ProtoStar: Dua Khwaja

Evening Star

ProtoStar Interview

Dua is a girl full of talent and spirit. She is having a great approach in life and with her attitude, she is knocking on the door of opportunity so read her interview and learn about this about to be published writer.

1. How would you define yourself?

 A really sarcastic person to be honest. My friends are always like can you stop being so rude all the time and I'm like guys it's just me. There are times when I feel so confused and complicated but it's ok because life is all about up and downs, right!?

2. How proud are you of being yourself as a writer?

I don't think so I'm proud yet because it's just the beginning and there are hurdles. I have to pass every one of them with face up and full faith. On that day when I'll succeed I'll be proud of my self for sure.

3. Do you realize that you belong to only a very small percentage of people who can have a huge impact on the world?

Well, honestly my answer is in mediocre because no doubt we writers can bring a big positive impact on the world but at the same time do people really want to change because at the end of the day the choice has to be made by people themselves.

4. How proud are you of being an introvert? Does it cause you any problem?

The funny thing is that I'm an ambivert which is a true struggle because you have so many mood swings and it all depends on your mood whether you want to hang out and party or just want to lock your self up for hours without a phone.

5. Where do you see yourself in the future?

I'm a really confusing person and that is why I still have to gear myself up for the future. If I got admission in my dream university so I'll be a psychotherapist which is a passion or maybe a with a degree of literature. Inshallah, all will be good.

6. What genre you like to write in?

Mostly psychological and social issues and I love to write in romance and suspense too.

7. Do you want to focus on one specific genre or be an explorer?

I'm an explorer and I can't stick with one genre. Again all depends on my mood.

8. How are you as a reader?

 I'm a bibliophile and I love reading books. I forced my mom to buy me 10 of my favorite books on my 18 birthday and she agreed so you can see how much of a crazy reader I'm. It's like an escape.

9. Name your favorite Book(s)?

It's so hard to choose.

- I have lost my way by Gayle Forman

- When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi

- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

- The forty rules of love by Elif Shafak

- And the mountains echoed by Khaled Hosseini.

- The subtle art of not giving a f*** by Mark Manson.

- All the books by Pierre Jeanty

10. How would you want to be remembered as?

A person who struggled with loads of family drama and a really complicated childhood but still cherish life to the fullest. A person who could do anything just to see her loved ones happy.

11. Tell something funny about yourself?

Umm, nothing special.

12. Why do you write?

There is a saying that when a person has gone through some bad things or want to share their words with someone they write a diary in my case I write and share my words with people. It's like a passion and once I start writing I can't stop till I share it.

13. When did you start writing and how?

When I first thought of running away from home. I was 6 years old and in such tender age, I first experience the dark side of the world when other kids of my age used to play with barbies I used to lock myself up to make up imaginary stories with my imaginary friends. No one believes but I first wrote when I was 6. It was maybe 2 or 3 sentences.

14. Have you ever cried while writing?

I cry and then I write. All of my writing is written after a 2 hour long crying session.

15. What is your most prized piece of writing?

Every one of them. I just can't choose. I think no one can because you have given birth to those hearty tales and no matter how far we go we will cherish every bit of those words.

16. Who is your ideal as a writer?

Truth is no one. I have set my own goals which I have achieved by myself and at the end of the day, you are your own ideal.

17. Who is your mentor? If there is one?

No one is my mentor just books and dictionary on the top. They help me a lot.

18. Do you want to be a full-time writer or think of it as just a hobby?

Writing is love, passion, and dream whatever you call. I want to be a full-time writer with a psychotherapist degree.

19. Have you ever fell in love with someone, you were writing about?

I have seen my friends and most people falling in love and then falling out of love in days and when I compare myself with them and their idea of love I conclude that I've been in love a thousand times. The problem is that people think love is like a movie scene but in reality it's not. It's far more complicated and BEAUTIFUL at the same time. So no I'm still not in love with a person and maybe one day I will experience the true meaning of love and not some cliché teenage fantasy.

20. Have you ever been heartbroken? Explain (5 marks)

Yes. You know at this stage of my life I've stopped counting how many times I have been heartbroken. Another thing people tend to break a heart by stating you are just seeking attention there are people who are suffering more than you which is wrong because that person is already suffering and they open that unhealed wounds again.

21. What is the inspiration that gets you going?

That phrase "This too shall pass". It actually motivates me to keep on going because maybe at the end of the road there would be a happy ending waiting for me.

22. People usually talk about success stories after being successful, how would you define your success story in making? How hard it is?

