Creative writing courses and groups have mushroomed in Britain in recent years. But as far as the novelist, poet and creative writing teacher Zahid Hussain knows, Manchester Muslim Writers (MMW) is the first society for Muslims who write fiction, poetry or non-fiction. The group covers not only novels, short stories and poetry, but screenwriting, travel writing, feature writing, memoirs, textbooks and technical writing. Hussain initiated the setting up of MMW in the northern English city of Manchester in May. “I believe Muslims have not been able to show the world the strength of our art and literature; we have to get Muslims writing.” He sees MMW as a stepping stone to the mainstream, and hopes that one day Muslim narratives will become part of British mainstream life. The group has some 120 people on its database, and varying numbers of people have attended its events.
MUSLIMS WRITING IN BRITAIN
Creative writing courses and groups have mushroomed in Britain in recent years. But as far as the novelist, poet and creative writing teacher Zahid Hussain knows, Manchester Muslim Writers (MMW) is the first society for Muslims who write fiction, poetry or non-fiction.
