How has "Sehri Tales" helped you to overcome writer’s block?
What the Sehri Tales challenge does to me each year is push me out of my comfort zone in every way possible. There's an incredible amount of discipline involved in getting up and punching your sleep-starved brain to come up with ideas, and initially I was researching forms as a crutch. How do I express my most banal thoughts each night in a way that is different? And I think that's what creativity is about - when you're forced out of the familiar and low on options, you improvise, and something new comes out of it. And this year, I'm finding myself going back to those earlier exercises in form, to see if I can perfect it. If nothing else, I have 30 idea nuggets from each year's challenge that I can flesh out into something bigger if I need to.
Can we expect a "Sehri Tales 2" anytime soon?
The first book was a culmination of three years of writing, and even that, in retrospect, was rushed, in my opinion. If there's a reprise or sequel, I want to take my time with it, not just my own writing, but the illustrations, which I did myself, and since ultimately Sehri Tales is a creative workbook, I want to be more comprehensive with the prompts and tips. So in short, no, not anytime soon. I do have a few other projects up my sleeve that might, In shaa Allah, see the light of day sooner.
Does "Sehri Tales" reflect your emotional vulnerability?
Oh, definitely. When you're hungry and sleepy, and trying to put the words down, at least for me, I find myself at my most honest. Particularly the 2018 entries were me at my most confessional. Having said that, some of the pieces that were written during dark times were an act of exorcism. I might have been sad or angry when I was writing them, but just the act of writing them was cathartic enough to help me move past it, and now I'm like, "Thank you, next."
Sabrina speaking at a session at Dhaka Lit Fest 2018 | Mahmud Hossain Opu
Do you think "Sehri Tales" has the potential to become a universal social media movement; in terms of expressing emotion in an artistic manner?
Wow. I'd like to think so. Last year, I collaborated with the book club Litmosphere on the project, and the response was pretty good; less than a week into Ramadan this year, it's been phenomenal! Each person brings their own unique perspective to the stories, and I am wowed by the sheer talent out there. Last year, we went to some serious soul searching and the Litmosphere admins and I were later told that it really helped a lot of the participants deal with some deep-seated issue. So there's definitely potential. I really hope it picks up and helps people.
What do you suggest for young writers?
It's easy to rush to post a half-baked thought on social media, and there's always someone to validate you with a 'like', but ultimately that won't go very far in making you a better writer. Read extensively; look up from your screens and look at the world around you. Have some IRL conversations with people and soak up their lives. That's the real way to add substance to your writing. Don't be afraid of criticism and failure - having your mistakes pointed out only provides you with opportunities to improve on them. Also, since the weather is hot, please stay hydrated.