I mostly feel like my success story is too complicated. A girl who studied in a big institution then things happened and government school, then after 2 years again a big institution for rich people and now a confident 18-year-old who is studying in her dream college and waiting to accept in a good university. So it's quite devastating that I never had time to settle and make friends. Life was full of hurdles, parent issues and family drama yet here I'm trying to motivation every other person I bump into. I always say life is full of drama, tragedy but happiness is always there maybe for a second but it is there. We should find it rather than counting on miseries.

23. What kind of help you think you can get in this phase?

Psychological help. I really need a therapist at this stage.

24. What is your favorite color(s) and why?

Green is my favorite but I love all the colors. Colors define us so it's hard.

25. How are you as a person? Talk about your strengths and weaknesses?

A person can't say this about me that I'm rude or arrogant except for my sarcastic nature. I love to help people and give them the motivation to enjoy life to the fullest. My weakness is my family and my strength is also my family.

26. Are you scared of taking risks?

Nah I'm not. You can't ask a person who has been through shit this question. People like me are ready all the time to take a risk in every situation. How worse it can be, right!?

27. What is your phobia?

I don't think so I have a phobia. I'm afraid of losing my loved ones and that's all.

28. How hard it is for you to answer these interview questions?

Actually, it was hard because I was sharing some of the most painful moments of my life but it's ok to show your real self.

29. How do you deal with writer's block?

My mood swings come so fast and so as my writer's block so I mostly take a break and focus on my self and my life. It helps me to cope up with my nature..

30. What is your area of profession and how hard was it for you to challenge the standard being either a doctor or an engineering mindset?

Honestly, my parents are so encouraging. They gave me full freedom to choose my career but my family still judge me for preferring arts over science which is really awful.

31. What is one stereotype you want to break?

Though I want to crush all of those stereotypes mostly I want to break the taboo that people think when a person seeks a therapist. In our society, people call you by names like a psychopath, dumb when you just go to a therapist for sharing some worst memories and coping up with your everyday life.

32. Do you think gender plays a role in success? If so, How?

I don't think that gender plays a big role in success. A boy can be a fashion designer or a cook same as a girl can be an engineer or a fighter pilot. So gender never defines what you really want to be.

33. Literature, History, and linguistics today falls under the umbrella of the social sciences department, do you think they are sciences? Does everything has to be science to be cool or Arts are something which is equally cool department?

One thing I always say is that art is art. It is a whole level of creativity and professions. It can never be science from my point of view. Because science is all about technology, natural world e.t.c and on the other hand Art is beauty, imagination and mental skill. You can't mix Art with science.

34. How are you as a friend?

I really supportive one. All my friends know that they can call me anytime when they feel down even if it's 3 in the morning. I love to help them a lot plus I actually give quite a good relationship advice.

35. What are your goals in life?

My goals. Oh, that's difficult, I want to become a psychotherapist as I said before and I want my parents to be proud of me. Still, have to figure more out.

36. How much gratitude helps you in life?

A lot a lot. Gratitude is another best thing in life which is keeping me going. When you are thankful for every little thing in life and appreciate everything you can't be sad. You always go with an optimistic approach like a calm flow.

37. What is one book that touches your heart?

Actually, there are two books. One is the forty rules of love by Elif Shafak and second is I have lost my way by Gayle Forman.

38. What is one book you will recommend to people? One for new readers and one for regular readers?

For new readers, I would recommend the subtle art by Mark Manson and for regular readers, I would say give a read to the book thief by Markus Zusak.

39. What are your aims or goals in your area of the profession?

To help people to find the happiness they ignore in the mist of their everyday lives and to motivate them to be optimistic in every small and big hurdles.

40. What makes you happy and what makes you sad?

If a person respects me and my opinion or do something for me even if its sharing a normal selfie I become really happy and I can be equally sad when something bad happens to me or someone around me.

41. Do you get emotional easily?

Yes. I can get emotional very easily but I usually hides my emotions because you can't share some of your feelings with certain people.

42. How would this interview help you in your writing path?

Well if people will read it they'll get to know about why I write on certain topics and that will help them to understand my words.

43. Share a nice quote?

You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. (Ratatouille)

44. If you have to help a person starting their writing path, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to write with all their heart and to believe in their strength of writing. Writing can be in any form so find your style and make it your shield.

45. What would you like to say to your readers?

Just don't judge people for who they are and what they choose to be. If I'm weird so be it, it's me and I'm proud of it so as you should be. Never let your demons eat you, fight them and scare them away with the beauty within you. Stay strong and happy.