Books – Made in UAE – 2014 Edition
The project “Books – Made in UAE“ advanced to its third edition with a four-day creative writing workshop for Emirati children’s book authors. Organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and Goethe-Institut Gulf Region. The workshop was taught by well-known German children’s and young adult book author Anja Tuckermann.
After focusing on the science fiction and fantasy genre in the 2013 edition of the “Books – Made in UAE“ project, the attention in 2014 was directed again on children’s books and books for young readers. The authors learned useful techniques on how to find a subject and how to develop a storyline that grabs the reader’s attention. In several writing exercises that were, amongst others, targeted on the characterization of a protagonist, on peripheral settings or descriptions and on enthralling dialogues, the participants were given the chance to practise their skills. Lively discussions within the group, the valuable feedback and plenty of useful tips from Anja Tuckermann helped the young talents to enhance their creative output.
As part of the project „Books – Made in UAE“, the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region organised a workshop for Emirati illustrators, thus continuing their efforts to support the growth of an Emirati children’s book literature scene.
In the workshop under the direction of children’s and young adult’s book illustrator Jutta Bauer the participating illustrators worked with texts for children’s picture books or short chapter books, all of which written by Emirati authors who had participated in the workshop for authors in April 2014 with German children’s book author Anja Tuckermann. The illustrators were guided by Bauer through all stages of children’s book illustrating – from the first sketches to the final storyboard.
The project „Books – Made in UAE” is organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and Goethe-Institut Gulf Region and sponsored by Knowledge without Borders.