Writer Workshop in Pakistan

Eager to increase the number of titles by national authors, MIK Christian Publishing House invited MAI to provide author training. A first workshop last year, led by trainer Larry Brook, proved successful. Then in October 2007, we sent editor Owen Salter of Australia to lead a second workshop for 16 participants. All but two had attended the previous training.

This year’s focus was article and short-story writing. “Most of the writers took seriously the charge to address subjects of local importance,” Owen said.

The principal of a Bible school for women created an article about Pakistanis’ preference for boy babies, and the anguish women feel if they don’t produce boys. She had already completed a book manuscript on the problem of teenage Christian girls running off with Muslim boys.

The director of a radio program network tackled inter-generational relationship issues in extended Christian families. He also writes Urdu poetry and creates short devotional meditations.

One writer focused on the controversial topic of whether Christians could use Islamic terms, such as in daily greetings. Another writer addressed youth on sexual issues.

The participants continued working on their manuscripts after the workshop ended for submission to MIK by a December 12 deadline. The best manuscripts will be published in digest format next spring. 

Within 10 years, Peter Calvin aims to increase MIK’s number of titles by national authors from ten to fifty percent. Toward that end, another writer workshop is planned for next year in Pakistan.

As the largest Christian publisher in Pakistan, MIK and its staff of 12 serve the nation's 4 million Christians (total population is 156 million), including Bible schools and seminaries, the Roman Catholic Church, para-church organizations, bookstores, libraries and Christian hospitals.

Since its founding, MIK has published some 500 titles, including fiction, devotionals, commentaries. However, "most of these books are translated from English books, which do not fully meet our needs," said the director. "We want MAI to help us develop indigenous writers."