Testimonials

Testimonials from Bereket writers


Sibylla, novelist, workshop group leader at Bereket since Fall 2021

I love our [Bereket workshop] group. I think if Sevde [Bereket's founder] was a matchmaker, she would have a lot of happy couples running around. [...] Our personalities mesh really well. I learn so much from reading their work and look forward to being able to talk about our work. I’ve so appreciated the thoughtful critiques I receive on my work.


I’m glad to be in community with Bereket. It can be isolating as a writer but to have people who understand what you’re going through is priceless. [...] These workshops are set up like MFA writing workshops. It’s great to be able to talk and share information about writing and our writing lives.


Sofía, writer and editor, workshop group leader at Bereket since Winter 2022

My writing wouldn’t be what it is without my fellow writers Shareen, Petra, and Noah. They’re all such careful readers, so full of insight and genuine advice, and because of them, I’ve been able to get several pieces of writing published after going through our group critique. And of course, it’s been wonderful to read their work as well, learn from their own techniques, and see their growth and skills develop. We all uplift each other! 


Testimonials from Bereket alumni


Leah, community storyteller

I was not a fiction writer before joining my Bereket workshop, but through the support of the women in my cohort, I can confidently say that I am now. We learned how to better our own writing from engaging with each other's work.They encouraged my fiction writing, were honest and thorough in their feedback, and supportive of my constant experimentation as I worked to find my style. The consistency and accountability of the workshop helped me complete my third novel, a collection of short stories. I am forever grateful for the eighteen months I spent with these ladies and the writing skills that I learned that I will continue to use throughout my writing career.


Dina, novelist and screenwriter

Writing is a lonely journey and the last two years have been lonely for all of us. I’m so glad to have found this community of trusted writers, peers helping peers. We all strive to read, learn, and to give constructive feedback. My group helped me reach a deadline, pointed out my blind spots, and their notes made my stories better!


Olly, editor and poet

The feeling of community and being accountable to your fellow group members has had such a profound effect on me. I wrote my first short story because of the workshop, because people engaged with my writing like they would a Booker Prize novel. They were thoughtful and kind and honest, and made me believe I could go deeper and farther. It is such a great feeling to have a group of talented people look at your work, look at your writing, understand who you are and what you are trying to do and tell you to your face that you can do it.

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