On September 16, 2024, Mr. Layth R. Awwad, M.A., from the English Language, Literature, and Communications Department at Bethlehem University, returned as a guest lecturer to Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA. This marked his second invitation to speak in Ms. Electra Aguirre’s (MFA) creative writing class, where he shared insights into the creative writing process.
During the hour-long virtual session, Mr. Awwad read a selection of his poetry, offering his reflections, comments, and the inspiration behind them. He encouraged students to embrace experimentation with structure and form in their own writing, sharing advice on how to approach the craft. He emphasized that while AI tools like ChatGPT are gaining prominence, they will never replace the emotional depth and personal experiences that humans bring to their creative work. “It is through the details that we find ourselves and make a connection with one another,” he explained.
Mr. Awwad also read an excerpt from his fiction piece Al-Mahed Neighborhood, which is a fictionalized account of a close-knit Palestinian Christian family living in Bethlehem in the early 2000 written through a child’s eyes. published in Chimera, the Warwick MA in Writing Anthology.
In addition to discussing his own writing, Mr. Awwad highlighted @BUWrites, an Instagram page he launched in 2020 dedicated to showcasing the creative work of his students at Bethlehem University. This platform serves as a space for student writers to inspire one another and develop their voices. His lecture, titled In-Betweenness: A Creative Writing Journey, delved into his influences, covering topics such as identity politics, being Palestinian, and the importance of mental health awareness in his writing.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students, both in person and virtual, participated. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including how to start writing for the first time, and to find one’s voice.