Hazawi Podcast Mohamed Morshed

In this episode I had the pleasure to speak to Bareerah Ghani, where explore the layers of a writer's journey. From the intersections of immigration and identity to the nuances of what it takes to have your stories published in magazines. We also talk about our MFA experiences and what got from them.Bareerah Ghani is a Canadian-Pakistani writer, reviewer, and editor with an MFA from George Mason University. Bareerah's writing has been featured in notable publications such as Scarlet Leaf Revi...

Hajera is a writer, a creative writing teacher, and an editor. She makes craft accessible and the writing process seem less daunting. Whenever I feel like my writing is not working, I check out her Instagram page.In our conversation, we dive into topics ranging from her writing routine, questions she get asked by students, MFA programs, the editing process and more. Enjoy!Timestamps:0:00 promo0:52 Why do we write stories?6:20 The not-born writers10:10 Reading white characters as a child&...

Rakaya is an award-winning poet, facilitator, event producer, and writer who explores themes of faith identity, and culture. She holds a master's degree in creative writing. You can watch her performances on YouTube (linked below). Rakaya has been commissioned by organizations like the BBC, Facebook, and Instagram.In our conversation, we dive into topics ranging from her experiences as a third-generation immigrant to her poetry, the writing and editing process, and storytelling in both spoken...

Every aspiring writer will question whether they should self-publish their book or go through the traditional publishing route. In this episode, I speak to the poet F.S. Yousaf, who has experienced both self-publishing and traditional publishing, as he shares the advantages and disadvantages of both worlds. We also delve into the world of poetry, discussing his writing process, routine, photography, social media and much more.F.S. Yousaf is the author of four poetry books and has a background...

The stories we read during our childhood, the places we visit, and the challenges we overcome are all the bedrock of our upbringing; they shape our adulthood. In this episode, I speak to Jasmine Bager about her experience as a Saudi journalist, her upbringing, education, and writing on arts and culture. During our conversation, we uncover the inspirational stories that have shaped Jasmine's journey.Jasmine Bager is a journalist from Saudi Arabia. She has an art degree, and she writes about wo...

We underestimate the power of words, even though they’re the bedrock of change. In this episode I speak to Zainab Iqbal about her experience as a Muslim journalist, and how she uses her words to tell stories that gets overlooked by the mainstream media. Zainab is a powerful voice, who puts her Muslim Identity before every word she writes.We spoke about the challenges she faces as a Muslim journalist, including Islamophobia and women rights. We also spoke about representation, and how it is im...