The women’s majlis: Being wordy is a story in itself

I loved the seclusion of being alone with a computer and writing for long periods. There was a question people constantly asked me, though: “Why do you write?”

My passion for writing started when I was very young. My father used to challenge me to read books and that ignited the fascination I developed with books and reading.

Since then, I have read books and started to write. It was something so habitual to me, just like ­breathing.

I loved the seclusion of being alone with a computer and writing for long periods. I lost myself in my stories and the worlds I created while I was ­writing.

There was a question people constantly asked me, though: “Why do you write?”

They would ask it in such a quizzical and confused tone. I needed the words to explain my answer, but I recall that words failed me at the time. It struck me as ironic that I had no words to explain why I loved to write.

How do you explain to someone that when you write, you feel like stars have exploded within you that fill the galaxy with infinite light?

You feel like you have become flooded by an ocean of feelings and bittersweet memories, all at the same time. It’s like the effect of a supernova, with everything happening all at once.

Memories, feelings, thoughts and voices were all at my fingertips, begging to be released on ­paper.

It was my way of expressing myself – the pen was my brush and words were my colours. I couldn’t go a day without writing, even if it was just a sentence.

Why do I write? I asked myself for an answer. Why do I love stringing words into sentences that become stories? I found my answer staring at me, right in the face.

I love writing because I have been doing it for a long time.

I love writing because it makes me feel powerful and capable.

I love writing because I can be the voice of those unheard; I can make their own stories heard through my own words.

Writing for me is my therapy, when things get hard and unbearable. In my writing, I find solace and a silent friend.

I can inspire and influence with my writing; I help make people smile, even if it is just for a ­moment.

I can draw people’s feelings in my writing. I can jot down my anger and anguish, and put my happiness and sadness in to words.

I can create worlds, characters and events. And, on top of all of this, I can explore with my ­writing.

My writing is my voice and I’m my most authentic self when I write. I feel most comfortable.

So back to that question I once had so much trouble answering: why do I love to write? Because it gives me wings to fly in this limitless sky.

Mariam Al Qubaisi is a journalism student at Zayed University.

If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, please ­contact Melinda Healy on [e-mail].