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Al-Ahram Weekly 14 - 20 September 2000 Issue No. 499 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 14 - 20 September 2000 Issue No. 499
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region Interview International Economy Opinion Culture Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Advice to the young
Young writers must study their craft closely. In order to do that, they must know their literature well. You may discover that some know of this or that foreign writer because they have heard his name mentioned on television, or been present at a discussion where her work was discussed; but if you ask them which of this writer's works they have read, they will grow embarrassed and fidget in their chairs, for they have never bothered to read one of his or her books. To write, the writer must learn from his predecessors' experience. If he does not, he will remain a prisoner of the confines of his own imagination.
Beyond literary culture, writers also need general culture. They must read history, politics, science, philosophy, psychology... They must study music and art. General knowledge is the raw material from which they will draw their inspiration, the petri dish in which their creativity can coalesce and bring forth a crystallised element of truth or beauty.
Then writers must strive not to let a day pass without at least making a stab at producing something new. Perhaps they will succeed, or maybe come up with a new idea that will blossom eventually. Perhaps they will complete a short story, and perhaps nothing will happen at all. At any rate, a writer must sit down to write every day, pick up his pen and try to write something -- anything -- on a piece of paper. Finally, writers must have endless patience. They must be always ready, for who knows when inspiration may strike?
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
