Hello peeps!🖐

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu!☺

Hope you all are doing well?

So are you all ready to meet with our Today's guest of Let's Grab a Coffee☕ and Chat.

Interviewer: aiieeshaaadfff

And please welcome the Most Fabulous and HardWorking Author su_shhii 🤝

So yeah let's get started😙🤞

INTRODUCTION

Hello, my name is Saroosh. I (try to) write Islamic stories that highlight social issues I'm passionate about.

What inspired you to start writing?

I initially started writing for pleasure. I loved how I could transcend the confines of my mundane life and be someone with superpowers or an exorbitant amount of courage. As I continued to write over the years I started including social issues and evils like injustice, capitalism and greed, and that need to talk about the world keeps me inspired.

When did you start writing?

I vividly remember picking up a pen and a register with the intention to write when I was thirteen.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Ever since I started writing (at thirteen) it's all I've wanted to be. No matter what career I'm in, I am a writer before anything else.

What comes first, the plot or the characters?

This is a tough one, because sometimes I know the characters, but don't have a plot for them. Sometimes I have a plot, and the characters develop alongside. In my current WIP the protagonist's personality was changed after writing multiple chapters.

What is the most difficult part about writing for you?

Time. Most of my writing is done in fleeting moments. I joke with friends that it's a miracle I haven't bumped into a pole (or mysterious stranger) while typing on my phone while walking from one place to another.

I also struggle with comprehensive communication sometimes. If there's an idea in my head that I'm having trouble conveying, I brood over it for days.

When you're writing an emotional, sad, or romantic scene, how do you get in the mood?

I have an abundance of emotions to dip into and use for those emotional scenes, haha. But when it comes to romance it takes an entire day sometimes to bring myself in that state of mind. Most of the time I have to daydream about completely unrealistic scenarios just to get that feeling of giddiness (shout-out to MeeshaKh for helping me work those ideas out). And for sad scenes, I just have to imagine an old man eating alone.

What was your most favorite part and least favorite part of the publishing journey?

My favorite definitely has to be the positive feedback and personal satisfaction of maybe making a difference (whether by teaching something, highlighting an underrepresented issue or just making someone laugh). While the least favorite has to be exposing myself to the judgement of those who think they can find flaws in me by my characters in extension.

Did you find it more challenging to come up with your first book?

This may come off as a surprise to most, my first Wattpad book was a detective novel called Asma & Co. and it was definitely challenging to write. My experience with my book Woven was far more pleasant because the first draft of Woven was written in a 'go-with-the-flow' fashion. I tried to enjoy every moment.

How many books have you written? And which is your favorite?

I have one book published on Wattpad, and two in the works. I won't put a number to my completed personal drafts because it's embarrassing admitting how much I have written but still nowhere near what qualifies as 'good.' I think my favorite has to be the one I'm working on right now, No Yesterday.

Which of your books were most enjoyable to write?

Woven was a joy to write despite the dark themes. The simple romance and heartfelt moments would make me smile for days.

Tell us a few things about your first book? What was the journey like?

Woven is a story about a plus-size muslimah with a trauma disorder who learns to love herself and deal with her past as she enters the new phase of her life; moving to a new town and getting married. Simultaneously, the story also revolves around our protagonist's husband who deals with his own insecurities and the mystery of his runaway brother.

I recently edited and somewhat rewrote the later half of the book. I had an amazing time which made me fall in love with the story all over again.

What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?

Trust yourself, renew your intentions on a regular basis and be realistic (unless it's a fantasy novel). We all love out-of-this-world romances but tone it down on the billionaires and mafia bosses. There's a very small population of billionaires in the world, and quick- murdering mafia bosses don't get as soft as goo because of one woman. That being said, don't hold yourself back from exploring different genres (would not recommend eroticas) and finding your style.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

My WIP, No Yesterday is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who leaves behind her privileged life in Pakistan to live in the US where she learns what it means to be an adult, relying on God, and the importance of love. It's a spiritual story without being overbearing, and the secondary themes are romance and forgiveness.

How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?

Other than the WIP, I have two stories to rewrite/continue known as Delicate like a Dynamite and Puranay Rastay. The plots are ready, the readers loved what they read, and now what's left is to take them beyond the ten/twelve written chapters. Delicate like a Dynamite is a familial duty versus romantic love book, while Purany Rastay explores the limits of changing yourself for those who you love.

Which was the first book you read?

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Scarabian Nights. I bought it while traveling and made myself nauseous on the drive back home. I can't remember which book was my first on Wattpad, but Confessions of a Muslim Girl was the first muslim fiction I read.

What is your favorite genre to read?

Hands down mystery and crime fiction. It was a complete shock to me when I started writing romance and spiritual fiction. Dean Koontz and Mary Higgins Clark have my heart.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the Good and the Bad ones?

I appreciate every word of feedback. I love when the readers tell me what they liked and what I can improve on, it helps me stay motivated to improve. I haven't gotten any bad reviews so far, personal attacks, yes, but nothing about the books, haha (the reason I mentioned this is to tell my friends that they aren't alone, a lot of us go through the excruciating experience of being judged by strangers on the internet).

Who is your Favorite Author?

Myself. I also enjoy works by my dear friend __Miss_Fantasy__

Which book is currently on your bedside table?

Due to the fact that I read multiple books at a time (when I read once in a blue moon) I currently have the following bookmarked: If I Should Speak by Umm Zakiyyah, Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig and Secrets of Divine Love by A. Helwa.

Do you have any writing goals in General or just Wattpad?

To be a published writer is on top of the pyramid, writing a 100 words a day is at the bottom. The space between is filled up with so many goals I can fill sheets.

Would you like to name any of the good friends you made on Wattpad?

Yesss. I am friends with the gorgeous and kind authordira_21 the loving and courageous An_estrella the sweetest allergic-to-apologies kithaab_lover9 and kind writing-with-sabr my all time favorite _MissMoody_ and the lovely and radiant Qalb-E-Katib and the understanding and genius-in-disguise Creationofthecreator. I'm sorry if I missed any names, so many have been kind to me it's overwhelming accepting all the love.

How does it feel when you get so much Support and Love from readers?

Blessed. It gives me immeasurable joy waking up to heartfelt comments and feedback. I would have hopped off this website if it hadn't been for the ones who support me.

Lastly would you like to share something with your readers or writers?

This website has a lot of resources for you to learn and improve your writing. Don't involve yourself in unnecessary drama by competing with others, your journey is yours alone. If someone tries to ruin your mental peace drop them like a hot potato before they do irreparable damage. Cherish the friends you make here, and always always remember why you started.

Hope you had fun doing this Interview with me?☺

"Absolutely! It was a pleasure."

Thank you fauxadf for being my first interviewer and asking me meaningful questions.

It was fun chatting with you😙

Thank you so much for accepting my Invitation su_shhii 💙💜

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~AFDF~
AyshaYunusDF

Thank you🥀