It's up to you to surprise yourself. “If you do it well, your readers will be shocked, too,” says Ahmed Mourad, a well-known Egyptian author, and screenwriter. Mourad has published seven best-selling novels since 2007. Some of his works have been modified for TV shows and blockbuster films, and have received awards.

Mourad is currently in Dubai for the launch of Training and Development's The First Page writing workshop. Gulf Today had the opportunity to speak with the renowned author.

Dubai hosts writing workshop

“I've done a lot of sessions before, but this is my first in Dubai and. I expect many students to be champions in the future, based on their aspirations and brainstorming,” Mourad says. The cinema industry in the UAE, according to Mourad, has a bright future. “The UAE is first in terms of film festivals, shooting movies, and the number of movie theatres.”

Writing advice

We all have tales to share, but we're confused how to narrate them. We asked Mourad for advice for those interested in pursuing a career in journalism. “On my blog, I created an Arabic hashtag named writing pins (Masameer AlKetaba). I've created a list of 30 tips for new writers to help them get started safely. The first piece of advice is to set aside time to write without using social media. Don't push it. Develop your concept over a period of one or two months on a draft copy. When you first start writing, set a regular limit for yourself, such as 500 words per day if you write for 5 hours. The most significant one, according to the author, is “building a rough story is much more essential than writing.”

Book concepts

Each of Mourad's novels has a unique plot and cast of characters. Even the events of each one are set in a different period. As a result, we inquired as to what motivates him to create new work. “I get bored quickly, so I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting ideas. Reading is the only way to live a thousand lives. Books are a major source of motivation for me. Another information source may be your imagination. The importance of first-hand and second-hand experiences cannot be exaggerated. So, if we combine the three, we can generate a lot of ideas and inspiration,” Mourad explains.

Cinematic ventures

Mourad is currently working on a film adaptation of his widely circulated novel 1919, which will star Ahmed Ezz and Karim Abdelaziz. We asked him about the difficulties he faces in adapting the novel into a film that is as good as the novel. “I don't think about it at all. Those who read the story are reading a “novel”.

It's a different matter when I'm in the movie medium. I enjoy surprising those who have read the novel more than those who have not. The script is rewritten differently than the book. The same characters will appear, and new ones that do not appear in the novel.”

Following the popularity of the previous Mummies Parade, many people became interested in ancient Egyptian culture. Has he considered adapting your historical novel "Land of God" into a film or television series? If so, what conditions should be followed?

“It doesn't matter as long as the quality is good. This is the novel closest to my heart. Writing about the ancient Egyptians necessitates extensive study and effort to understand how things have been at the time. And it's up to the reader's imagination. We don't have a lot of information on that time frame. According to the international formula, we start with a current concept, then add creativity and rewrite history. Since humans are the ones who write history, there is no utter reality. The aim is to transport the audience to that period and enable them to admire the experience".

Initiatives

Mourad participates in seminars and campaigns on the website "iRead”. iRead was my wife Shereen's idea, and we embrace the concept of interactive reading. It ought to be implanted in the human ego. IRead Now is a well-established organization that has been serving nearly 5 million readers in the Middle East since 2019. Also, this year, I'm proud to be a participant in a new project called "Wahda gedida," which encourages Arab women and inspires them to share their success stories. It's worth noting that a substantial percentage of the website traffic comes from the UAE and other Arab countries."