On our third week’s first session, we learned the importance of trusting our audience by allowing the writing to speak for itself without over-explaining. A brief but valuable tutorial on line editing introduced us to a skill that will prove essential during revisions.

Additionally, we explored how to ground readers through precise descriptions and vivid scenes, enhancing the immersive quality of our writing. We also discussed Beltinë’s and Elona’s works, which used the structure of a nonfiction prose poem to thoughtfully examine the concept of self-awareness and the journey of “knowing oneself.”

On MemoryLab’s second session of third week, we were joined by guest lecturer Donjetë Murati, who guided us through a deep exploration of memory and its ties to art, history, and collective identity.

We delved into critical questions about who gets to decide what we remember as a society, from the naming of streets to the creation of monuments, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding stolen artifacts.

Donjeta also shed light on the fragility of archives and how memory is imprinted on the spaces we inhabit. We considered the impermanence of memory in the digital age, reflecting on how easily it can vanish from the internet.

The workshop concluded with a speculative writing exercise, where each of us imagined something we’d like to preserve 200 years into the future. The diversity of ideas was so inspiring that some of the pieces may be featured in our upcoming zine, capturing the essence of our shared reflections.

Special thanks to Fondacioni 17 for the cozy environment at Rezidenca 17.