The Qatari Forum for Authors broadcast, on Saturday evening, the first episode of the Child Initiative series, which was launched by the Forum during the month of June and supervised by the writer and Fine artist Lina Alali, via the Forum channel on YouTube to discuss “Narration and children’s stories”.

The session took place in the form of a dialogue on many issues related to children’s literature, its peculiarities and its most important features. Ms. Lina began the dialogue by asking her guest about ways to achieve balance in life, which is the secret of success, especially in the field of writing.

Dr. Al-Shamsi’s response was that after going through experiences and expertises, a person has the ability to visualize a clear vision that depends on organization and planning in the time dimension for a period of two months and three months, which enables them to seize opportunities to do business, especially since they have many obligations, and she considered that this process requires intellectual maturity, flexibility, and a desire to achieve and reduce wasted time in life.

In answer to a question about her specialization in teaching Arabic and its role in her inclination to children’s literature, Dr. Al-Shamsi confirmed that the reason for her love for the Arabic language and children’s stories goes back to her childhood and her attachment to her grandparents who used to tell her traditional stories along with her love for songs in the school curriculum. At the elementary level, and her interest in magazines directed at children, which she was looking forward to becoming a writer for one day, and this is what has been achieved in recent years.

She found that specializing in the study of the Arabic language will enable her to have the tools with which she will enter the world of writing with a good equal, in addition to that it enables her to delve into various artistic templates such as poetry, theater and story.

In the context of her discussion about her career and in literature, Dr. Al-Shamsi said that she moved on the career ladder from school to supervisor of literary activities, especially theater activity, and then moved to the university and academic education for both native and non-Arabic speakers, which enabled her to gain experience and great experience and she was able to adapt the Arabic language and even present many workshops for different groups of people interested in writing.

Dr. Al-Shamsi also said that she chose to write for the child because she addresses the child inside her, as she is a mother and used the story as an educational method with her children and her students to pass many values and meaningful contents, given that the story is the closest means of communication that achieves the educational goal, which is what made her eager to be able to this field. She also considers that writings in children’s literature are scarce, which is what made her seek to satisfy her curiosity and her need for this type of writing.

Dr. Wafaa indicated that she loves theater because it is an educational tool that has proven to be effective, especially with students who suffer from problems, whether in poor educational attainment or who have some inappropriate behaviors or who have low self-confidence.

Regarding participation in competitions, Dr. Wafaa says that competitions stimulate talents and provoke ideas, especially as she has a high competitive spirit, considering that success in competitions is usually a stroke of luck because she participates to prove oneself and put the text in its appropriate place and appreciate it in the appropriate way, and profit is not the primary goal. from her participations.

The guest talked about her experience in judging in children’s story competitions and considered that judging requires moving away from subjectivity and special taste and adherence to scientific and clear arbitration standards because it is an ethical responsibility and honesty and trust must be performed to the fullest extent.

Dr. Wafaa Al Shamsi concluded the meeting by talking about the Omani Society for Writers and authors, which is a cultural organization equivalent to the Qatari Forum for Authors that aims to contribute to the literary movement in the Sultanate of Oman and work to activate and flourish in cooperation with specialized cultural institutions and organizations.

It also aims to encourage the spirit of volunteer work in the fields of culture and literature and to adopt it in addition to work to support freedom of thought, encourage the language of dialogue and defend the rights of the writer in cooperation with the competent authorities in accordance with the established policy and encourage emerging writers and writers in the Sultanate of Oman and take care of their creativity consistent with humanitarian ideals and goals that the association was established for it in several different fields, considering that child literature has become strongly present in various book fairs in the world and occupies a distinctive place in local, Gulf and international literature.