EXPLORING PERSONAL AND POLITICAL NARRATIVES: FARIDAH'S WRITING JOURNEY

BY JAHNAVI SIVARAJAH AND MARION CHEEDY

Faridah's short story The Birds made an impressive mark in the literary world by winning recognition in the Armadale Writers Award. Originally written in 2005, the story reflects her experience as a young Australian Muslim during the Iraq War.

"It was a time when Muslims were really targeted in the media, and I wanted to show that the people we see in the news—those bombed buildings and crying faces—are actual people with real lives," Faridah explained.

After losing her original manuscript in a house fire, she revisited the story this year, rewriting it with a calmer, more reflective tone.

"The story is set in Iraq, following a woman who loses her father, and it explores how her life changes as the birds in her courtyard disappear, symbolising the loss and devastation around her."

Faridah's writing process is driven by a desire to address important political and social issues. She shared, "I can't just write something for the sake of it; I need to tackle subjects that need to be said."

Her recent story My Neighbor Walter, entered into the Dampier Quill contest, delves into the struggles faced by older individuals in accessing healthcare.

"The story reflects not only the challenges faced by my neighbor, who has a medical condition, but also the struggles my father and I experienced trying to navigate the healthcare system in remote areas," she said.

Through this narrative, Faridah seeks to raise awareness about the difficulties older people face, especially those who are non-English speakers or unfamiliar with technology.

"It’s about highlighting the barriers people like my father encounter in the healthcare system and creating a space for those stories to be heard."

As Faridah looks forward to further exploring her writing, she acknowledges the differences between her two stories. The Birds is more descriptive and requires extensive research, while My Neighbor Walter is more poetic, with shorter sentences and a conversational tone.

"I wanted My Neighbor Walter to capture a sense of sadness, to draw people into the emotional experience of the characters," she explained.

With a passion for both writing and music, Faridah encourages aspiring writers to just start creating.

"The best advice I can give is to read and to write. There’s no one right way to do it—just put pen to paper and let your story flow," she said.

For Faridah, writing is not just an art form but a way to share important messages and give voice to those often overlooked.