Breaking Barriers: How Writing Helped Sudanese Author Omar Heal and Find Success
When it comes to dealing with emotions, forget therapy – writing is the new way to go, according to Sudanese author Omar. His best-selling book ‘Dying, Adapting, Living with Death’ is a personal account of his journey through grief and healing after losing his elder brother.
Solace In Writing
Omar’s writing journey is anything but traditional – he didn’t start writing until the loss of his brother. But, with pen and paper in hand, he found solace and used writing as a way to process his emotions.
When he finished writing the book, he faced the challenge of promoting it in Sudan – where men are expected to be as hard as a rock. But, with his book becoming an Amazon bestseller and the most downloaded book in three different categories on Amazon UK and US, Omar is proving that vulnerability is the new strength.
In addition to writing in English, Omar also writes in Arabic and has tried his hand at various forms of writing, including content writing for organisations, content writing for creators, writing podcast scripts, YouTube videos, and reel scripts. Every piece of work he has written that has been published has broken Sudanese records and won awards; from winning the Sudan Artist Fund monthly scholarship to his first non-fiction book becoming the Khartoum’s International Book Fair bestseller in 2021-2022.
Omar achieved Sudanese history when his book became Amazon’s bestseller and most downloaded book in three different categories, becoming the youngest Sudanese in history to achieve that at the age of 22.
In his first attempt at short story writing, Omar won the global and worldwide level literature award (the Naji Naaman Award) with his story “The Fogginess of World Peace,” becoming one of the few Sudanese in history to do it and the youngest Sudanese to win at the age of 23.
Lovin Meets Omar For A Q&A:
What inspired you to write your book, ‘Dying, Adapting, Living with Death’?
“I wrote the book after losing my elder brother. It was a way for me to process my emotions and find closure. I also wanted to share my personal journey with others who may be going through a similar experience.”
How did you feel when your book became an Amazon bestseller in three different genres?
“I was thrilled! It was a surreal experience, especially considering the challenges I faced while promoting the book in Sudan. But it’s been amazing to see the book resonating with readers and helping them through their own healing process.”
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What advice would you give to young Sudanese writers who are just starting out?
“Be consistent and give writing time and effort. Writing is the only activity that you can excel at simply by putting in the time and effort. And don’t be afraid to follow your passions, even if they don’t seem traditional.”
How has writing helped you in your personal life?
“Writing has been a therapeutic outlet for me. It has helped me process my emotions and find closure after losing my brother. It has also helped me form new relationships and trust people again.”
What message do you hope readers take away from your book?
“I hope readers find comfort and guidance in my personal journey. It’s important to take your time and process things properly when dealing with grief and loss. And it’s okay to be vulnerable – it’s not a sign of weakness, but rather a strength.”
For Omar, writing has been a way to find closure and understand the grieving process. His success as an author is a testament to his talent and dedication to his craft!
As he continues to inspire young writers in Sudan and beyond, his story serves as a reminder that with perseverance and passion, anything is possible.
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