhancing the skills of promising authors. It offers supportive environment to develop their talents and the opportunity to experiment in a creative lab under the guidance of experts. The workshops culminate in the publication of creative texts in Qalam publications from the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC).

Each workshop consists of a series of lectures that focus on writing techniques, artistic structure, text composition, and language check.
The supervisor of each workshop covers topics related to editing, rephrasing, and other writing techniques.
The workshop supervisor is responsible for monitoring the progress of each participant's text and providing guidance until it is ready to be published.
The ALC is committed to publishing the final creative texts within the Qalam Project publications after the evaluation of an independent committee.
The Qalam Programmeme provides authors with the opportunity to participate in cultural events organised by ALC locally and internationally.

Terms & Conditions:

Qalam Creative Writing Programme is intended for Emirati writers.
The Programme is intended for serious authors; participants must attend the full workshops and follow the instructions of the workshop supervisor.
The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Literary participation in the Programme is limited to Arabic texts only.
Participants in the workshops are selected based on their competence, as determined by an independent judging committee.
The ALC publishes the final text in accordance with a contract that guarantees the rights of all parties.
Applying to the Qalam Creative Writing Programme is a consent to appear in any promotional and media activity proposed by ALC. It is also a consent to the use of names and photos of the participants in promotional materials related to the Programme and ALC.

Accepted participants are notified via e-mail.
The selection decision is final and irrevocable.

Note:

ALC accepts receiving final creative texts for Emirati writers to be published after the evaluation of an independent judging committee.

Reach out to Qalam Creative Writing Programme team via email qalam@dctabudhabi.ae

Writing for Children Workshop

with Nadia Al Najjar

Date: September 27 – December 6
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre – Abu Dhabi

This workshop offers an in-depth introduction to the world of children's literature. It covers the fundamentals and techniques of writing for different age groups, exploring age-appropriate ideas, story planning, narrative elements, character creation and development, and methods for building suspense in storytelling.

The workshop is led by Nadia Al Najjar, a novelist and children's book author with over eleven published works in children's literature. Her work has received numerous awards and has been featured on prestigious lists, including the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the Al Owais Creativity Award, the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, and the Honour List of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).

Nadia’s writing is distinguished by its smooth, contemporary language and its ability to open imaginative worlds for children. She skillfully incorporates cultural heritage in a way that is engaging and appealing to young readers.

Registration Deadline: September 24

*By registering for the workshop, you agree to the terms of the Qalam Creative Writing Program and the publishing procedures followed by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.