Recently I’ve been meeting up with frustrated writers like
myself. The experience has been rewarding. I found The Dubai Writers’ Group on
google meetups, we meet on Saturdays at a quaint little café called Shakespeare
and Co.
The organizer, Heidi, throws challenging writing prompts at
us and allows us fifteen minutes to put down our thoughts for each prompt. These
writing exercises – to my surprise – are so thought provoking, the fact that
there is a time limit really does help the creative process. On other days we discuss our own work (writing projects) with each other and provide feedback. I enjoy these meetings immensely, the company, and the occasional banter which only frustrated writers
understand and appreciate.
Meeting with like minded, multi passionate people here in
Dubai has been a great help for my emotional health. Of course I still have my
bad days, but the friendliness of the people I am meeting here in Dubai and the
ease in which they open up to me and allow me the emotional space to express
and be myself is just wonderful. I didn’t find that kind of kinship when I was
living in the UK, people there are closed up, assuming, cold, distant and extremely
unwelcoming.
I also recognize all my own efforts in finding such good
people. First I searched for single mothers like myself and joined their group and
the emotional support we provide each other has just been so healing for me,
knowing that there are so many kindred spirits who had been through and are
still going through the exact experiences as mine. Then I went searching for a
writing group and insisted I don’t miss any of their meetings. This has also
opened up a new horizon for me, they’ve given me faith to work on my novel
again, after I had abandoned it due to multiple publishing rejections.
I’m starting my own poetry group ‘The Frustrated Poets’. We will
meet weekly at my place and I’m really looking forward to meeting all the
poetry lovers I hope my group will attract. It feels so good to be able to
share my passions with people who are equally passionate, interesting and
intelligent. It feels good to have found a better life, after all the
alienation, to feel like a belong. Sometimes in the wind of change we find our
true direction.
