Floral Flash Fiction: The Stories of Flowers

Drawing inspiration from J.J Grandville’s illustrations from The Flowers Personified (1847.

Drawing inspiration from J.J Grandville’s illustrations from The Flowers Personified (1847), this creative writing workshop invites participants to connect with nature through storytelling and personification. Personification is a form of figurative language that helps writers create vivid, imaginative descriptions by giving human qualities to non-human elements. It is often used in poetry, storytelling, and everyday expressions.The workshop will begin with a short but thorough introduction to flash fiction, which is fictional work of extreme brevity that still offers character and plot development. Participants will learn about the technicalities of writing flash fiction and will be provided with examples of well-crafted pieces of flash fiction. Using the Flowers Personified illustrations as a muse, participants will be guided through the creation of their own flash fiction stories. The workshop will culminate in an (optional) sharing circle. All levels of writing skills are welcome; participants may write in any language.

👩🏽‍🎨 About the Facilitator - Hanan Hazime

Hanan Hazime is a multidisciplinary artist, creative writer, and community arts educator based in Tkaronto/Toronto. She holds an MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Windsor. Her poetry and prose have been featured in various publications, including The Windsor Review and CBC Arts. Hanan’s debut poetry chapbook, Aorta, was published by ZED Press in 2018. She facilitates creative writing workshops across the city, empowering communities through storytelling and art. Currently, Hanan is working on both a novel and a poetry collection, continuing her exploration of identity, memory, and healing through multidisciplinary creative expression.

🎉 About HAPPENING Multicultural Festival

HAPPENING Multicultural Festival is a celebration of immigrant, refugee, and newcomer artists in Toronto. Organized by MUSE Arts, the festival brings together diverse voices through interactive workshops, exhibitions, performances, and community gatherings. It is a joyful, inclusive space where creativity thrives, stories are shared, and communities are strengthened through the arts. The festival’s mission is to amplify underrepresented voices and build bridges across cultures using the power of art.