Name: Creative Writing With Other Scriptures
Start: 2025-11-04T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-05T21:00:00-05:00
Location: 18 W 21st St suite 900

Join H. M. Zafer for a workshop on harnessing the generative and emancipatory power of scripture!
About this Event

This is a two-part workshop, scheduled over two dates - Tuesday, 11/4, and Wednesday, 11/5 - between 6pm and 9pm ET each day. Workshop registration covers both dates. Please reach out to [email protected] for assistance if you are able to join but the registration price is prohibitive.

Harness the generative and emancipatory power of scripture. Discover your interpretive voice and expand your creative horizons. Develop an original piece of writing, engaging with a sacred text – the Quran, theGita, the Granth, the Gospels, the Torah, or any other scripture.

Learn about the creative practice of "liberation philology” and subversive interpretation. Approach sacred writing with fresh understanding and interpretive confidence. No prior knowledge of any scripture or sacralized text is required. Just bring your c uriosity and creative spirit.

The workshop is designed to foster experimentation and collaboration in a safe environment. In consultation with the instructor, you will select a sacred text as inspiration for a short creative writing piece. You will then develop the first draft of this piece, which may be a translation, poem, narrative, essay, play, or any literary exposition. You will receive feedback on the draft from a supportive community of fellow interpreters. As part of the workshop, you will learn about three non-Biblical scriptures — the Quran, the Bhagvad Gita, and the Guru Granth Sahib — and their liberatory interpretive traditions.

Application: In 150 words or less, please explain why are you interested in this workshop? How might it help your creative practice? What do you hope to accomplish or learn? Please send your application to [email protected].

H. M. Zafer is a historical linguist and senior lecturer at Princeton University. He specializes in the classical languages of the global south, including Quranic Arabic, Biblical Ethiopic, and Granthic Punjabi. He practices liberation philology, a reading strategy that centers peripheralized linguistic and literary traditions in global histories of ideas.

COMMUNITY CARE & ACCESSIBILITY

At AAWW, the safety and comfort of our community is our top priority. We invite you to practice intentionality and care in your behavior and language when engaging with our programs and with each other. Violence of any kind, including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, class or casteism, bigotry or bias toward religion or faith, or any action or assault against marginalized identities, is not tolerated. Those who bring harm to our community in person or online are not welcome, and will be asked to exit the space.

We are located on the 18 West 21st Street, Suite 900, there is an elevator that will take you directly to our office. Masks are strongly encouraged for audience members for all AAWW events; if you forget yours, one will be provided for you. We have two commercial grade air purifiers. We highly encourage all in person guests to take a COVID test at home prior to the event.