〖 Bad writing advice  〗

Bad writing advice

We asked seven writers for the worst writing advice they were ever given. Bad in general, or bad for them in particular. Bad advice about writing discipline, bad advice about self-expression and bad advice about the audience.

I was an asylum seeker in a camp, paperless in the Swedish forests. A glimmer of hope resided in the hamlet where the camp stood: a library. Amongst its shelves, I discovered my escape from isolation, a wellspring of inspiration. Though the books were written in Swedish, a language entirely foreign to me at the time, I felt a compelling urge to tell my story through its words. Seeking advice on how to bring my tale to life and secure its place in the literary world, I approached the librarian. « I am an Arab, a newcomer writer and I write in English too. Is there any book in English or advice to write and get published in Sweden? » She left her desk and came back with a book — Swedish Level 1 — suggesting that if I aimed to become a writer within this land, I should write only in Swedish. While her counsel might have been well-intentioned, it sparked a sense of rebellion within me.

I gathered my English and committed myself to self-expression over linguistic perfection. I wanted my voice to be heard. To provide the most accessible language for editors, I penned four chapters and a synopsis in English and completed the rest of the manuscript in Arabic during my stay within the camp. I left the camp with my residency permit and manuscript.

Upon submitting the English synopsis, I was met with insightful feedback from the editor. He acknowledged the sincerity and desperation that infused my English writing, and highlighted my intention to communicate my story rather than flaunt my English skills. This affirmation reaffirmed my belief that language barriers need not hinder the power of storytelling. He asked me to submit the whole manuscript and told me that he would find a translator from Arabic to Swedish. Today my book is translated into Swedish and is on the shelves of almost all libraries in Sweden. I have been invited to speak by many libraries throughout the country.

Khaled Alesmael is a Syrian author based in London, whose books appeared in Swedish, German and Danish. His debut Selamlik was published by Leopard Förlag in Sweden in 2018, in 2024 the English translation will appear at World Editions.