NAZRENE HANIF: WRITING A LIFE IN FRAGMENTS (Sunday Masterclass)

Created by Carmel Shortall (See other events)

Jan 26, 2023 from 11:00am to 1:00pm UTC0
Location: Zoom Online from Writing Room
Latest Activity: Jan 10, 2023

‘I think of it like a sort of magpie way of writing where I collect things that seem shiny to me and build a nest around them…’ Jenny Offill

Life is by nature fragmentary. As the poet and author Maggie Nelson once said: ‘We can’t see the whole until we’re dead, and then we can’t see it.’ When writing about our experiences, we must accept that the picture is incomplete. How do we piece together what we know so far, assemble the shards of memory to create a compelling and comprehensive narrative?

In this class, we'll explore the possibilities of the fragmented form and play with structure and genre through writing prompts. From Nelson to Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi, Ocean Vuong and TS Eliot to Teju Cole – we'll read extracts from works of creative non-fiction, fiction and poetry, to learn different applications of the fragment and discuss their effects.

Writing a life in fragments opens us to inspiration. Anything can be a tool for creation: an anecdote, a dream, a diary entry, a photo, a text message, a quotation, a souvenir, a lost object. Students will be guided in generating ideas from the fragments of their life, seeing the unfinished or abandoned as something worth preserving.

26 February, 11am-1pm. Zoom delivery, cost £25

Nazrene Hanif explores ideas of (not) belonging, creating narratives that reflect her existence in between cultures, language and class.

Her creative non-fiction has been published by Ache magazine and received special mention in the Spread The Word Life Writing Prize 2021.

Sunday Masterclasses | Writing Room

Nazrene is based in London, often found elsewhere and sometimes on Instagram: @nazrenehanif.

writing a life in fragments, life writing, creative writing masterclass, nazrene hanif, what to do on a sunday

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Events and Activities

Posted by Admin on November 21, 2016 at 12:37pm

April - May 2025

What’s on this week and next at Karamel? 4 Coburg Road.

Events during Holy Week at St. Andrew’s Church, Alexandra Park Road N10.

Thursday 10 April – 30 June – Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound, at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road. Weds & Thurs 6.30-10.30pm, Fri 5-10pm, Sat&Sun 1-7pm.

Wednesday 16 April – Talks and discussions: Haringey Hobbies at Hornsey Parish Church Hall, Cranley Gardens (bottom of), 2-3pm.

Thursday 17 April – Museum of Homelessness opens for the summer at The Manor House Lodge, inside Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road , 12.30-4.30pm.

Thursday 17 April – Free Flow Classikal at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 7pm.

Thursday 24 April – Geoff Mason Quintet at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 7pm.

Friday 25 April - J.A.M. String Collective at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 7pm.

Saturday 26 April – Muswell Hill Creatives Spring Makers Fair at St James's Square, Muswell Hill, 10.30-5pm.

Saturday 26 April – Block Printing Workshop: Print a Tea Towel at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Winchmore Hill, On the Broadway of Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, N21 3RS, 10.30-12pm.

Saturday 26 April – Insaan Culture Club: an intimate evening of classical Qawwali at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 6pm.

Saturday 26 April – Muswell Hill Chorus: Fauré Requiem and more at St. James’ Church, Muswell Hill, 7.30pm.

Monday 28 April – Walk with Ease – Unlock your Natural Movement at Pavilion Cafe, OR Tambo Rec (meet outside), 12.30-1.15pm. With Tanya Shoop.

Thursday 1 May – Paul Clarvis Trio at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 7pm.

Saturday 3 May – Getnotgot at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 7pm.

Thursday 8 May – Lior Solomons-Wise Quartet, at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, 7pm.

Saturday 14 June - Lunchtime Concert at St. Andrew’s Church, Alexandra Park Road N10, 1pm.

Saturday 12 July - Lunchtime Concert at St. Andrew’s Church, Alexandra Park Road N10, 1pm.

Ongoing courses and activities

Museum of Homelessness will be open from 17 April to 1 November, at the Manor House Lodge, inside Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road N4 2DE 12.30-4.30pm.

Illustrating Children’s books, course for adults on Wednesday mornings at The Green Shed, 1 Tetherdown N10, 10-11.30am. April 30 – July 9.

Geekstrav e ganza – regular boardgame meetup on these dates at Karamel, 4 Coburg Road, Wood Green, 1-6pm.

Em Power fitness classes – Monday and Friday mornings in OR Tambo Rec, 9-9.30am (term time only). The main focus is on core and legs.

Life drawing sessions – alternate Saturdays during term time at Rhodes Avenue Primary School, 1-3pm.

Free Martial Arts and Self-defence for Women and girls for the month of March on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Alexandra Park School.

Painting for Pleasure – Thursdays at CUFOS Community Centre (the old railway station), Top of The Avenue N10, 10-12.30pm or 1.30-4pm. Jan 9th - March 27th.

Fortismere Community Symphony Orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings during term-time at Fortismere School, 7-9pm. Get in touch for more info.

Fortismere Community Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings during term-time at Fortismere School, 7-9pm. Get in touch for more info.

After School Sewing Club on Fridays at Stitch crafts, 2 Hazelwood Lane Palmers Green, 4.30-6pm. Term time.

Bowes Park Community Choir - Thursday evenings during term time at Bounds Green School, 7.15-9.15pm.

Salsa Wednesdays – Wednesday evenings at Bounds Green School, Bounds Green Road N11 2QG, 7-8pm.

V&J Ensemble: Vocal group for ALL Singers on Wednesdays at St. Andrew's Church, Alexandra Park Road N10 (corner of Windermere Road), 6.50-8.30pm.

All Good Bookshop has many regular events - book groups of course, also music, writing, yoga - and special events .... at 35 Turunpike Lane.

Many Music and Art events are held at Karamel, including Collage Kids performance events on Saturday mornings at 11.30am. At 4 Coburg Road,

Wood Green N22 6UJ.

Events