How do you know when you’re ready to write a memoir? Or if you have a story to tell at all?

And how can you tell that story with truth, poise and humility?

Join us for a conversation with writer Huma Qureshi about sharing your lived experiences with the world, writing about difficult subjects like grief, loss, family history, culture, and love, and her latest book How We Met: A Memoir of Love and Other Misadventures, a story of love, loss, family and finding your own way in spite of what is expected of you.

We’ll also explore:

• Huma’s writing journey from journalism to personal essays to short stories and memoir
• Tips for writing short stories and pitching them to competitions
• Huma’s writing process from ideation to draft to editing
• Writing truthfully about your lived experiences
• How to write powerful first-person personal essays that connect with readers
• Finding your unique writing voice
• How to get unblocked with your writing
• And much more

About Huma Qureshi

Huma Qureshi is a journalist and author. She started her career at The Observer and The Guardian, working as a reporter and features writer across consumer news, life, and style sections before going freelance to write her first book, In Spite of Oceans, Migrant Voices, in 2015. Huma’s latest book, How We Met: A Memoir of Love and Other Misadventures, is a story of love, loss, family and finding your own way in spite of what is expected of you.

In 2020, she also received praise for several of her short stories: The Jam Maker won Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Competition; Small Differences was longlisted in the Mslexia Short Story Competition and shortlisted for the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize.

Her short story collection, Things We Do Not Tell The People We Love, will be published in November 2021 with Sceptre.

Praise for How We Met:

“A fearlessly honest memoir of courage, love and loss, and trying to find your place in the world.” –Kia Abdullah, author of Take It Back

“How We Met is a wonderful read… a memoir of grief, becoming, and true love, Huma Qureshi is a writer with a sharp eye and a romantic heart.” –Katherine May, author of Wintering

"A beautiful coming of age story, with a focus on love and questioning where matrimony fits into her life... Huma's voice is effortless, beautiful, incredibly refreshing and so relatable a really talented author.' –Haleh Agar, author of Out of Touch

Your London Writers' Salon Hosts:

Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to hosting LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published. She writes and edits for the Story Grid and Publishing Uncovered. She has worked as an editor and literary scout at Random House, Quercus & Eccles Fisher. She analyses TV hit shows (Killing Eve, Ozark, Game of Thrones) on the Story Grid Showrunners Podcast.

Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to hosting LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore.

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