Samar Taher is a versatile and passionate creator whose multifaceted journey from the pages of a family library to the screens of TV is nothing short of inspiring. She has a deep-seated love for writing nurtured by the literary giants of Arabic literature. Her diverse career spanning journalism, children’s and young adults’ literature, and screenwriting, Samar Taher, is a storyteller. Her journey exemplifies the art of narrative in all its forms, beginning with her very first book, till her latest Tv hit Alaa Nesbet Moshahda which she has written this year.
The Beginnings of Samar’s Writing Passion:
Samar’s love of writing began in her family’s library, which was filled with books from various literary genres. Through the works of literary legend William Shakespeare, and the great authors Naguib Mahfouz, Yusuf Idris, Yahia Hakki and Tawfiq al-Hakim, she fell in love with the art of storytelling.
She also read newspapers daily. She saw them as a window to world’s news and political events. Also, it was her gateway into the analytical articles which were written by famous journalists and writers from her childhood years. All that wide scoop has immersed her in the world of knowledge, imagination, and writing. “I don’t exactly know the moment I decided to be a writer as well. But, I used to write stories, diaries, and poetry every day in my notebooks, for long time.” She knew, one way or another, that her future lies in this magical and enjoyable pursuit; writing in all its forms.
The Crossroads That Shaped Samar’s Career:
After completing her secondary education, she was just about to join the faculty of engineering, she thought that engineering would be a very good fit for her; after all, she have always loved geometry, mathematics and numbers.
It took her a while to decide, however, at the last moment, she took her decision, as her first hobby won out, she chose letters over numbers; she decided to study Media and Mass communication at Cairo University. She thought it would be the perfect gateway to enter the world of journalism. A world that contemporary writers also entered and mastered first, and then ventured into literature or dramatic writing.
After Samar completed her Master’s Degree in Media, she started a career in journalism and news editing. She worked her way up and today publishes her books in Egypt, Lebanon, and Kuwait, including short stories, children and young adult books, novels, satirical literature, and travel literature.
The Joy of Firsts:
One of the most magical moments in a writer’s life is publishing their first book. Samar reflected, “I published my first book about fifteen years ago; it was a feeling that cannot be described.” Meanwhile, she started writing on her blog. Readers left daily comments that pushed her to write more. Then, a comment praising her ability to narrate stories visually, akin to cinematic or dramatic narration, caught her attention.
“At that moment, I recalled an old dream: to try a new genre of writing, and I decided then to study drama and screenwriting.”
Inspiration in Every Corner:
A writer finds inspiration everywhere they go. They are sensitive and highly observant of everything happening or not happening around them—individuals, society, interactions, motives, and fears. The Egyptian author noted, “Every little thing inspires a writer. Every news event, even passing observations, funny or trivial, can open a door to a new idea.” She credited Naguib Mahfouz’s imaginative world-building and Yusuf Idris’s short stories as some of her inspirations. Additionally, her family is a great source of motivation for Samar.
Samar’s Focus on the Modern Teen Experience:
Samar focuses her stories on the younger generation, especially teenagers, and the challenges they face in the current era. She stated, “I know that there are major challenges they face as they grew up in a time of social media prosperity.” She explained that teenagers are often criticized for being shallow or for having easier lives. Many older generations blame their problems on teenagers’ obsession with social media, while disregarding the fact that it is the language of the era. There is no escape from using it. Even the older generation uses it, but they continue to blame teenagers. They disregard their ways of self-learning, self-expression and even the art they attempt to create, forgetting that this is the nature of life. She stated, “Younger generations always have their own dreams, perspective and their own unique point of view”.
She reflected that even the concept of ‘The Time of Beautiful Art” or “Zaman El Faan El Gameel” contains some fallacies. The most important singers in Egypt were criticized at the time of their appearance. After years, their art was accepted and became timeless art.
A Medium for Every Message:
Samar’s stories have been narrated in various mediums and forms, each with a special place in her heart. She explained, “There’s no form better than the other because I believe that the content should match the form for the result to be satisfactory.” She elaborated that when she finds an idea suitable for a book, she writes it. When she sees a topic that can be presented through a film or series, she develops it.
She wondered, “Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better for me to focus on one literary or artistic genre and concentrate solely on it,” But, she does not find it in herself to abandon other genres. She does not have a definitive answer to that question yet. The only thing she knows is that she writes what she believes in, even in children’s books.
“I sometimes write for my younger self. This is a great way that connects a writer with her or his inner child. That is inevitable if you want to be honest, because childhood to me means purity, amazement and innovation, as well”. She spoke.
Samar believes that writing for young readers is challenging, it needs to be honest and deep yet simple and entertaining. “I believe that easy reading is hard writing; any well-crafted story written for a child, will definitely amuse older readers”, she added.
Rewriting and Refining:
“Writing is a long journey, and writing is rewriting,” she advised aspiring writers. She explained that as long as the text has not been published, it’s unfinished. It can be reviewed and re-evaluated to reach a better version. But when it is presented to the audience, the writer should step back. The work’s voice becomes louder than the writer’s.
“The writers sometimes don’t care about people knowing them or even their names, as long as they can remember a phrase that they wrote”, she stated.
She also advised that a writer should be a good reader, as well as a good observer, receptive to various arts and cultures in general, and familiar with the changes happening around them.
What’s Next for Samar Taher?
Samar Taher teased an upcoming project: “I am currently working on a comedy series.” Comedy is a light-hearted way to convey difficult messages in an enjoyable manner. She explained that writing comedy is not an easy task, but she has a deep love for it. She is also working on a new novel for young adults.
Samar Taher dreams for her film–script “El Nazeel-The Guest” to find its way to screens soon, this script is one of the favorite works to Samar’s heart, and it won the Sawiris Cultural Award.