“We say don't try and write about (United States President George W) Bush. That is for when you become an experienced writer. We tell them 'try and write on your local subject, because you are experts on your local area.' It must be of public interest and focused. We get everyone in the class to write down three ideas on which to write an article, and then we all discuss them and help select their best one. We tell them it's not like writing a short story sitting at a table. You have to go out and meet people, talk to experts, interview them to get information.”
“In cities, you get attention if some injustice takes place, or violence against women happens. But in the rural areas no one cares, yet there are all kinds of problems, particularly for women. In our country, in our philosophy, we have always been a male-dominated society. Everyone presumes that the father, brother or husband knows what is best for his daughter, sister or wife.”
“These are the kind of stories that we could not find anywhere else. Either they write of their own real-life experiences, or describe that of their friends or family and the horrors they go through. Many write about honor killings and about child marriages. One wrote of the baby sister of a convicted murderer, who was married off to the victim's brother, as compensation for his crime.”
