Like most
people who write I suffer from fear and self-loathing. It’s not chronic, it
comes in bouts and usually manifests after a public performance. I am a
perfectionist and this paralyses me. My husband says I’m a ‘lazy genius’. But
he doesn’t have to contend with the film that runs through my head, the
soundtrack to which are the voices of all the people who have long told me what
can’t be done by a woman like me.
I was
born in London, raised in Bradford, and I consider myself as British as I do
Pakistani. I’m also a Muslim woman who went to a Catholic school. This
amalgamation of me means it’s been difficult to find places that allow me to be
just me.
The Brit Writers Awards was one such rare and very welcome occasion. The audience,
winners, hosts, and organisers were an easy mix of brown, black, and white,
that cut across the class divide. At one table sat a ‘Madam’ who had run a
brothel, and on another a young woman in a niqab. Both, women who write, and
who have stories to tell. Wine flowed for those who wanted it and didn’t for
those who abstained, all without judgement.
The Brit
Writers Awards achieved something that the publishing industry has failed to
do, it made writing an equal opportunity.
Coming
from inner city Bradford and not having had the privilege of a private
education my network did not include authors, and agents, and members of the
Arts Council. Maybe this is why I’ve yet to read a book that represents me or
appeals to some of the people I grew up with.
The
publishing industry needs to embrace diversity. It needs fresh eyes and unique
experiences to shake it up. The task is mammoth and change is difficult. But
most groups and organisations fail with diversity simply because they don’t
understand why it is so important.
It is not
about being ‘worthy’and politically correct and it is not just about tolerance
and acceptance, it makes good business sense.
The BRICS
countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa have fast growing
economies and represent around 3 billion people. That’s 3 billion people who
could be buying your books.
For
anyone who is not yet convinced, let me tell you this, there are more
smartphones active in India than there are in the US. That’s smartphones that
could be used to access e-versions of books. For any industry to ignore this
massive audience would be foolish to say the least.
Here in
Britain we have a distinct advantage in that we are a global melting pot of
nations. According to the latest census figures, Britain is home to some four
million people who trace their heritage back to the Indian subcontinent.We
should be working with these people to find ways of entering and succeeding in
the emerging markets. In addition, these four million British Asians are
looking for ways to spend their money. According to a report by the Institute
of Practitioners in Advertising this group has a disposable income way in
excess of £300billion and a hunger for the arts that is not being met. Ignoring
‘The Brown Pound’ means overlooking a potentially lucrative market.
British Asians have an experience different from those who live in the Indian subcontinent, they want to read stories about people like them, written by writers who understand them, and know what it is to inhabit two worlds. But you would only know this if you spent time getting to know the difference between your potential audiences.
The Brit Writers Awards 2012 allowed people from across class and culture to meet and in doing so discover a wealth of stories and opportunities. The organisation is supporting writers in their journey, and in doing so it is cracking the publishing industry wide open for everyone.
British Asians have an experience different from those who live in the Indian subcontinent, they want to read stories about people like them, written by writers who understand them, and know what it is to inhabit two worlds. But you would only know this if you spent time getting to know the difference between your potential audiences.
The Brit Writers Awards 2012 allowed people from across class and culture to meet and in doing so discover a wealth of stories and opportunities. The organisation is supporting writers in their journey, and in doing so it is cracking the publishing industry wide open for everyone.
SaimaMir is an award-winning journalist. She spent three years at the BBC, and now
writes for a number of outlets including The Times and The Guardian. In 2010
Saima won the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s World View Award and
spent time researching and reporting stories from Pakistan. She is currently
working with Early Day Film on a number of projects. Saima is also the founder
of the South Asian ancestry site whosthedaadi.com
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Awards Pictures courtesy of RKL Photography
Interesting and Inspiring, thanks for sharing
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