Mariam Elhouli

Name:
Mariam Elhouli
Nouvator — Creative Writing & Storytelling

Mariam is an Australian author, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and international speaker with Lebanese heritage. Her work brings together storytelling, leadership, and social impact, exploring how stories can help people understand one another and see new possibilities in their own lives.

Education Background:

Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Composition from Griffith University, as listed in her publisher’s biography.

Professional Experiences:

• Author of The Olive Tree — a debut novel exploring friendship, resilience, compassion, and the consequences of prejudice through the experiences of a young Palestinian girl.
• Founder of Wattle Tree Productions — an Australian production company focused on authentic storytelling, cultural representation, and bringing underrepresented voices to the screen.
• Writer and director of Yeshka (2024) — a film exploring resilience and the emotional journey of a young girl facing difficult circumstances.
• Founder of Eve’s Skin and co-founder of Mica Minerals — combining creative thinking with practical experience in building skincare and cosmetics businesses.
• International speaker, business coach, and mentor — sharing experience in entrepreneurship, identity, resilience, personal visibility, and women’s leadership.

Awards & Recognition:

• Fiction Book of the Year, ABLE Awards 2022 — for The Olive Tree.
• Gold, Handmade Business of the Year, AusMumpreneur Awards 2023 — for Eve’s Skin.
• Silver, One to Watch Award, AusMumpreneur Awards 2023.
• First place, Emerging Woman, Women Changing the World Awards 2024.

Media Appearances:

• The Safi Bros Podcast — featured in “Success Stories — Mariam Elhouli,” discussing her personal journey, entrepreneurship, and resilience.
• The Westsider — featured in “Saving the World Through Story,” highlighting her writing journey and The Olive Tree.
• Mike Mackay Interviews — sharing her experiences as an author and entrepreneur, and the emotional process behind her writing.
• Her website also highlights appearances at Nasdaq and The New York Times in New York, discussing women’s empowerment, identity, equality, and equity. These are presented as appearances on her website.

My personality in one quirky sentence:
Suggested for Mariam’s approval

A storyteller with a founder’s drive, a heart full of purpose, and a habit of turning life’s chaos into another chapter.

Values:
Suggested wording, reflecting themes in her public work

• Empathy: Listening to people’s experiences and making room for perspectives beyond our own.
• Authenticity: Creating stories that feel honest, human, and meaningful.
• Courage: Finding the confidence to share a voice or story that deserves to be heard.
• Inclusion: Welcoming different backgrounds and bringing overlooked experiences into the conversation.
• Purpose: Using creativity to build understanding, connection, and positive change.
• Growth: Continuing to learn, create, and begin again.

These themes reflect her stated commitment to empathy, representation, and storytelling with social purpose.

What are your goals?
Suggested first-person wording

I want to help people recognise that their voice matters and that they have stories worth telling. Through creative writing, I hope to help them find the confidence and practical skills to turn their ideas into stories that connect with others.

At Nouva, my goal is to create a welcoming space where people can experiment, learn from one another, and grow through writing, sharing, and refining their work.

Your module name:

The Art of Storytelling & Creative Writing by Mariam El Houli

Discover your voice. Shape your ideas. Write stories that connect.

Mechanism:

An experiential workshop built around write, share, reflect, and refine.

Participants explore storytelling examples, respond to guided writing prompts, develop their own work, and exchange constructive feedback. Each activity helps them apply what they learn to a story they care about.

Topics covered:

• Discovering your writing voice.
• Finding inspiration in everyday experiences.
• Turning an idea into a story.
• Developing believable characters.
• Building story structure, tension, and momentum.
• Writing dialogue and vivid scenes.
• Creating emotional connection.
• Revising with clarity and intention.

Module Outline:
Proposed four-session structure, to be finalised with Mariam

Session 1 — Find Your Voice
Explore what you want to express, who you want to reach, and what makes your perspective distinctive.

Activity: Use guided prompts to develop a story idea and write an opening passage.

Session 2 — Build Your Story
Develop characters, motivations, setting, and the central challenge that moves your story forward.

Activity: Create a character profile and a simple story map.

Session 3 — Bring It to Life
Practise dialogue, sensory detail, pacing, and writing scenes that help readers feel connected.

Activity: Draft a scene and exchange guided feedback.

Session 4 — Refine and Share
Learn how to revise your work while preserving your voice, then identify your next steps as a writer.

Activity: Present a revised piece and create a personal writing plan.

Who is this workshop meant for?

• Aspiring writers who need help getting started.
• Beginners who have ideas but struggle to put them into words.
• Creatives who want to strengthen their storytelling.
• People who want to explore personal experiences through writing.
• Writers returning to their craft who would appreciate structure, encouragement, and community.

You do not need a finished manuscript to begin. Bring your curiosity, an idea you care about, and a willingness to practise.