WOTM: An Interview with @shaaards

30 SEPTEMBER 2021

The Writer of the Month Project is a revised segment of The Plain Poets that looks into what makes a writer, be it their craft or ideas. At the end of every month, we will be conducting an interview with a selected writer, and we’ll be diving into their muses, their writing history and much more.

When I first entered the writers’ community — not as The Plain Poets but as a personal writer — @shaaards was one of the first two accounts that caught my eye. I was introduced to her vivid account by a friend, and I was so blown away by how powerful her pieces were. I remember it was about sexual assault, and it was even my first time reading something about it. Who knew that it would be her to introduce me to a beautiful community of Maldivian writers?

I'd also like to add that it would be her to introduce me to a world of poetry with darker, more serious themes. It was a refreshing perspective after all the whimsical and complex classics I used to study back in high school.

Behind the vivid shots of her art and journal entries, Shahudha Mohamed is a writer/poet based in Maldives. You may know her by her initials (s.m.) or by her artist name, Shards. Hell, most of you might know her for her profound pieces. While she’s been writing since her teenage years, her work actually became public only in her late teens (17). When she was in school, she initially started with fooling around in her notebook. Short stories turned into a hobby, and when poetry came creeping over the horizons, she made the switch. But I can gage how incredible of a storyteller she is; she’s so poignant with her words, and I love her choice of piece titles — they’re always oddly-specific, one-line summaries of her poems.

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Much like our recent WOTMs, writing first came to her in the form of a coping mechanism. It opened up a lot of doors for her, especially in the way she would process her emotions, experiences and special memories. Over the years, her words became the link between the world and herself. It would connect Shards to herself in bouts of self-introspection, but on a different day, writing helped her bridge a connection with others. Moments spent became immortalised, thus providing a beautiful perspective she would share with us. It’s in the way she pairs snapshots of her life, handwriting and country, enhancing the nostalgic experience of a reader that’s coming across her posts. It’s all so gorgeous, stalking her feed.

As a creative writer, she adores the idea of being able to impact other people’s lives in a positive way and make them feel less alone. On numerous occasions, she’s been reached out by her readers and told that her poems have been cathartic. Fostering these meaningful connections is what she loves as a writer, and what motivates her to keep writing and creating. But at the same time, she loathes the threat of writer’s block. Only writers and poets can understand when I say writer’s block is the bane of this community.

In terms of oddly-specific quirks, she says that her craft sometimes tends to come in the most inconvenient of times. “Sometimes, I will need to write a poem while I'm in the middle of a social gathering or hanging out with friends,” she laughs. “I’d excuse myself and go to a quieter place so I can write it and come back. I imagine that must be really annoying.” A writer’s gotta do what they gotta do right?

Meanwhile, Shards is also prone to perfectionism. If she’s writing, she has to edit the poem numerous times (500, as she says) and she definitely needs to check if the words she’s using are appropriate to the context. She also likes to stock her bag up with her journal and pens, and I honestly agree. It feels like you’re leaving the house without your phone. I also agree when she says that she owns way too many notebooks in her life.

With the years spent on honing her craft, the writer claims that it has always been an organic process for her. I’m in awe at how her thoughts and expressions come so easily, because her metaphors are always a work of art. “My brain might get fixated on something and I'd have to write about it immediately,” Shards explains, “Or I will forget it later and that would bother me. So most of my poems are written impulsively in one go and edited later.” She also adds that she’ll still keep writing in the future too. If her chapter with poetry were to end, she’d most likely tap into other forms.

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But if you were to ask about her very first poem, she would admit that she did not remember it. But she does remember that it was written in 2014, during a time she felt helpless and trapped. If she were to meet the person (her younger self) that first started writing, she’d tell her to keep doing what she loved no matter what everyone said. People not getting it or supporting it are practically inevitable, but your happiness matters the most.

Today, @shaaards is a big writing account with 8.8k followers. When I asked her for advice for those who want to start a writing account on Instagram, she mentioned authenticity and figuring out your own aesthetic as two ways to make it in the community. Experimenting with different styles and forms really does help with standing out from a crowd, as the community is known to have a lot of people doing similar works/feeds. On the other hand, she also says that consistent postings and interacting with other accounts help with boosting growth as an account.

Besides her writing account, Shards wants to publish a book someday. She reveals that she has been working on a manuscript for years now, and she’s eager to have it published as soon as possible. We can’t wait to read it!

Here at The Plain Poets, we aim to identify these unique poets and writers and to put them on a pedestal via a platform everyone can support them. You may check out our page here.