Tale of a first-time author:
Challenges of getting works printed
Iran ‘paradise of subjects’ to pen novels
Masoud Jadidian, a 36-year-old Tehran-based author, has recently celebrated the publication of his first book, titled ‘Exile to the Land of Books.’ The tale revolves around a mischievous boy named Ahmad, who hates books. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he finds himself trapped at the school library by his teacher. Determined to escape, Ahmad sets the library ablaze and flees but is swiftly arrested.
In a court, Ahmad is handed an unusual sentence. Instead of being exiled to a remote town, he is condemned to an exile among books. His punishment entails immersing himself in the realms of six distinct novels: ‘Les Misérables,’ ‘Papillon,’ ‘Anne Frank,’ ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four,’ and ‘Blindness.’ In this literary exile, Ahmad is subjected to the hardships faced by novels’ characters such as Cosette, Jean Valjean, Papillon, Anne Frank, McMurphy, Winston Smith, and others. It remains to be seen whether Ahmad, in enduring these challenges, will change. Will his deep-rooted hatred for books persist once his exile is over?
Speaking to Iran Daily, Jadidian recounts his own tale as a first-timer who has sought to get his novel published. He sheds some light on book publishing in Iran, depicting a waning struggling industry, haunted by some greedy publishers, who prioritize profits over contributing to the culture of book reading. Despite all the challenges, the young writer sees twinkles of light at the end of the tunnel for those who remain steadfast in writing and looking for tender publishers. Here is what he has to say:
Printing bogs down first-timers
In Iran, it is rare to come across writers who can sustain themselves solely through their writing. The statistics concerning book readership, book sales, and print circulation are miserably low, making it highly unlikely for anyone to earn a living as a writer. Despite these circumstances, I persist in pursuing my passion for writing. It is a deep inner need that I have carried with me since childhood. Writing stories gives me the opportunity to experience the life I have always yearned for.
Publishing a book in Iran has many challenges. Nevertheless, these difficulties do not deter me from my work. Our country’s population is around 85 million, yet it is disheartening to note that the print circulation of books is a mere one or two hundred copies per title. Such a disaster!
As a first-time novelist, I encountered numerous obstacles while seeking publication for my debut book. I reached out to hundreds of publishers, only to discover that many of them did not accept new works at all, focusing instead on reprinting previously published books. Some publishers even demanded that I cover all the expenses related to printing and paper.
It seemed unjust that some publisher would take a share of the money while leaving the burden of marketing and distributing the books solely on the author’s shoulders. Often, authors are left unaware of these processes and end up giving away their books for free to friends and family. Such circumstances lead to disappointment, causing some to abandon writing altogether.
Many other publishers dismissed me outright without even reading my work, simply because I had not previously published a book. Only a few took the time to review my manuscript, and out of that small pool, some accepted my work. While Iran boasts a multitude of publishers, only a handful truly care about fostering a culture of reading. Many are primarily focused on business, prioritizing popular novels and best-sellers. They contribute very little to the country’s cultural landscape, predominantly rehashing well-known books. Few publishers dare to present works penned by Iranian novelists.
Consider this: As a first-time writer, navigating the quagmire of book publishing can be a disheartening experience. If, for instance, you approach a publisher and proclaim that you are the fiftieth person to translate James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits,’ you stand a better chance of getting your work published compared to stating that you are an author presenting your first novel. To illustrate further, there are two prominent Iranian publishers specializing in children’s and young adult literature. However, upon learning that my book was an original work and not a translation, they promptly rejected it, openly stating their preference for Western novels over those written by Iranian authors.
Money matters but books matter a lot more
A significant predicament in Iran deals with economic struggles, with high inflation rates and meager salaries. As a result, people’s primary focus has shifted toward financial matters, leaving little time for reading. Even if individuals manage to find a moment to spare, their lack of concentration due to constant worries about the cost of living hinders their ability to engage with books.
I once overheard a conversation on the subway between a father and his teenage son. The father instructed his child to check the online exchange rate of the yuan. It struck me as peculiar – why should a carpenter, a teacher, or any other working individual ask their child to keep track of a foreign currency?
In such a society, how can we encourage that teenager to get engrossed in reading? Teenagers learn that books hold no value in this environment and that their sole focus should be on making money from a tender age. Adolescents, who should be balancing their studies, leisure activities, and reading, are abruptly thrust into adulthood.
I must acknowledge that reading books is deeply influenced by upbringing and education. An individual who has cultivated a love for books since childhood will continue to seek them out, regardless of their financial circumstances. A few years ago, when I had a mere fifty thousand tomans, barely enough to make ends meet, but I paid that pittance to buy two books. I feared that if I didn’t seize the opportunity, I might never find those particular books again.
Therefore, none of what I have shared should serve as a reason to give up. Life goes on despite its hardships, with the sun refusing to pause for anyone as it rises and sets.
Just hit the road
I would like to suggest to writers around the world that if they ever run out of subjects to write about, they should come to Iran. Iran is a paradise of subjects for storytelling. Currently, I am in the process of writing my second novel – a socio-psychological, critical political work.
Recently, someone asked me what would happen if I weren’t granted a license to publish my book. In response, I drew an analogy: Imagine you plan to embark on a journey, but you constantly worry about the possibility of rain, train breakdowns, or being robbed. If you believe that you should always remain at home and never travel, that’s fine. However, I will hit the road, and if a landslide blocks the road, I will simply return home.
The same person then suggested I watch the movie ‘Lucy.’ He claimed that the drugs that enter Lucy’s body enhance her brain function to extraordinary levels. Many authors supposedly employ similar methods to boost their writing abilities. However, I expressed my desire to focus on portraying people’s lives and their daily hardships. To articulate these afflictions, I need a clear and alert mind. I need two sharp eyes, wide awake and vigilant.