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LoginOfficials, Publishers, Authors to QNA: Qatar's Cultural Scene Supportive for Young Authors
Doha, May 23 (QNA) - Qatar's cultural scene has seen in recent years various initiatives to provided young authors with a more supportive environment, develop writing and creative skills, and encourage reading.
That, along with an increasing presence of local publishing houses and intellectual forums, has helped open the door for a new generation of authors to present their first works and bring their voices to readers.
Officials, publishers, and Qatari authors confirmed to Qatar News Agency (QNA) this growing momentum of literary production by young authors thanks to publishing houses' initiatives and facilities, highlighting new voices in the local cultural landscape.
In this context, Director of the Department of Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture and Director General of the Qatari Forum of Authors, Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Dolaimi told QNA that the Qatari Forum of Authors is a leading national platform for supporting young authors, providing them with an integrated cultural environment, one that embraces creativity and helps materializing it into published works accessible to the public.
Al Dolaimi said that the Forum offers authors with a comprehensive support system, beginning with nurturing ideas and providing cultural consultations, through reviewing and developing texts, followed by coordinating with publishing houses and overseeing the stages of artistic production, including design, layout, and printing, to ensure that literary works are produced professionally and reflects the quality of their content.
This approach reflects the Ministry of Culture's vision of empowering young talents and refining their literary skills, he added, noting that the Forum seeks to create a generation of authors capable of actively contributing to the cultural scene.
For his part, Executive Director of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Press, Bachar Chebaro said that HBKU Press is keen to support new authors, especially Qatari and young ones, by providing them with a professional environment that helps develop and present their work in a way that does justice to their intellectual and creative experiences.
HBKU Press has a specialized editing department that helps authors improve content and develop texts, contributing to more mature and higher-quality books, Chebaro added.
Highlighting the centrality of authors continuously boosting their intellectual and linguistic skills, he stressed how crucial reading is for any successful writing project, adding that authors cannot build a genuine experience without broad exposure to various forms of knowledge and literary and intellectual trends, with reading enhancing style and helping create a deeper and more mature creative experience.
Meanwhile, founder and director of Nebras Publishing and Distribution House, Mohammed Salan Al Marri pointed to distinguished Qatari initiatives that reflect growing awareness of the importance of publishing and its role in energizing the local cultural scene.
A number of Qatari publishing houses now offer flexible facilities and options for authors, including printing, distribution, and participation in exhibitions, with the aim of highlighting young voices in the literary arena and encouraging new talents, he added.
Al Marri noted that Nebras launched a literary fund initiative to support Qatari authors and residents in cooperation with community institutions, with the aim of introducing new authors and topics that serve society and enrich the Qatari library.
He added that Nebras takes pride in several works supported by the fund, including the work of young author, Rwoda Al Naimi and her story 'adventures beyond time.'
Regarding his advice to young authors, the founder and director of Nebras Publishing said that a work's idea or topic matters more than style, noting that readers seek genuine content that carries value and a clear message.
He urged writers to read continuously, be patient in developing their texts, accept critical feedback, and avoid rushing to publish at the expense of quality.
In turn, Author, Afra bint Saleh Almarri praised her experience publishing her first book, 'education in danger,' underscoring that she was met with cooperation and support from several publishing houses throughout her publishing journey before eventually settling on a Qatari publishing house that published her work and provided all the necessary facilities to bring it to readers.
She deemed the continued attention given to Qatari creatives as a reflection of a cultural environment supportive of intellectual production.
For her part, Author, Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said that she had faced several challenges at the beginning of her experience, including some publishing houses declining to publish her work due to already being overwhelmed by the high number of works being published at the time, before dealing Dar Al Sharq, which offered her an easy publishing process in terms of procedures and contracts.
She explained that reaching readers takes time and cumulative effort in introducing a literary work, emphasizing the importance of having specialized institutes to develop writing skills and refine literary talents among the new generations.
Similarly, Author, Maryam Al Sharafi affirmed that publishing houses in Qatar enjoy a strong presence and provide clear support to authors, noting that publishing procedures have become easier and more transparent, and that publishing houses help authors present their ideas and deliver them to the public.
However, she stressed that responsibility for the quality of content and the formulation of the message ultimately remains with the author and their ability to produce work that offers genuine value to readers. (QNA)
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