Interview With a Writer
Nujoud Oweis
Tell me about yourself.
My name is Zein Al- Maha Oweis, I’m 21 years old, I am a Jordanian student studying Media Communications at Regents University in London and I am hoping to continue my Masters degree in journalism in the U.S. next year. I am visually impaired; I was born with a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, but that does not stop me from going through some of my favorite experiences like international dancing and excessive reading.
What was the beginning of your literary journey?
I started writing in school for my English classes but I didn’t enjoy it that much since it was part of my school assignments and essays. However, once my father passed away when I was seventeen years old, I started writing poetry. He was such an important person in my life and he still is. Once he left this world I couldn’t express my sadness easily and that lead me to write my first poem: “The Queen of Silence”. After that, I started writing poems for my poetry class and short stories for my fiction class at university.
Why do you execute the art of writing?
I love words and I love to read. Fiction and fantasy especially intrigue me as authors are able to create new, nonexistent worlds and novel characters embellished with supernatural elements. These worlds and characters become a part of the reader’s mind and imagination, especially my mind. Therefore, writing has become a part of me; I dream of being a part of these supernatural worlds and hope to create new worlds through my writing. It is really interesting what one can create with a paper and a pen.