AN INTERVIEW WITH WALEED TARIQ
A little about me: I’m 25 years old. Before I was a writer, I was a failed cricketer. I grew up in London, England and stayed there for university. I graduated from the University of East London in 2017 with a master’s degree in civil engineering. I worked all over the country as a geotechnical engineer and was swiftly promoted to a senior level. I speak two languages very well and no other language at all.
I was inspired to start writing from my youthful university days. I enjoyed intellectual conversations about existentialism and nihilism. I also had a lot to say about love. But after a series of failed relationships, I decided to leave that part out. My approach was simple to read a lot of books and apply it to my life. Before I knew it, my thinking began to shift and every now and then I’d come up with something truly intellectual.
Are you happy about being an Author?
Being an author/ writer exposes you to the world and there’s no more hiding. Your work is open to be judged, criticized and condemned. While some people get it, most don’t and that’s okay. It’s a bit like arguing with someone on the internet – you simply can’t win. So, you accept the judgement with a pinch of salt and accept that you’ll often be misinterpreted. After all, most influential figures throughout history were also misunderstood such as Jesus Christ, the prophet Muhammad (SAW); so it’s okay if you are too!
I used to think that intelligence came from books and knowledge and rational thought. But that’s not intelligence: It’s just information and interpretation. Real intelligence is when your mind and your heart connect. That’s when you see the truth so clearly and unmistakably that you don’t have to think about it. In fact, all thinking will do is lead you away from the truth and soon you’ll be back in your head, groping with a penlight in the dark again.
I viewed writing as a means of self-therapy; but over the course of writing my debut novel I’ve realized that writing a story isn’t a means of self-therapy; it’s nothing more than a meagre attempt at self-therapy.
What's your motivation as an author and what have you learnt from writing books?
For me, the best way to understand what actually transpired in any given situation is to write about it until the truth emerges.
It all started on a bright sunny day in April 2017. I was at the campus library, and I stumbled across a big red book in bold letters titled ‘The 48 Laws of Power”. My curiosity got the better of me, and I picked it up. The book spoke of the dark side of human nature in a convenient and realistic form. I had just broken up with my ex at the time in a very horrific manner.
So, this book resonated with me more than anything else.
I didn’t read books before this. In fact, I actively avoided them. I sucked at reading and writing. I scraped a pass at English literature. Needless to say, I wasn’t like most bloggers, writers, or authors that had a natural flair for writing. Sitting down and reading a 500 page-book seemed incredibly daunting. So, to finally be able to do it was a bit of a revelation for me. I didn’t realize at the time; but that sunny day and untimely break-up would birth a habit that would change my life.
As I started to read more, I became smarter. My opinions began to change, and slowly but surely, my outlook too. Some of the stuff that I’d come out with could best be described as a beautiful form of intellectual vomit, and some would just be vomit without the intellectual association. I’d preach my ideas in heated debates about existentialism, self-sacrificing love, and eternal happiness. But merely telling the few in the audience opposite me was no longer enough. I now wanted the world to know. And that’s when waleedtariq.com was born.
As an author , what do you think are the positive things about your writings?
Life advice is most effective when it’s fun and unpretentious. Therefore, my goal is to entertain as well as sustain. To amuse as well as advise. To disseminate potentially life-changing information to millions in a way that is not only relatable but also transparent.
My life’s mission is to improve the public’s perception about love and happiness and to debunk the many societal myths surrounding it. I believe mental health and self-improvement are not something for the few or the privileged, but rather they should be a right for anyone who has made the decision to change themselves.
Which book or E-books have you published and which are in pipeline?
Her. A Tale of Love & Darkness started by being an autobiography of my life experiences. I quickly realized that it was only 15 pages long. The story then shifted towards a fictional love romance. Although as exciting as it was to explore new creative ideas, the style of writing didn’t feel true to me. In the end, the novel ultimately shifted towards literature.
The story invoked questions regarding my views and outlook on life, and I definitely became more self-aware towards the end of the journey. I wanted my writing to portray a sense of raw authenticity.
As an author, I haven’t held back and have really exposed myself through the book’s characters. You will come to understand their motivations and beliefs that shape the decisions they make. In the end, I hope the writing will move you as a reader and truly inspire you.
Do you believe in "Writer's Block" ?
Writer’s block is a true phenomenon. I face it each time I’m about to write (partly kidding). But the thought of actually writing something always filled me with a sense of hopelessness. I wanted my writing to portray a sense of authenticity. There was a lot of emotion stuck in my head, and at times it tortured me.
I don’t update my blog as often as most bloggers do or should. I only write when I feel inspired to. Typical advice would suggest writing and posting as often as often as possible. But I disagree – blogging to me is a hobby. And as with any hobby it should be an effortless labour of love. Not something that feels forced.
there is something that I need to get off my chest or when I truly feel inspired to write. I want my writing to be perceived as honest – so what often comes out is the raw unfiltered truth.
What are the problems that you have faced in your Author journey?
I wanted my writing to be perceived as honest – the same way I strived for my life to be. Thanks to this, I took painful blows from others, I was deceived, misunderstood, and had many strange adventures. Many people came around to tell me their stories, and their words flew over my head as if crossing a bridge, and they never came back.
During that time, I’d keep my mouth shut, not telling anybody anything. Out of everyone I lost, I missed myself the most. And that’s how I came to my mid-twenties.
Many consider my work to be crude and unnecessarily confrontational. But I write the way I do because my goal is to challenge our cultural notions around emotions and self-worth. To do that effectively, sometimes you need to shock people or be contrarian.
What Genre of Books do you create and Why you chose it ?
I thoroughly enjoy reading self-help books. The sense of fulfillment you get is unparalleled. After a few books, you’ll feel as if you’re on top of the world. The trouble is most people don’t read self-improvement books. Romance novels have and probably always will be the highest selling book genre. Perhaps I’m up my own ass with self-importance but I’ve tried to merge the two genres’ in an artistic yet meaningful way.
If you could tell something to your younger writing self , what would it be ?
I would tell my younger self not to worry about what other people say, don’t write to appeal the masses but rather write to appeal to yourself. I was never the cool or the popular kid growing up. Most of my teenage years were spent trying to gain the approval of people I didn’t really like. I cared way too much for appearances and trying to fit in. It was merely a performance-based coping mechanism.
And at best, it was only a short-term solution and a terrible investment of time.
I wish I had come to the realization that I’m better off investing that time and effort into myself and let my identity and honesty do the attracting for me. After all, why learn to fake being cool when you can learn just to become cool. In summary, it’s not the actual behavior or words themselves. It’s the intention behind those words. If you want true freedom, you need to accept that the path leading there is going to be one of discomfort and vulnerability.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want ?
I find writing to be therapeutic. My best work is often produced when I’m in a deeply emotional and vulnerable state. That’s what feels true to me. While some love it, many don’t. But it feels true to me and I don’t want to compromise on that.
What's your advice for budding authors?
I’d advise other writers to read more. I hated reading growing up. Inspiration books such as ‘The Kite Runner’ or ‘Of Mice and Men’ never appealed to me. I’ve revisited those books now and have a tremendous amount of appreciation for the innate philosophical beliefs that they instill within you.
There’s a reason reading has been around for 5000 years. It works. It makes you smarter, more empathetic, and more self-aware. Reading is one of those things that everybody seems to wish they did more. If you don’t read any books, you wished you read a few.
If you read a few books, you wished you would read a lot, and if you read a lot, you’re really aware of all the cool stuff that you don’t have time to read.There’s a reading quote I love by Harry S. Truman- “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are reader”.
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
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