Shibra Khan

ON July 09, 2025 / BY EDITORS GEORGE DAVEY & SHIBRA KHAN / LEAVE A COMMENT

Every year, The Brunel Writer Prize is awarded to the student with the highest graded article submission for the Creative Industries module on Brunel University’s Creative Writing Programme. Kay Drori Borghini was the winner of The Brunel Writer Prize 2025 with her AI and the Future of Storytelling: Partners or Competitors?

AI and the Future of Storytelling: Partners or Competitors? AI is everywhere these days, infiltrating nearly every corner of the creative industries. From composing original music with tools like AIVA to producing striking digital art through platforms like MidJourney, it’s clear that AI isn’t just dipping its toes into creativity—it’s diving in headfirst. In the publishing industry, it’s helping tidy up messy manuscripts and predict the next big thing readers will obsess over. But when it comes to writing, things get a bit… tense. Storytelling feels personal— deeply, uniquely human. So, what should we think now that AI has joined the party? Is it a creative sidekick to elevate our ideas, or a competitor rewriting the rulebook on how to tell a story?

When the world develops unexpectedly, it’s easy to shut the blinds and cling to what is familiar, point fingers at the disruptor, and imagine the worst. But isn’t that what storytelling thrives on—change, disruption, the unexpected? AI might feel like the villain of this particular narrative, but could it also be an unlikely ally? Sure, it challenges the traditional idea of a lone writer laboring over a masterpiece, but it also opens up doors we never thought to knock on.

When looking at AI as a writer’s collaborator, my first thought was doubt—it felt strange to introduce something so mechanical into something so personal. But over time, I’ve found it can be surprisingly helpful, the possibilities open up in ways that might feel unexpected, but they’re not without merit. AI isn’t here to replace the creative spark—it’s here to enhance it. Writers can use AI to brainstorm ideas when the well runs dry, drawing on suggestions that might lead to something fresh. It can sift through heaps of research, summarize complex topics, and present information in a way that allows writers to focus on the narrative, not the legwork. When it comes to grammar and clarity, AI can catch errors or suggest improvements, giving writers more space to focus on their voice and style. It’s not about doing the work for you, but about removing the roadblocks, so one can put energy into what matters most: crafting the story.

But as we think about how AI can assist writers, there’s one place where its potential is still met with resistance: universities. Universities in the UK seem to have slammed the door shut on AI, declaring it unwelcome in academic spaces. For creative writing students, this reluctance represents a missed opportunity. AI can be a collaborator who inspires fresh ideas and offers practical tools for refining their craft. Shouldn’t institutions built on progress and innovation prepare the next generation of writers for a rapidly evolving world? Trying to hold back the tide of technological change is a losing battle—learning to navigate it takes us much further. The fear that AI will make writers complacent is present, yet universities could teach students how to use its potential effectively and adequately. By equipping creative writing students with the skills to harness these tools, universities wouldn’t just be preparing them to adapt to the future—they’d be empowering them to redefine it. Change is inevitable, but resisting it only leaves us behind. For writers, this is a chance not to replace creativity, but to enhance it.

The future of creative writing isn’t about man versus machine. It’s about extending ourselves over the incoming horizon. Writers have always adapted to new tools—typewriters, word processors, and even the internet revolutionized how we write and share stories. AI is the next step in this evolution, a tool to expand what’s possible. Maybe it will be a man-machine alliance, but it won’t change the core of what makes storytelling so powerful: the uniquely human ability to weave meaning into words. AI isn’t the end of the story—it’s a new chapter waiting to be written.

Kay is an Italian writer who works across poetry and fiction—sometimes strange, often moody—and is interested in voice, atmosphere, and the messy stuff we feel but don’t always say.

ON May 31, 2025 / BY EDITORS GEORGE DAVEY & SHIBRA KHAN / LEAVE A COMMENT

Every year, The Brunel Writer Prize is awarded to the student with the highest graded article submission for the Creative Industries module on Brunel University’s Creative Writing Programme. Shibra Khan was a runner-up for The Brunel Writer Prize 2025 with her travel memoir, Colombian Chronicles: A Mature Student’s Adventure.

Universidad del Rosario art studio, Bogota. Photo by Diana R.

