Pedagogical twists: challenges to teaching fiction writing workshops in Indian colleges and universities

This paper explores the complexities of teaching fiction writing in Indian higher education. It argues that the Cold War-era workshop model, which originated in the U.S. and emphasizes the written text over broader cultural and socioeconomic contexts responsible for generating the text, is inadequate for Indian universities and colleges lacking dedicated creative writing programs or an opportunity to teach advanced fiction workshops. The paper highlights the logistical challenges faced by instructors, including the limited opportunity to teach fiction writing courses and the lack of exposure of students to craft courses on fiction writing in Indian schools. It critiques the American workshop model and proposes alternative strategies to teach fiction workshops that are tailored to the Indian context. These include a modified anonymous floating workshop model and a seminar-based structure to teach fiction writing. The paper underscores the need for context-sensitive approaches to creative writing pedagogy that address the unique cultural, institutional, and educational realities of Indian universities.