January 2008

Winning ways - Mahsuda Shah

Mahsuda Shah, 26, was born in Luton and now lives in Leicester. A qualified teacher, Mahsuda is currently temping. Despite trying out different hobbies she admits that ‘writing and reading are the ones that have always stuck’.

How old were you when you started writing?

I distinctly remember writing what was supposed to be a first person account of my weekend happenings when I was six-years-old. It should have been based on fact, but I ended up writing a fictional story. I think back then fiction was far more interesting to me then real life.

When was the first time you saw yourself as a writer?

At about the age of eight I realised that writing was actually something people could do as a profession. I’d always loved writing but thought it was just a fun activity you did at school. It was when I learned it was something grown ups did as a job that I started to see myself becoming a writer.

How would you describe your writing style and approach?

I would say my style has always been quite quirky. Sometimes when I’m writing even I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I’d like to think I still have that sense of spontaneity in my writing that I had when I first started writing as a child. Back then I would simply write a story from beginning to end and leave it at that. The thought of editing seemed like too much hard work for something that was essentially about letting loose and having fun. I still try to keep this element of free writing when I start on a piece, but now find myself having to go through several drafts before I produce something I’m satisfied with. I suppose it’s a case of having an idea, going wild with it, then sitting down and disciplining yourself to turn it into something that you can be proud of.

Why did you choose to enter the first Words of Colour writing competition?

Last year I made an active decision to be more serious about my writing, to actually finish these half left pieces I had laid all over the place and send them off. There are lots of competitions out there so I had to learn to be selective. When I saw the Words of Colour competition I was really drawn by the prize of going to a workshop with industry professionals. There aren’t many competitions that offer such a valuable and useful experience.

What made you submit The Most Beautiful Gesture?

I wrote The Most Beautiful Gesture for a short story competition a few months beforehand and never received any response. It was one of those rare stories that, after the initial idea, just seemed to write it self. When I saw the Words of Colour competition I read the story again and was pleased to find that I still really liked it and wanted to do something with it. I brushed it up and sent it off with fingers crossed that it would finally find its place.

Can you briefly describe what the story is about?

I always find it hard to describe my own writing and virtually impossible to explain it. I think any piece of art means something different to different people. It’s a personal experience. So, in my experience, the story is about the love between families and the beauty of small gestures.

How do you feel about being the runner up?

I feel incredibly honoured to be runner up in this competition. I think the fact that there are competitions out there to encourage people of different backgrounds and cultures to write is very positive. I’m glad that I can be a part of the whole Words of Colour project.

Have you entered any competitions before and if so, what was the outcome?

I entered many competitions last year, many of which I received no response from. Then, in the middle of the year, I found success when I came second in a short story competition with a £100 prize. It was really great to have broken through and have had some success. It’s so affirming to know that you’re on the right track and making progress.

Who are your favourite writers and why?

I don’t really have favourite writers but favourite books. Of recent years I would have to say my favourite book is Life of Pi by Yann Martell. It’s such an original, fresh story told with humour and, above all, is incredibly well written. One of my other favourite books is Something happened by Joseph Heller, which is odd as the main character is completely despicable yet I‘m always compelled to carry on following him on his journey. The first ever female Asian writer I read was Arundhati Roy her novel The God of Small Things. To see such a well written book become so successful when it was written by another Asian female was very inspirational and let me know that these things can be done.

Where do you want your writing to take you?

I would love to one day say I’m a professional writer, to have that as my job. To be published, critically acclaimed and well known would obviously be a dream come true, but I think I’ve come to realise that writing isn’t about any of those things. It’s about creating something that takes you on your own personal journey, pushing your boundaries to produce something that only you as an individual can write. All I can hope for is to be able to carry on writing stories in this way.

Read “The Most Beautiful Gesture”

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