Atikah Hakim, author
What’s your background?
I have always enjoyed reading ever since I was a kid. In school, I enjoyed writing and dreamed of writing my own books. However, after college, I pursued teaching the Malay language and put this dream on hold first.
How did you get started publishing your very first book?
When COVID hit, I was trying to find ways to destress myself and found the opportunity when I came across Ungu Pen’s Instagram post seeking short story manuscripts. I started writing ‘Komputer Riba Puaka (KRP)’ and it was accepted to be published in the Vaksin anthology. I was then invited to write a longer story based on some guidelines. From there, ‘Telefon Bimbit Puaka’ (TBP) was born. My next short story, ‘Badut Jahat’ was also accepted in the Ungu Pen’s Bebas anthology.
How did you feel when Ungu Pen invited you to write a full chapter book?
Back then, part of me was really excited to finally have a chance to write my own book, but another part of me was feeling very anxious, and I think I had what others call Imposter syndrome. I didn’t think I was good enough to actually write a book. I was afraid that strangers would criticize my writing, find faults, or simply find it boring. I think it is normal for anyone, and I should not focus on these unhelpful thoughts that bring more harm than good to me.
Tell us more about your first full chapter book, Telefon Bimbit Puaka.
Telefon Bimbit Puaka is a book aimed at tweens and early teens. It is about a primary schoolboy Haziq who received a new smartphone as a gift but that phone brought many problems into his life.
I wanted to write a book that is relatable to Singaporean children because I feel that the current ones in the market mostly cater to Malaysians and/or are quite dated. I noticed this gap, and I don’t know if there are any other Singaporean Malay writers out there who are working on this. I believe that, as much as we try to influence our kids to read Malay books, we should also work on ensuring that the current ones we offer are engaging and relatable to these kids.
How did you find inspiration for your stories and how do you make your stories interesting with plot twists?
As for inspiration, I always rely on my observations to find ideas. During the COVID period, I found that there are two groups of people who should be applauded for their contributions but are sometimes sidelined. The first group is the cleaners, and the second is those from the IT department of every organisation who suddenly had to work doubly hard to ensure smooth processes for the company to run online via Zoom or other online platforms. I guess my intention in writing KRP was a tribute to the heroes in such departments. I wanted to say that we see their contributions, and we should not take their hard work for granted or put their effort to waste, like the main character in KRP.
As a reader, I enjoy stories with a good storyline that makes me feel blown away at the end of the short story or book. I aim to create something similar for my readers’ pleasure. I feel that many of us read stories to be entertained, so as a writer, I need to fulfill that need before adding other elements to the story. At the same time, I aim to emulate some of these writers whom I look up to in the writing world. When I feel that I have managed to achieve a similar effect, I experience a sense of personal accomplishment.
How were the responses for KRP or TBP? Or even Badut?
As for responses, for KRP and Badut, generally, they are positive, but I’m mindful that these responses mainly come from my own family and friends. I think there was only a tween on IG who mentioned that Badut and other stories from Bebas helped her build her vocabulary bank in Malay because she found the words glossary at the end of every story helpful.
As for TBP, the responses have been very encouraging. I received texts from close friends who told me that they laughed while reading the book and enjoyed the story even as adults. One of my friends, who is also a parent, even shared that she had to put the book inside her bag and bring it out because her son always looks for TBP, and he enjoys flipping through the book while listening to her retell the story. On IG, I received a couple of positive reviews from parents or their children, stating that they really loved the book either because of the storyline or the beautiful illustrations that accompanied it.
Was TBP different from what’s available in the Singapore Malay book market?
I hope I’m not being biased when I say this, but yes, I do think that TBP is definitely different from other books I’ve seen. First of all, it has a local flavour, and I have never seen a Malay tween’s book with such nice fonts and illustrations. I feel that these illustrations are really helpful for children who are not very fluent in their mother tongue to appreciate the story. I believe that when they open this book, they will, first of all, not feel intimidated by the words, and with that, I believe we have already won half the battle.
As an author, what were some of the challenges you face? What were some of the highs?
The challenge was definitely not being prepared to know what it takes to be a writer. Prior to this, I always envisioned myself as a ‘low-profile’ writer, where readers would read my books but know very little about me. When I was younger, I could name many book authors, book titles, and publishing houses, but I had no idea how these authors looked. I assumed my readers would magically appear and be like how I used to be as a reader.
However, as I delve deeper into this industry, I realize that I must put myself out there for my work to be known and read by my target audience. If not, all my hard work will go to waste, and it will just get drowned among the many books published and other types of content consumed by these children.
Nevertheless, the journey has been very meaningful. I’m surprised by the support I receive not only from my family and friends but also from parents and tweens who are strangers to me. The kind of trust and support they provide gives me the strength and confidence to continue writing and contribute as much as I can to Singapore’s Malay writing industry.
What are some things you had to do to ensure your books get noticed, sold, and distributed?
Early this year, I started a public Instagram account @atikah.hakim to document my journey as a budding author and also reviews that I received from readers and parents. I feel responsible for ensuring that the books I wrote are well-liked and of high quality before introducing them to other potential buyers. Additionally, it is also a platform for me to interact with my readers and those who have supported my journey thus far.
Would you do it again? Why?
Definitely. The feeling of seeing your own book being published is extraordinary. And the feeling when you hear that it’s well-liked by your intended audience is priceless.
What are you working on right now?
Currently, I’m writing as much as I can during my free time. I try to write short stories and poetry, and I’m also challenging myself to write a novel. At this moment, I’m also trying to find opportunities to have my work published on different platforms to reach a broader audience.
Some advice for aspiring authors? What pitfalls to look out for? What tips do you have to ensure some things work out better?
First of all, those who aspire to be authors should just start writing. Keep all this writing somewhere safe initially and continuously seek opportunities for publication. Always be receptive to criticism from those more experienced than you, but at the same time, do not let it dampen your spirit. Find established authors to look up to. Last but not least, to be an author, you must always read as much as possible.
What are your hopes for future writers/ books set in the Singapore context?
My hope is that Singaporean writers will continue to produce high-quality books that cater to the interests of the new generation. This means that the stories must be relatable to these children. Even if we have other intentions, such as imparting values, retelling history, or improving their language, we must do it in a subtle way and ensure that the stories we write can capture their attention and entertain them.
I believe that many writers here also hold full-time jobs while finding any available time to write. I hope we will all persevere, and hopefully, we will be able to produce more high-quality books that will benefit our children and future generations.
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