Writer Nuruljannah Usop crafts stories from personal experiences

There are countless ways to express oneself – some find solace in painting, while others lose themselves in music.

For Nuruljannah Usop, writing has become her chosen medium, a canvas for her deepest emotions and personal experiences.

Since childhood, Nuruljannah has found comfort and inspiration in books, a love fostered by her mother’s encouragement.

“Since I was a child, my mum encouraged me to read books. Through reading, I fell in love with writing, as there were stories inside me that were aching to be written,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.

Nuruljannah, born and raised in Miri, said her writing is deeply personal.

Her recent novel, ‘Lyrics and You’, was published by Manesword Works this year and it is a young adult romantic comedy that breaks conventional moulds by featuring a plus-sized protagonist.

Before this milestone, she self-published a poignant collection of poetry entitled ‘I Still Dream About You’ in 2018.

“I used to have very low self-esteem, I was a victim of body shaming before and experienced rejections. I tend to pour my excruciating memories into my writing.

“In a way, these personal experiences have deeply influenced my writing.”

INSPIRATIONS BEHIND ‘LYRICS AND YOU’

Nuruljannah said ‘Lyrics and You’ is a heartfelt young adult romantic comedy that stands out for its refreshing representation of a plus-sized protagonist.

She said this choice is deeply personal for her as it was drawn from her own experiences as a plus-sized woman.

“My protagonist is a plus-sized woman. I am a plus-sized woman myself and used to be larger than my current size.

“Hence, I love reading novels, especially those with plus-size female leads so I can relate.”

Nuruljannah said she observed that there is a lack of main characters who reflect this reality, especially in Asian settings where slim figures are often equated with beauty.

“Usually, plus-size characters are not the main characters. Sometimes, they are just side characters. When I read or watch movies, I often find that plus-size characters tend to be overlooked, especially in Asian settings.

“In Asian culture, beauty is often associated with possessing a slim figure. I do not condone obesity, but some people struggle with weight loss even when they lead a healthy lifestyle.”

This perspective inspired Nuruljannah to craft a story where plus-sized characters are not relegated to the side lines but take centre stage.

“Plus-size characters deserve to be more than just side characters, they also deserve to be the main character. We need more characters of all sizes to celebrate each of us.”

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Every writer has their own creative process and Nuruljannah identifies herself as a ‘planster’, a blend of meticulous planning and spontaneous storytelling.

“There are three types of writers. A plotter or planner, who meticulously plans and plots, a pantser who writes by the seat of their pants and a planster which is a combination of both. I fall into the third category – a planster,” she explained.

On her approach to writing the novel, Nuruljannah said she initially sketched out details such as the beginning, climax, ending and list the characters’ motivations and goals.

“When I begin writing, I let my characters drive the story. They have minds of their own, and I know I sound delusional when I say this, but they never follow the outline I drafted.

“In fact, the main character even appeared in my dream just to disagree with me. My mind goes blank if I insist on sticking strictly to the outline.

“When I follow the flow, I can finish my story.”

Through this flexible approach, she has discovered that consistency and discipline are crucial to completing a story.

“During the writing process, I learned that without consistency and discipline, we won’t be able to finish the story. In the publishing process, I learned that not everyone will love your book; your target audience will enjoy it, while others may loathe it and write bad reviews.

“I feel like my book is like durian – some people love the smell and appreciate it, while others may wince at the sight of it.”

Acknowledging the inherent sensitivity in most writers, including herself, Nuruljannah stressed the need for resilience.

“Writers often have delicate souls. However, it is important to keep an open heart and embrace constructive criticism as a tool for improvement.

“We must learn to navigate feedback without losing our passion and drive.”

OVERCOMING DOUBTS AND FINDING FOCUS

Nuruljannah admitted that there were times during the writing process when she was easily distracted and doubted herself.

“Sometimes, I felt like I wanted to burn my laptop after reading my draft. I would wince at my own writing.

“There were countless moments when I almost gave up, but praise be to God, I did not succumb to the negative voices in my head.”

Despite the challenges, Nuruljannah pushed herself to stay focused on her writing, even when it felt gruelling.

“I also work with my family, which can sometimes lead to procrastination. However, there was an inner voice that pestered me to write.

“I am glad that I listened and followed that voice, which pushed me to complete my book.”

IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY FROM ‘LYRICS AND YOU’

At its core, Nuruljannah’s ‘Lyrics and You’ is a poignant exploration of self-discovery and self-worth.

She said the novel centres on the protagonist’s journey to embrace self-love and confront the pitfalls of seeking validation from others.

“In the story, the main character battles with low self-esteem and often turns to the wrong people for reassurance and love, which only worsens her sense of self-worth. This dependence on external validation is a common struggle many people face.

“We often look to others to confirm that we are enough, but this can be a dangerous trap.”

Nuruljannah emphasised the importance of finding inner strength and self-acceptance as external validation can obstruct one’s path to true happiness and self-fulfilment.

“It is crucial to learn to love ourselves independently and without relying on others for validation. We must embrace our flaws and learn to love every fibre of our imperfections.

“The right person will love us for who we are. Body type never determines someone’s beauty, it is our mannerisms and behaviours that reflect our beauty – this is what I am trying to portray in my novel.”

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS

To those who are embarking on their own writing journey, Nuruljannah said they should never give up.

“Rejection is normal and all the great writers like Stephen King, C.S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, and many others faced rejection before they were published.

“Keep going and persisting because rejection does not mean you are not capable.”

Nuruljannah said dreams are often planted for a reason and it is not unusual to experience moments of wanting to give up.

“I almost gave up once and if I did, there would be no ‘Lyrics and You’. Some of my readers have thanked me for writing that story even though I always feel that it is not good enough.

“Remember that not everyone will enjoy your story, but there will be those who do and your story might do wonders in inspiring them. So, start writing and never give up.”