Saturday, 3 October, 13:00–15:00 
In English 
Free entry, spaces limited—registration required (see below)

Middle Ground: Nepal Literature Festival offers the possibility to deepen one’s own writing practice and to exchange with other authors about issues around writing. In the two-hour-long sessions, each workshop facilitator focuses on a specific, self-selected theme, inviting participants to contribute to group discussions while also engaging with their own writing. 

Regardless of the scale of a literary project—be it a novel or a short story— the first page can feel more important than any subsequent page, given that it often determines whether or not a reader will decide to commit to the rest of the text. In this workshop, participants examine and discuss writerly decisions that may successfully draw readers in from the very beginning. Looking at a range of literary examples, workshop participants reflect on how the first page sets up the reader’s expectations and how different approaches can create tension and interest. The workshop also makes use of playful writing exercises on different stylistic strategies including characterization, point of view, point of telling, setting, imagery, stakes, and symbols—with opportunities for giving and receiving feedback. Participants leave with practical and intuitive moves to try at any stage in their writing life. 

Participants of all ages and experience levels are invited to join.   

To register: Please submit a writing sample of no more than 500 words in English or German to middleground@hkw.de, indicating the name of the workshop in the subject line by 15 September 2026. Selected participants will be notified by the end of September.