Leila Rasheed

Author Interview:

When and how did you start writing?

I started writing when I was thirteen, at boarding school. After the school day ended we had prep (homework) lessons, and after I finished my prep I’d write stories in the back of my exercise books.

Later writing became a way of making friends: I discovered that other girls at school liked reading my stories, so I built whole friendships around writing stories for them. So I’ve always written for an audience, in a way.

Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? Who were your childhood storytelling heroes?

There were three: THE BLUE BALLOON by Mick Inkpen – the size and blueness of that wonderful balloon! THE LORD OF THE RINGS - I just sank into it and when I stopped reading at the end of the first book it was like surfacing after centuries under the sea. Total immersive reading; I believed in it utterly.  ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST - my mum recommended this to me when I was at boarding school. I remember being blown away by the writing, thinking: I didn’t know you could write a book like this. It was just perfect for me at boarding school: a story about a dehumanizing institution run on dictatorial lines, where keeping your head down was the only way to survive…

Describe your writing day. Where do you write? How do you organize your time? Where do you look for inspiration?

Time organization… yeah. I have heard of that stuff. I’m working on it!

I write in cafes a lot. This is no good for my waistline.

I am inspired and encouraged by other writers. It helps so much just to be able to talk to other people who know what rejection is like, for example.

Are there any tips you could give aspiring writers who are looking to get published?

Dear Aspiring Authors: I know you hear this all the time, but really, just don’t give up. So much is down to determination. I know many good writers who were not published because they gave up. But do listen to every piece of feedback you get, even if you don’t act on it, and do be prepared to change what you do. Remember that trying to get published is a learning process. And take criticism on board when you know it’s true, even if it hurts. The truest criticism will hurt.

Can you describe three aspects of writing craft that have been most important as you’ve developed as an author?

Learning to finish a book.

Learning to delete things.

I am slowly learning to look out for great ideas for books, not just good ideas for books.