In this creative writing masterclass, Siphiwo Mahala explores the generative impulses and the corresponding creative responses that find expression in the form of short stories. This masterclass demonstrates effective methods for initiating, cultivating, and shaping narrative ideas , from the initial conceptualisation to the completion of a story. The masterclass includes exercises for spontaneous composition guided by curated prompts to cultivate narrative invention within the session.  

Siphiwo Mahala is a multi-award-winning novelist, short storywriter and playwright. His monograph Can Themba: The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi won the 2023 South African Literary Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Mahala is an Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg, Acting Director of the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study, a Caine Prize judge and Chairperson of the National Arts Festival board.