Author Molefhe to steer writers' workshop

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Thursday August 4, 2011 00:00

The workshop, to be held under the topic 'Writing Short Stories' will be led by award-winning short-story writer, Wame Molefhe.

Writers interested in taking part in the workshop have been advised to apply to WABO by August 13.  Aspirants are also required to email an 800-word excerpt from a story to the writers' association, which will be used as part of the criteria for writers accepted to the workshop.

Speaking in an interview with Showbiz, Molefhe said writers selected for the workshop should expect 'to get out, what they put in.'

She said the workshop would involve a lot of reading as well as practical exercises, which would all go to cover elements of good short-story writing.  She said writers would also get an opportunity to have their stories read and critiqued.

Molefhe and Mahalapye-based Lauri Kubuitsile were participants at this year's Farafina Trust writers' workshop ran by luminaries on the African literary scene, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Binyavanga Wainaina.  She said the workshop, held in Lagos, Nigeria, early last month, was such an eye-opener that it prompted her to share all she had learnt there with local writers.

The workshop, which will be held at Maru-a-Pula School (from 2.00 - 4.30pm), will be free for WABO members, while non-members will pay P20.  With subsequent workshops, Molefhe said WABO hopes to cover the whole spectrum of writing.  'We are trying to cover all aspects of writing, from poetry to copyrights issues to getting published,' she said.

Molefhe, who is also the secretary-general for WABO, recently launched her second short-story anthology titled Go Tell The Sun.  She has also published books, some co-authored, that are prescribed texts for the school curriculum.  She won the inaugural British Council/Alexander McCall Smith short story competition, and one of her stories has been highly recommended in the Commonwealth Short Story competition.