Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2017: Emirati author Reem Al Kamali on the importance of Literary criticism

Sometimes it feel like young Emirati novelists are churning out works at record speed, more concerned about the quantity of books they get published rather than the quality of the content, according to author and columnist Reem Al Kamali.

“There are many attempts to write novels and comics and short stories among young Emiratis today,” she said during a discussion this weekend at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, about the Emirati narrative scene. It was held at Al Multaqa, a literary salon that hosts writers and intellectuals from around the world.

“These youngsters seem very rushed to release books and get published,” adds Al Kamali.

“I met a writer who said he wants to release a novel every year, and have at least six novels published before he is 40. Why? What is the point? Where is the merit? In 100 years, people will not say: ‘This guy wrote six books before the age of 40’.

“Writing a novel is not easy, it shouldn’t be. It’s not something you can just automatically produce. It has to come from passion. A novelist writes because they need to write – there is no choice in the writing.”

When it comes to passion for writing, Al Kamali has it in spades. She is editor of the culture section at Al Bayan newspaper, for which she also writes a weekly column. Her first novel, Saltanat Hurmoz (Strait of Hormuz), won the 2015 Al Owais Creativity Award.

She likens the urge to write and the arrival of inspiration to being “possessed by demons”.

“I don’t dread the arrival of these demons,” says Al Kamali. “I just let them take me along and I take off with them. It’s as if I’m waiting for these demons to come along so I can start.”

A 10 or 12-hour marathon writing session is not unheard of.

“In those moments, I am sad when life interrupts me and I have to step away from the flow of words,” she says.

Literary criticism is key if the novel is to prosper in the UAE, adds Al Kamali.

“Newspapers should dedicate a weekly page, at least, to critiquing new novels and current literary words, for readers to know what’s out there, what to read, what is being published,” she says.

As for female, Emirati writers, she believes they have yet to make their mark.

“With the exception of Lulwa Al Mansouri – a novelist I greatly admire for her beautiful, lyrical writing – our female writers are mostly poets, not novelists,” says Al Kamali, referencing Maysoon Saqr, Dhabiya Khamis and Dr Amina Thiban.

“There is definitely room for us to grow as female, Emirati novelists.”