I am one of those few Jordanian writers who write in the English language instead of Arabic. I always get asked why I choose to publish in English, where I live in an Arabic-speaking country. That’s a good question, and this month I will discuss this in more detail.
First, I am not the only one out there. Khaled Hosseini a good example; he is the one who inspires me to continue doing what I’m doing. Since my English is stronger than my Arabic, I write in the English language because I want to reach a larger international audience. It’s beautiful when you introduce a new culture to a reader who never heard of it, but to simplify it in their tongue. Then they can have a better understanding of how people live around the world.
Believe it or not, some authors enjoy writing in a language that is not their native because they feel free; no boundaries are there to limit them. They can challenge themselves to do an excellent job in both styles, Elif Shafak is an example. She writes both in Turkish and in English.
I can’t deny that writing in another language is not very easy, especially when it’s not your mother tongue. It would be best if you always practice and read books in that language specifically. It’s significant to highlight unfamiliar words and expressions so that you can add them to your writing vocabulary. Take classes to strengthen your skills, especially in the literature field.
“It’s none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.”
Ernest Hemingway
I hope this post has given you a push to be bold and write what language you feel most comfortable in.