Five questions for Zaid Sethi
October 13, 2009
Zaid Sethi was born in Pakistan and emigrated to England with his parents at the age of one. He has been writing and traveling for the last 15 years, spending time in Central Asia, the Caucuses and St Petersburg. he has lived in Hungary for three years.
In 2009, Zaid published his first book of short stories, entitled The End of the World. According to Zaid, “this is a collection of short stories in which characters enter a world where fairness and understanding count for nothing. These stories are about the relationships that inspire us as human beings to strive to achieve more than any sense of reality would allow.”
1. What was your first (poem / piece of writing), and how bad was it?
Socialist drivel but penned and executed with passion. Thirteen, and lots of people to show off to. “Oh look, it rhymes, isn’t he a clever lad!” and thinking that Elliot would be glad he was dead when I was finished with poetry and I would tell any latter day Ezra Pound to get stuffed!
But then in that quiet place we all find ourselves in when there is no-one to show off to I read Journey of the Magi and wept, there isn’t anything worse than living long enough to find out that you are a fraud!
2. Are you currently working on anything, and why’s it taking so long?
A novel. I feel I have to write one because that is the only chance I would have to find a publisher, so I’m told. I keep being asked that I need to have something to say. Really! If that were true why are there so many who get away with nothing very much. I have something to say but am afraid that it isn’t dramatic or interesting enough, you know like cutting off a hand to be free or being crucified. I suppose that is my excuse because I am not able to write like Dan Brown.
3. Do you actually have moments of inspiration or is writing just a process of slogging day in and day out?
Gosh, I wish it were a slog, day in day out. Can you imagine doing an interview and saying ‘well, I work for about 8 hours a day, disciplined, ordered, productive. Producing 500 words or was it 1500 words a day.’
No, for me it is an intellectual pregnancy the gestation of which drains any capacity for emotion that I could have left and then when it is done I bleed, I mean I write and when I have finished I can’t believe anyone could attribute the words to me. I have too many moments of inspiration that die exposed to time and inattention but then I find one that consumes me when there is nothing to distract me.
4. Please define irony.
Me, a writer.
5. What’s the worst thing about writing a book?
Finding someone to publish it so that you don’t have to worry about finding people to read it.
