Story in Progress: Telling Stories to Give Shape to Ideas

A valuable opportunity for anyone who wants to explore the world of creative writing or hone their storytelling skills. The University of Naples Federico II, as part of the F2Cultura program and in collaboration with ETS Gli Amici di Peter Pan, is offering the second edition of the “Story in Progress” workshop, dedicated to creative writing and storytelling. Curated by Lorenzo Ruggiero and Enrico Manzo, the program was created with the goal of guiding aspiring authors in discovering narrative techniques and developing their own literary identity, demonstrating how every story is the result of a process that combines inspiration, method, and creativity.

The workshop invites participants to view works of art, books, comics, and films not only as sources of inspiration but as tools to be analyzed and reinterpreted in order to create original stories. Through a guided program, students learn to create believable characters, develop effective plots, and experiment with different narrative styles, while engaging with the publishing world and strategies for showcasing their work. The workshop fosters imagination, critical thinking, and technical skills, guiding each participant on a journey that transforms ideas into stories capable of engaging and communicating. By the end of the course, each participant will have acquired the skills needed to continue writing independently and with confidence.

The project is divided into three phases. The first phase is dedicated to the study of narrative sources and character development; the second alternates theory and practice through writing exercises, text analysis, and comparisons of different literary genres and expressive styles; the third focuses on revising completed works, providing editorial guidance, and producing a shared final project.

The initiative is open to students, faculty, and technical, administrative, and library staff at Federico II University, with no prior writing experience required. The sessions will take place from November 2026 to April 2027, weekly every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in the F2Cultura Theater Lab in Via Mezzocannone 8.

To participate, you must submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2026, by sending an email to infof2cultura@unina.it with the subject line “Application to participate in the selection process for the Story in Progress workshop.” The application must include a personal information form with a photo, a motivation letter of no more than 1,500 characters, and, if applicable, a description of your artistic experience—all combined into a single PDF file. Selection will be based on a brief motivational interview conducted by a dedicated committee.

At the end of the program, participants will receive a certificate of participation and an Open Badge to certify the skills acquired. In addition, the project includes the print publication of the work—both narrative and visual—created during the workshop, thus offering participants an important opportunity to showcase their creative work.

Further information is available in the attached call for applications and on the dedicated webpage.