What it Takes to Become an Author
How a Teenage Author Found Her Voice and Published a Book That Speaks to Millions
Whenever I am in public and see someone with my book in their possession, it is oftentimes difficult to explain that the book is mine. They can't wrap their minds around the idea of a teenager dedicating years to writing, editing, and publishing a piece of literature that will eventually find its way into the hands of millions of people. While the journey to becoming an author is long and daunting, a common misconception is that it is only feasible for adults to accomplish.
When I started writing, my intention was never to finish a book. It started off as a short story, the kind of story that I, as a thirteen-year-old girl, saw missing from bookshelves. The kind of story that all Muslim young adults deserved to read. I wrote it for my present self but published it in honor of my younger self. The version of me that exists within the little girls I see at the mosque enthusiastically trying to gain a sense of faith and camaraderie, the version of me that I see within the older girls I mentor who are eager to enter professions in which Muslims are oftentimes unseen, the version of me I see in my charity work, in the people I serve, for whom the only distinction between me and them is geographical luck. As my main protagonist said in the book's conclusion, "From fear to reassurance, from loneliness to togetherness, from hostility to camaraderie, this story was never mine alone." Salaam Means Peace started off as mine, but its impact has echoed to all the versions of me that I never knew existed.
When writing for an audience, it is important to remember that before you even have your first word down, your intention needs to be clear. Who are you writing for? What are you hoping to achieve as a result? What is your main source of inspiration? When these questions are answered, the articulation of your thoughts can easily flow as a result. When a story has a purpose, it is already there in your heart, waiting to be inscribed.
Society tends to romanticize the writing process too much. It is never a straight road toward a manuscript. It can look like writing two thousand words one day and zero for the next few weeks. It can look like spending months on one chapter only to delete it and restart in the end. It can look like changing the name, personality, or gender of a single character multiple times in one sitting until you find a persona that resonates with you. I have changed my timeline multiple times and grew discouraged with each passing time. There were phases where I gave up entirely, then reminded myself of my purpose in order to regain motivation. My first book took me three years; what people can read in two hours took me three years of my life. I remain grateful for every minute, every word, every meltdown, and every tear that came along with the process. My writing journey was mine alone, and I take pride in overcoming the obstacles that led to me earning the title of an author.
As I write my next book, I am beginning to realize that my writing journey changes as my life changes. I am no longer pulling all-nighters or writing from the comfort of my room. My writing journey today looks like me writing on the subway on my commute home from school, or writing after work as I grade my students' assignments. It looks like checking my document in between conversations with my peers and jotting down ideas that come to life as I attempt to continue relating to my audience.
When the manuscript is at last done and plot holes have been fixed, it is at last time for the most intimidating yet exciting part. Publication is scary in the sense that it acts as the final boundary between your work and the rest of the world. It is difficult to find a publisher that believes in your book, but the important part is for you to believe in your own book. A company rejecting your offer does not diminish the value of your writing; it simply means that it was meant to be somewhere else. It took me reaching out to multiple different publishing firms to finally get my one yes. As discouraging as it was, when the process was finally over, I realized that one yes was all I truly needed.
I am forever indebted to the support system I had both during and after the process. When you write with a purpose, the audience that is meant to find you will. Their encouragement, feedback, and help were much needed during the marketing process. It is important to try not to appeal to everyone, but instead, appeal to the right crowd.
