The talent, dedication, and preservation demonstrated by Eesha Iftikhar, have been inspirational and impressive for anyone looking to find a little hope in these dark times. From her commendable work on the university’s literary magazine to her exciting journey towards becoming a published author, Eesha’s dedication towards her dreams has allowed her to overcome every difficulty and fear. She used her personal experiences to create something meaningful, and now she is sharing her story with the world.
“In 2018, I made a writing blog. I was going through a difficult time, and I needed an outlet to talk about my feelings. I didn’t think anyone would read it but, over time, I gained a lot of support, and now I have 18,000 followers. I was not expecting there to be any engagement on the page, but I received a lot of support, and my followers started telling me that I should write a book. Their kind words and encouragement really motivated me. Even though I thought I would never get published, I was presented with the opportunity to publish my work. I decided to work hard and turn that dream into a reality.”
“The support I receive from my followers inspires me to continue writing. People often tell me that my writing allowed them to feel and think passionately. My English teacher from the 9th grade also really motivated me and made me realize that I should take writing seriously. Ever since then, writing has become my form of self-expression.”
“My Daadi has also been a huge inspiration for the book and for my blog, Dear Letters. She passed away in 2015, and that was the first time I witnessed death closely. She really inspired me to write. One of the first letters I wrote was for my Daadi, which is why I named my blog Dear Letters. I got so much love and appreciation on my blog that I decided my first book should be named Dear Letters. I want the book to act as a bridge which helps me connect with every single individual who has shown me love and support over the years.”
“The process of getting published started last year in February when I got a publishing deal. But at the time, I did not have the energy to compile everything. It takes a lot of effort to put yourself in a vulnerable position, and I was terrified. But then the pandemic brought so much uncertainty. I started thinking about my words existing once I’m no longer here. That encouraged me to take the next step because I want my writing to be immortalized somehow. Within two weeks, I got myself together, and I compiled everything.”
“The reason why my book consists mainly of poetry is that I think that I can express myself better through poetry. I am also immensely inspired by Sylvia Plath. I have been reading her books since I was 15, and even the bio of my own book is a quote from her. She published her books at a very young age, and that inspired me because I started thinking that it was possible for me to do something like that as well.”
“Getting published has been an extremely intimidating experience for me. I have always struggled with believing in myself, and I didn’t want to put myself in a vulnerable position by getting published. When you write poetry, you use a lot of personal material and I am scared that once my work is published, it will be out there for everyone to read. I’m scared that my family will realize what I’ve been going through, and they’ll know about my emotions and thoughts over the years. You don’t get to choose your audience, and I have been thinking: what if my dad finds out that I have been writing love poetry? Also, when you self-publish your book, you need to have some financial support because self-publishing requires funding. I was worried about the financial side of this endeavor because I am a college student, I don’t have any money. But, despite all of these difficulties, I would still tell myself that I will find a way and that I’ll deal with any difficulties that may emerge.”
“I was also adamant about getting a printed book, and that was not an easy process. Usually, when people go for self-publishing, they are offered digital copies on Kindle or Amazon. I did not want that because I know holding a physical copy can change your life. A lot of financial stability is needed in order to get a book printed but, since my publishers really liked my script, they did me a favor and opened pre-orders for the book. Thankfully I got a huge response, and 60% of the money from the pre-orders went towards printing.”
“My mom and my sister know about the book, and they have been very supportive. My dad is yet to find out, but I’m hoping I’ll get to invite him to the launch party. My mother’s reaction also really surprised me. She is not good at expressing emotions, but one time we talked about my book, and she was so amazed by all the work I had put into it. This was the first time I saw her so proud of me, and I cherish that moment.”
“I am also grateful that my book has been promoted by Meesha Shafi. I have been a huge fan of her. A friend of mine texted her and informed her about my book. Surprisingly, Meesha Shafi went ahead and promoted the book on her Instagram story. When I saw the notification, I was a bit scared at first because I didn’t know what was happening, but when I found out that she promoted my book, I became excited and even more motivated.”
“I don’t really have any plans for a second book. Right now, I am focusing on my journalism career. I hope that someday if I continue to write, I could probably get the chance to write a journalistic book. At this point, I feel so burned out I don’t even think about being tired. I am just constantly overworked, and it does get overwhelming. There are some days when I don’t think about my book at all, but then I have to remind myself that people have paid for it, and I need to pull myself together. I am not very good at being organized, and I’m just trying to get everything done. But I also feel very blessed that my dreams are coming true so early on in life. Sometimes I can’t pull myself together, but the sense of responsibility gets me going again.”
Eesha’s story is a testament to everyone out there who is working hard that dreams do come true. All you need is utter determination and faith in yourself that you can do it.
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