Blog
Alumni Spotlight: From Paris Perfume Museum to Publication with Feby Idrus
by Writing Workshops Staff
2 months ago
Sometimes the most unexpected moments spark the most memorable stories. For New Zealand writer Feby Idrus, a visit to the Fragonard Musée du Parfum during our Paris Writing Workshop in 2024 would lead to one of her most celebrated publications. Her flash fiction piece "Ascent," born from a writing exercise in Ramona Ausubel's Generative Fiction course, found its way to Takahe magazine in April 2025—with its first audience being her fellow workshop participants sitting on the banks of the Seine.
From Workshop Exercise to Published Flash Fiction
The story of "Ascent" perfectly illustrates the magic that can happen when skilled instruction meets the right creative environment. During the Paris workshop, Ramona Ausubel led participants to the Fragonard Perfume Museum, where the sensory experience of exploring centuries of fragrance history sparked a writing prompt that would prove transformative for Feby.
"Ascent" tells the story of a perfume's journey through time—from ancient Egyptian rituals to medieval plague protection, baroque seduction, and finally modern perfumery science. The piece demonstrates Feby's remarkable ability to find narrative voice in the unexpected, giving consciousness to scent itself as it travels through history.
The story's first public reading happened in the most romantic setting imaginable: "Technically speaking, this piece's first audience was the other Writing Workshops participants, who listened to me read it on the final day of the Workshops while we sat on the banks of the Seine!" Feby recalls. This moment captures what makes our destination workshops so special—the combination of literary instruction with unforgettable shared experiences.
A Second Publication: Writing with Purpose
Feby's creative momentum continued with the publication of her short story "Pulang" in Small World City in May 2025. This piece, written in response to the tragic mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, demonstrates her commitment to using fiction to process and respond to significant cultural and social events.
"Pulang," which means "to return home" in Malay and Indonesian, showcases Feby's ability to weave her multicultural perspective into compelling narrative. As a writer from New Zealand with Asian heritage, she brings a unique voice to contemporary literature that bridges cultures and experiences.
The Power of Pushing Creative Boundaries
Working with instructor Ramona Ausubel proved pivotal in Feby's development as a writer. "I really benefited from the exercises she set and her style of gently pushing the boundaries of our writing," Feby reflects. This approach—combining structured exercises with gentle but persistent encouragement to take creative risks—helped unlock new possibilities in her work.
The most valuable skill Feby gained from the workshop was learning "to seek new sources of stimulation and inspiration, and to keep pushing past ordinary ideas towards greater creativity." This lesson has clearly influenced her subsequent work, as evidenced by the imaginative leap required to tell a story from the perspective of perfume itself.
Community and Camaraderie
What Feby enjoyed most about her Writing Workshops experience was "the camaraderie and writing exercises." This combination of structured creative work and genuine community support proved transformative. "Since participating in the Workshops, I felt a renewed commitment to my writing, and to developing my skills and technique, and I've actively sought out other writing communities, to maintain that sense of camaraderie and support which I found in the Workshop."
This demonstrates one of the most valuable outcomes of our workshops—not just the immediate skills gained, but the lasting motivation to continue growing as a writer and engaging with literary community.
A Multi-Talented Creative Professional
Feby Idrus brings a rich creative background to her writing. As a writer, musician, and arts administrator from New Zealand, she has been published in Takahe and Carmina Magazine, with previous work anthologized in A Clear Dawn: New Asian Voices in Aotearoa New Zealand (2021) and Otherhood (2024). She also writes program notes for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating her versatility across different forms of arts writing.
Currently, Feby is working on larger projects, including revising a novel (now in its fourth draft) and beginning another. "Right now, much of my work is speculative fiction in some way," she notes, indicating her continued exploration of the creative boundaries that the Paris workshop helped her discover.
You can follow Feby's work on social media @febyidrus and explore her submissions profile at ChillSubs.
The Magic of Destination Workshops
Feby's story exemplifies what makes our destination workshops so powerful. The combination of expert instruction, immersive cultural experiences, and intimate community creates conditions where unexpected inspiration can flourish. A museum visit becomes a writing prompt; a writing exercise becomes a published story; fellow participants become the first audience for work that will go on to find broader readership.
The fact that "Ascent" traveled from a Parisian perfume museum to the pages of Takahe magazine—with a debut reading on the banks of the Seine—captures the romantic, transformative potential of combining serious craft instruction with inspiring settings.
Building on Workshop Success
Feby's post-workshop trajectory demonstrates the lasting impact of intensive creative education. The renewed commitment to writing, the active seeking of writing communities, and the continued work on major projects all point to someone whose creative practice was fundamentally energized by the workshop experience.
Her success with both "Ascent" and "Pulang" shows how the skills and inspiration gained in workshop can be applied to diverse projects—from imaginative exercises born from museum visits to deeply personal responses to social tragedy.
As Feby continues working on her novels and exploring speculative fiction, her story serves as inspiration for other writers considering how intensive workshop experiences can catalyze both immediate creative breakthroughs and long-term artistic development.
Ready for your own creative breakthrough? Learn more about our destination workshops and discover how the right combination of expert instruction, inspiring settings, and supportive community can transform your writing.
