Latest Posts
Afsos
This is a personal essay that I wrote after my grandmother passed away. It was first published in Canthius, Issue 10 in 2022. Bahot afsos ki baat hai The year is 2013. We are driving home from the airport at night in my father’s van. My parents have just returned from a trip to Chicago,…
On being selected as a finalist for the PEN Canada New Voices Award
Alhamdulillah, I am a finalist for the 2024 PEN Canada New Voices Award.* I tend to not submit my work to contests because the competition feels fierce and I know so many good stories don’t win, because, how to choose what stands out from hundreds of submissions? But I pushed myself this year to submit…
Writing about heavy topics
Feeling stuck when writing about difficult topics is an issue that often comes up with writers I work with. If you’re struggling with the same issue, I hope this helps! Why we feel stuck in the first place The feeling of stuckness or feeling blocked is often a sign that you’re avoiding writing about something…
Why critique won’t make you a better writer
In Grounded Writers, my membership program for Muslim writers, every month we have a live feedback session. Our members submit their work to me, and on the call we have a conversation about their writing and how they can make their stories stronger. I try to make sure it’s a collaborative process and that my…
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