The Momma Clan

Being an author isn’t just about writing books. It’s about living them. Every story that finds its way to paper carries a piece of your soul – your hopes, your fears, and all those little fragments of life that words somehow manage to hold.

When I first began writing, I thought being an author meant having a book published, seeing my name on a cover, or holding that freshly printed copy in my hands. But over time, I realised that it’s far more than that. It’s about the journey of turning thoughts into words, words into emotions, and emotions into something that can touch another heart.

There are days when writing feels effortless – when words flow like a river and ideas sparkle brighter than ever. And then there are days when every sentence feels like a battle. You stare at the screen, sip countless cups of coffee, and wonder if your words will ever find their way home. Yet, somehow, you return to the page, again and again. That’s what being an author truly is – showing up for your craft, even when the world is silent.

To me, being an author means being both brave and vulnerable. You open the door to your inner world and invite strangers in. You let them see your dreams, your heartbreaks, your unspoken questions—and trust that they’ll treat them with care. It’s terrifying and beautiful all at once.

It also means carrying stories wherever you go. In crowded trains, in quiet mornings, in the middle of conversations – there’s always a part of your mind that’s writing. Sometimes it’s a line, sometimes an entire poem, and sometimes just a feeling that waits patiently to be shaped into words.

And then there’s that indescribable moment – when someone reads what you’ve written and says, “That’s exactly how I feel.” That’s when it all makes sense. Your words, once your own, now belong to someone else too. They’ve travelled beyond you. And that, to me, is the most beautiful thing about being an author – connecting souls through stories.

Of course, it’s not always perfect. There are rejections, self-doubt, and those long nights when you question if your words matter. But each time you pick up the pen again, you prove that they do. Because writing, in its truest form, is an act of faith – in yourself, in humanity, and in the quiet power of stories to make a difference.

So, on this Author’s Day, I’m not celebrating books alone. I’m celebrating the courage it takes to write them. I’m celebrating every writer who chooses to tell their truth, one word at a time.

For me, being an author isn’t about fame or recognition. It’s about the gentle joy of knowing that somewhere, someone is reading my words and feeling a little less alone.

And honestly – I can’t think of anything more meaningful than that.

-Dr Arwa Saifi