Who are you?
My name is Hena Khan. I’m a Pakistani-American children’s book author, and I live in my hometown of Rockville, MD.
What do you write?
I know it sounds cliché, but I do write the books I would have loved to read as a kid—stories across various formats and genres featuring strong characters who look like me and share my background whenever possible. I grew up without seeing any South Asian or Muslim kids in the countless books I read, and ended up internalizing the notion that my immigrant family, and our rich, vibrant culture and religious traditions, wasn’t worthy of being included in stories.
Today, I celebrate the parts of me that I hid away as a child, including things that I found awkward to juggle or even embarrassing. My characters don’t struggle with their identity in the way that I did. I don’t want them to feel any shame over their brownness, over their elders’ accents, religious differences, or anything else about who they are. Their identity isn’t their primary struggle in my stories. Rather, my characters confront some of the universally relatable challenges of growing up like changing friendships, finding confidence, managing anxiety, wanting to be a star, and so on.
The most amazing part of this experience has been seeing the way kids react to my work, and the pride they express over being the protagonist, the hero, of a story I wrote. They see their lives reflected and relate on so many levels. And, perhaps even better, their peers finally see them, and families like theirs, and understand them better. Kids show me stories they are writing, give me suggestions for sequels and series, and generally make me feel like a rock star! I can’t imagine having a better job.
Where do you write?
I’m sitting at my dining table right now, with my laptop, a hot coffee next to me, and an empty plate from my breakfast. I often spread out here, the place where my kids do their homework, since I still feel connected to the rest of the goings-on at home in this spot. If I’m relaxed, I can write here. If I’m on a deadline, I alternate between here and shutting myself into my spare-bedroom-turned office, with my desktop computer, ugly ergonomic desk chair, computer glasses, and a big sport bottle of water that I forget to drink.
When I write novels, I outline and draft in Microsoft Word. And if I have a random thought or burst of inspiration throughout the day, I write myself notes on my iPhone. I like Apple products since they are all integrated and the notes appear on my computer when I need them later. I used to scribble in little journals with my thoughts but have trouble keeping track of or deciphering them now. But when I speak to my editors, I still take handwritten notes because I hate typing during a conversation. I appreciate the romance of a fountain pen and scribbling into a gorgeous journal, but my handwriting has become so terrible, and I can’t write fast enough with a nib. So when I handwrite, it’s usually with a basic ballpoint pen and on the back of a printed page from the recycling pile.
When do you write?
I tell kids all the time that I wish I had more discipline or even good habits that I could recommend to others who are eager to write. But I hope it’s encouraging to them to hear that they don’t necessarily have to keep a strict writing schedule to be a writer. I usually work backwards from deadlines and set a weekly work count goal. Some days I write more, others I write minimally. Somehow it gets done in the end. In general, I find much more joy in editing than writing first drafts and spend a lot of my writing time revising my previous chapters before continuing. It’s slower going, but in the end, I have a fairly polished manuscript.
Why do you write?
I’ve always searched for connection and bonds with other people. And it wasn’t always easy, especially as a shy and self-conscious but observant child who grew accustomed to feeling like an outsider. Writing is liberating—it’s a way to center myself through my characters and explore the things I think about or want to share about my family, culture, religion, and more. In Drawing Deena, my newest novel, the themes and ideas that Deena wrestles with, like how to be an artist, how to stay true to herself and find her own style, the difference between what’s popular and what’s good, and even her anxiety, are all things I’m going through myself. And I love the notion that others feel connected to my characters and stories, and that they might stay with them or serve them somehow in life.
How do you overcome writer's block?
For me, writer’s block is when I’m stuck at a certain point, and don’t know how to move forward in my story, fix a problem, or make something feel authentic. It’s not that I literally can’t bring myself to write or find the words, and more like I’m just uninspired and unmotivated. During those times, I like to walk, take naps, try a new body scrub, or start cleaning and organizing drawers and closets. It’s usually when I’m doing something mindless that the ideas start to percolate, or my thoughts get untwisted, and I figure out a resolution to what has me frozen. The most unproductive thing for me to do is force myself to keep writing when I’m not feeling it, because it will reflect in the quality of what I produce. And the editor in me can’t stand that!
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I love spending time with my family, whether it’s watching sporting events, traveling, or cooking meals together. More and more I’m appreciating being in nature and taking walks in beautiful settings. Some of my favorite ways to relax are having coffee with a friend and reading books in bed.
My thanks to Hena Khan for today's interview.