My journey of self-discovery took an unexpected turn in 2024. Amidst the whirlwind of my husband’s parliamentary campaign in 2024 (let’s just say #YesWeKhan was trending harder than my sanity), an invitation to join the Colombian study trip was like a serendipitous dream within a dream. I never imagined this journey would become a crash course in ‘Me, Inc.’, learning more about myself as a mature student than the captivating country itself.

El Dorado International Airport, Bogota First introductory class at the University of Rosario. Photos by University of Rosario staff

As a seasoned wordsmith embarking on my third degree in Creative Writing, learning Spanish, my fifth language, felt like a thrilling new chapter. I craved more than just postcard moments. I yearned to fully immerse myself in Colombian culture: savouring soul-nourishing dishes like, ajiaco, empanadas and arepas; exploring its vibrant literature and the rich history of its indigenous lands; and experiencing the music that flows from six distinct regions, moving into the rhythms of salsa and cumbia, to the sounds of guacharaca and maracas. From the coasts of the Caribbean to the Pacific, I longed to feel the unifying power of its melodies, the renowned art, gold museums and witness the vibrancy of Rosario Square.

Villa De Leyva, Colombia Photo by University of Rosario staff Fruit Market, Bogota

From the exhilarating first hola of the Spanish lesson to the poignant adios in the Arts and Literature class, echoing the profound themes of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, the halls of Rosario University were alive with an undiminished excitement. Waking up at 5 AM for Tinto (that magical Colombian coffee) might have tested my sanity, but the early night reflections at 10 PM provided a welcome balm for my middle-aged bones. I learned valuable life lessons, like the fact that washing machine tokens are a renewable resource (who knew?). Age, I discovered, isn’t just a number; it’s a dotted line connecting wisdom and increasingly peculiar experiences like getting gloriously, hilariously lost on the very first day of my trip.

A beautiful mural painting, Bogota Photographed by author, Gold Museum, Bogota

Imagine me, a Shibra, stumbling into the Colombian wonderland, wide-eyed, where my ‘true self’ was redefined not as some intrepid explorer but as a sloth masquerading as a human. The vibrant rows of exotic local fruits like guanabana and lulu, paired with the eye-catching Embera beadwork crafted by Chami Tribe artisans in the streets of Bogotá, were an exhilarating sensory overload. In the main market of downtown Bogota, hawkers tempted me with guarapo with a hint of limón, a sugarcane juice so delicious I almost licked the llamas, nonchalantly parading around Botero’s plump sculptures as if they were auditioning for a surrealist art film. This unforgettable experience stands as a testament to the tireless efforts of both Brunel and Rosario universities.

University of the Rosary, Bogotá Photographed by the author & University of Rosario staff Innovation and Entrepreneurship campus

This trip was a much-needed escape from the everyday grind of mature student life, balancing studies, family, and a social life that often revolved around debating the merits of healthy eating. Tejo, a beloved Colombian sport of throwing metal disks at a circular target, earned me the prestigious title of ‘Queen of Tejo’ (much to the amusement of my tender muscles). My creativity was reignited by the vibrant street art of Bogota, where the secret language of graffiti left me marvelling at the inventiveness of the mural’s artistry.

Winning at Tejo is always fun Photographed by the Brunel University of London staff Lake at Villa De Leyva

Beyond the responsibility of representing my university, this Colombian adventure was a crash course in ‘Adulting Plus 101’, forcing me to balance academics with real-world demands. Climbing Bogota’s challenging hills, I learned that pushing my limits, both physically and mentally, can be incredibly rewarding. The whimsical charm of Villa de Leyva and the serene beauty of San Andres offered much-needed respite from the constant hum of academic stress. This trip instilled renewed confidence and a deeper appreciation for cultural exchange. I encourage fellow mature students to seize this opportunity; you might return a more well-rounded (no pun intended), slightly less stressed, and infinitely more enjoyable version of yourself. And who knows, you might even learn something about life you can’t find in any textbook.

Shibra Mariam Khan is a multilingual poet, writer, and community educator. Her journey has taken her from Pakistan to Norway and now to West London. She currently supports Syrian and Afghan refugees in integrating into their local communities. She is passionate about exploring her poetic voice as a global citizen, reflecting on her diasporic identity and the challenges of living across borders. Shibra co-edits the Brunel Writer blog and enjoys writing her reflections while travelling. Her interests include wholesome nutrition, advocating for social justice, and embracing the transformative power of language.
Stay connected with her latest writings via Instagram: @shibra_kh