An intensive story-writing workshop led by Mostafa Mastoor was held in two sessions in Ahvaz by Ahvaz BookCity, in cooperation with the Khuzestan Academic Jihad. The workshop brought together people interested in fiction and literature.
The first session took place in the final days of Mordad at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. The discussion covered the language and structure of fiction, the formation and development of ideas, and characterisation. Participants stressed that an initial idea needs shaping, selection and an understanding of narrative elements before it can become a story. Language, they noted, is not merely a tool for conveying events; it also helps form the identity of every story.
One of the central themes of the first session was “how not to write”: avoiding clichés, repeating familiar patterns and imitating other writers’ voices. From this perspective, finding a writer’s personal voice begins by moving away from well-worn and repetitive paths.
The second session was held on the afternoon of 24 Shahrivar at the Khuzestan Academic Jihad Training Centre. Designed as a separate session, it also welcomed new participants. The discussion began with the concept of plot and its role in forming a story’s framework, then examined the relationship between plot, incompatibility and conflict, narrative structure and the elements of fiction.
The distinction between “subject” and “theme” was another topic. The subject refers to what a story is about, while the theme is a deeper layer of meaning and the writer’s perspective. It should be reflected in the characters’ behaviour, their relationships and the structure of the narrative, rather than appearing only as a direct explanation.
In the final section, participants considered the difference between a writer’s “intellectual world” and “fictional world”. The intellectual world grows out of the writer’s experiences, concerns and questions; through literary creation, the fictional world gives those concerns a narrative form through characters, situations and events.
The workshop offered an opportunity to talk about fiction, rethink ideas and move closer to the process of creating a narrative. By bringing writers and readers together around sustained discussion and practice, Ahvaz BookCity continued its role as a local cultural space for literary learning and participation.
Tags: Mostafa Mastoor, Story Writing
