TO coincide with the launch of “We Mark Your Memory: Writings from the Descendants of Indenture,” Commonwealth Writers hosted a one-day workshop at Moray House on Wednesday, 8th May. I was in attendance, and I was glad to have secured my spot in the workshops because it turned out to be a fun and surprisingly gratifying experience. On the flipside, I was also kind of sad because I realised that even with three categories being catered to (Fiction, Poetry, and Non-fiction, with about six participants in each group), there was still a large number of extremely talented Guyanese writers who would not be able to benefit from the workshop. This sadness was compounded by the fact that the Department of Culture does not offer writing workshops for many people and so, there are many young writers who are left to fend for themselves in the storm that is the literary world – a place that I still have to find my footing in. Knowing that workshops can help with the navigation, I knew I had to attend the session.

Emma D’Costa and Janet Steel from Commonwealth Writers hosted the Fiction group, while spoken-word poet, Mr. Gee led the Poetry group, and Anita Sethi, journalist and writer, worked with the Non-fiction group. With the other writers of Fiction, we covered everything from the structure of the short story, creating characters, beginning and ending the story, as well as varied reflections on, and references to, the writing life, books, movies, and authors that connected us all in some way. In the afternoon segment of the workshop, everyone was led through the process of reading one’s work in a public setting – basically using various theatre-based techniques that ask the reader to pay attention to breathing, stance, pauses and emphasis, as well as working along with an audience for a good reading, rather than inadvertently opposing the people you are reading your work to.

The day ended quickly and before I knew it, we had entered the evening when the public readings were to take place. Not many people besides the writers were there – which is to be expected in Guyana, I suppose. However, this particular reading turned out to be one of the best readings I have ever been to in Guyana, simply because the quality of the readings were of such a high standard while coming from new and exciting voices – writers that are not as yet as well known as others in Guyana. It was a fascinating moment to be a part of because this event highlighted for me the potential of Guyana’s future in writing. There were old friends, people I have known from before, like Burt Award winner, Imam Baksh, Commonwealth Short Story shortlisted writer, Kevin Garbaran, Walter Rodney Writing Award winner, Gabrielle Mohamed, and the Guyana Golden Jubilee Award winner, Cindya Khellawan, in attendance and those of them who performed were tremendously impressive. However, the writers I had not previously known also gave impeccable performances and I came away thinking about the beauty of their words and the skill of their writing. Elizabeth Alleyne and Nikita Blair are the ones who immediately come to mind, but there were a number of other standouts who give me hope for Guyanese literature.

The discussions with various writers and attendees that took place at the end of the reading was also an important opportunity to connect with other writers and share information, jokes, or words of comfort for living the life of a writer. I met one woman who says she enjoys reading my weekly columns and a man who said that he did not understand a word of the reading I gave at Moray House. There truly was something for everyone. I talked with a group of writers about mental illness and we discussed much, from the prevalence opium dens in 19th – 20th Century Guyana, to the significant number of writers of East Indian descent who are finally emerging from hibernation that seemed to have lasted for years. Of course, the subject of the lack of representation – of local writers – in “We Mark Our Memories” came up, but our presence in world literature can only be remedied with the rise of local writers that can only happen if the Guyanese people come to appreciate the art of writing.

Overall, the workshop was a welcome reprieve from the dearth of writing opportunities in Guyana, but there is no running away from the fact that now that the workshop is finished, there will be nothing else coming our way for a while.