The Immigrant Writers Association’s 2nd Anthology: Grow Together

I was so pleased to be a part of the Immigrant Writers Association’s second anthology, GROW TOGETHER, a collection of stories, both fiction and non, by immigrants living in Canada. Each chapter is written by a different member of the Immigrant Writers Association (IWA), an organization that provides resources, opportunities, and community to first- and second-generation immigrant writers in Canada, and each chapter deals with the immigrant experience and the theme of growing together. My chapter is titled “You’re an Immigrant?” It is a personal essay that looks at the challenges of the immigrant experience even when one doesn’t fit the stereotype of an immigrant. It reflects on my life in Canada and South Africa, the various people I’ve met in both countries, and the time it takes to fully adapt to a new society. If you would like to learn more about GROW TOGETHER, or even buy it as an ebook or paperback, you can do so here. “You’re an Immigrant?” is Chapter 1 of the anthology.

Writing this short memoir piece was actually very cathartic for me. It brought back a lot of memories. I’m very happy with how it turned out, but I’m also very happy for having gone through the experience of writing it. As someone who has mostly written fiction, it was interesting and rewarding to try my hand at memoir.

When writing a book, though the process is much more collaborative than it appears, it feels a little like competing in an individual sport; while, when being a part of an anthology, it feels like you’re playing on a team. I am very excited and proud to be a part of this anthology, and to be a member of IWA. I think writing can be a wonderful outlet for everyone, and it definitely can be a great source of release and reflection for immigrants (I feel very fortunate that I was exposed to writing from a young age, and that it was a source of comfort and catharsis for me when I immigrated as a child). I think IWA is providing a valuable role in supporting immigrant writers in Canada (and providing a publishing opportunity for them in its annual anthology). I would encourage any first- or second-generation immigrants in Canada, at any stage of their writing journey, to look into joining IWA if looking to connect and explore their writing further.