EMIRATI AUTHORS NOURA AL NOMAN, SULTAN AL AMIMI CALL FOR BETTER EVALUATION AND CRITICAL APPRECIATION TO GROOM NEW WRITERS
There is no dearth of opportunities for new Emirati novelists and authors as there is a growing demand for fiction in the country and novel is one of the most popular literary genres among young readers. However, new writers need to be put through exacting tests by good critics and editors to refine their skills.
This came at the final session of Sharjah Ramadan Majlis held Thursday at Al Majaz Amphitheatre on the future of modern Arabic novel.
Speaking on the occasion, Noura Al Noman, popular Emirati science fiction writer and Director of the Executive Office of HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, said: When you have a country like UAE that encourages literature, writing and exchange of ideas and cultures, it creates great avenues and opportunities for writers.
She said that the Emirati fiction is at a strategic turning point right now and there are enough opportunities. However, what is missing is the right education and training for new writers. We also need good editors, as editing plays a huge role in refining writing and bringing out the best in a particular work of fiction. We need to focus on this, she added saying there are not many opportunities to teach good editing skills and training in the UAE.
There are many young and promising writers in the country. However, their talent needs to be honed and nurtured with good criticism and evaluation, she said, lamenting that there is no concept of healthy criticism in the UAE.
Whatever gets written gets published by newspapers and publishers without critical evaluation and without judging whether it's good or bad. Most young writers in the country do not understand the concept of critical evaluation and do not like criticism. They do not know that a novel requires a plot and structure. We need to focus on these aspects if we are to see a qualitative improvement in Emirati fiction, Noura Al Noman asserted.
Underscoring the importance of healthy criticism for good literature, she said writing is like cooking. If you do not honestly tell a cook how bad or good is his/her dish is, you are likely to be treated to the same dish again and again, she added.
She lamented the fact that there is not much scope for competition among writers in the UAE, saying just like in any other field, competition is essential and brings out the best in writers. Competition helps us improve and excel, she added.
Sultan Al Amimi, eminent Emirati author and Director of the Academy of Arabic Poetry in Abu Dhabi, agreed with her saying the UAE offers plenty of opportunities to new writers with its numerous publishers and book fairs etc. The number of writers have multiplied over the past few years in the country.
The future for Emirati fiction is bright. There is a future for modern, popular fiction. Current generation of writers are expected to inspire their readers in tune with contemporary Arab fiction, he said.
Al Amimi also called for spreading greater awareness about the role of critics and critical appreciation in refining and polishing a work. He pointed out that most prominent writers today have their own dedicated editors. If you do not accept criticism, you cannot really grow as a writer, he emphasised.
Explaining the creative process and underlining the importance of constant effort for improvement, he said: When an author writes first draft, its gets reviewed at least five or six times before it goes to publishers and has to be reviewed again by critics and peers.
He said fair criticism is essential for Emirati fiction to grow and bloom. If an author only expects praise, he will never grow as a writer, he emphasised.
Al Amimi also regretted the fact that criticism is not valued much in the UAE and universities do not teach courses like literary criticism and editing skills.
The speakers also touched upon the importance of using the classic Arabic parables and stories in modern fiction as the UAE is home to a treasure trove of such historical legends and stories.
Al Amimi pointed out that many television series in the West are based on such popular legends. One such classic parable was narrated by an Emirati woman on the occasion to the delight of the audience.
Noura Al Noman, who remains a pioneer of science fiction in the UAE, regretted that while there is no dearth of ambitious young writers, many write even before doing their share of reading.
The final session of the Ramadan Majlis was presided over by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council. The last session was moderated by Reem Saif, presenter and host of Sharjah TV. The Ramadan Majlis sessions were co-hosted by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau and Sharjah Media Corporation as part of the Emirate's efforts to promote a culture of dialogue and understanding in the country.
The Sharjah Ramadan Majlis every year attracts top UAE ministers, officials, scholars and intellectuals and a select audience turning the spotlight on issues and challenges before the society.
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EMIRATI AUTHORS NOURA AL NOMAN, SULTAN AL AMIMI CALL FOR BETTER EVALUATION AND CRITICAL APPRECIATION TO GROOM NEW WRITERS 
