Fiction as a needed escape

Fiction as a needed escape

By Kummam Almaadeed, a Qatari novelist

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There is a special feeling that comes with picking up a new book and entering its world, knowing that there is an amazing adventure waiting. That special feeling helped, and is continuing to help, millions across the globe to escape from their harsh realities.

The word “escape” is normally regarded in a negative way, as if it indicates running away from one’s problems. However, in this context, escaping to the worlds of fiction provides a way of slowing down and taking a breath. It allows the reader, for a few hours in a day, to step into a world where things somehow make sense. A place where it all comes together in a cohesive ending, whether bad or good. A safe place.

With a global pandemic, international political turmoil, and bizarre incidents taking place every day, people are looking more and more for that safe place and they have found it in the works of fiction whether it’s books, TV shows or movies. The demand for these avenues had reached an all-time high in the past two years, as book sales soared and subscription to online streaming services tripled.

This is real evidence of how fiction can help people deal with the weight of all that uncertainty in real life. No matter how many times fictional stories had been called “silly” or “a waste of time” in the past, fiction has great power over us – whether we want to acknowledge it or not. It allows people to unpack and deal with their inner thoughts and wounds in a softer way, rather than having a real confrontation of their situation. When they see fictional personas deal with struggles and hurdles, and overcome them, it helps them to realize that they can do it as well.

It is why many institutions across the globe are trying to give a voice to the voiceless in order to diversify stories, and provide different perspectives that can represent everyone. It is also why I write fiction, especially fantasy novels.

Writing about a whole new world with completely new rules and concepts allows me to manifest my real-life challenges in a controlled environment where I can lay all the elements out and work through the issues one by one. By doing so, I have delt with topics such as severe depression, in my first novel, and how I found my sense of worthiness in my second one.

I have to admit that I was so afraid at first, to be so raw and open to readers. I was afraid of harsh judgment, but then my books were published, and it helped me spark the conversation of mental health with the young generation in Doha. Seeing how hungry they are for that opportunity to have a safe space to talk about these issues which is still somewhat of a taboo in our society made me brave enough to write more.?

One day, a reader of mine told me, “Your book helped me deal with my depression,” and I was elated. I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to share my story and help someone else with theirs. It is why we write, to bring joy, excitement, happiness and a sense of understanding and relevancy that could help people push through their hardships.

Writing in general as well is used as a tool of enhancing mental health. Many professionals encourage people to start journaling to express themselves in the written word. It helps a person to dissect all those jumbled anxious thoughts, and reach the true problem underneath all that noise. It is something I also recommend to writers whenever they face a writer’s block. I tell them there is something behind all that silence in your head… some sort of doubt or fear and you won’t know it until you write it down.

That just shows us in the end, we all need that moment of escape to refill our souls with hope and desire to live and move forward to better things. There is no shame in the need to take a step back, take a breath and be inspired by fictional stories. I am here to tell you that it is a true and valid need, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

So, pick up a book and enjoy the adventure. Or pick up a pen (or a keyboard) and start writing your own.

?Kummam Al-Maadeed is a Qatari novelist, specializing in fantasy novels written in English. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree (2018) and a Bachelor of Public Relations and Advertising degree (2011) from Qatar University. Kummam started writing novels in 2007 as a hobby. She self-published her first novel, The Lost Rose, in 2016 and had it translated into Arabic in 2018. Calling Magic , her first published work with Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press, is now available in bookstores across Qatar.?