Ayoub Donia
Interviewed by Peggy Jackson
1 May 2021
NJCU Alumna
& Writer
Donia Ayoub graduated from NJCU, May 2019 obtaining her BA in English with a concentration in creative writing. She is a writing tutor at the HUB and a member of the English department’s Student Events and Publications Committee. Donia recently completed a four-week intensive course on publishing at Columbia University and is now interning at Pen + Brush as an editorial assistant.
What does a typical day of writing look like for you? What is your process, schedule, ritual(s), and/or habit(s)?
D.A: I prefer writing at night when there is minimal distraction. I like to start with 3 minutes of stream-of-consciousness writing before I begin doing my “real” writing. Sometimes if generating writing feels like too much, I’ll reread older pieces I’ve written and do some editorial work. Sometimes if even that feels like too much, I’ll opt to listen to writing. Sometimes it’s a nice change (and can help) to listen to words rather than read them.
How do you write vulnerably and honestly in your work?
D.A: Many young memoir writers have a hard time tackling the genre because it is the story of their lives. So, here’s how it usually goes: You start by lying to yourself—though you don’t know you’re lying. You say that nothing eventful happened in your life, therefore there is nothing to write about. You decide that maybe it would be better to write fiction and start to write a piece about X. As you keep writing, you find that something about your life made its way to the page. You might ignore it at first, but that life story will always make its way to the page. Whatever it is, it is the story you are meant to tell.
I write about my identity as an Egyptian-American Muslim woman. The reality is that there are many aspects of my identity that I do not know about, and that has been an insecurity of mine for a long time, hence my hesitancy to write about it in the first place. My inner voice often told me (an example of the lie I mentioned earlier) that my story did not matter. No one would care to read it. It’s not important or even original. And yet, it made its way to the page. Every. Single. Time. You have to learn that these assumptions about your own stories are simply not true. A young writer needs to accept that they can only tell their story. Share their experiences. In this way, there’s no other way but to write vulnerably and honestly.
Do you ever hit a writing slump? If so, how do you work your way out of it?
D.A: Oh, definitely. I think it’s normal to hit a writing slump from time to time. The way I work my way out of it is by stepping away first. Writing is a solitary act, and you can certainly feel frustrated with yourself when hitting that slump. It’s good to take breaks from the work. When I step away, I try to nurture my creativity in other forms. I recently started drawing again after a 7-year hiatus. I’m also thinking of trying painting, though I don’t suspect I’ll be any good at it. But if it nurtures me, who cares?
After my short break from the writing, I return to it. Usually if you’re stuck on a story, the problem is further back. So, it’s good to reread your story with a fresh set of eyes. Ask yourself questions. Critique your work but don’t be harsh or over critical with yourself.
As an NJCU alumni, what do you recommend undergrad students do to prepare for life post-college?
D.A: Be active members of your community. I would not be where I am today without the writing community that was cultivated at NJCU. It was something I didn’t realize I needed until I was pulled into it. You get to network and develop skills that can benefit you in your future career.
You have to constantly work to pursue your goals, so it’s important to make plans for your future and set them in motion. This may seem like obvious advice, but many people I knew have fallen into a lull after graduation and are now stuck because they assumed opportunities would come knocking on their door.
Where can our readers keep up or check out more of your writing?
D.A: As of now, NJCU students can read my Honors Thesis, which is available at the English Department. I’m also published in the 2020 edition of Paths.
