The first thing that Nadine Chemali ever wrote was "a terrible screenplay". It remained tucked out of sight until she re-pitched it recently, to better success than when she first wrote it. But Chemali still doesn't consider herself a writer, telling The New Writer's Room, "I think of myself as a storyteller."
And it's her mastery of storytelling that has seen Chemali write over a dozen pieces for SBS Voices over the last few years. When she was first approached to write for SBS, she says that she couldn't believe it. "I was like, SBS wants to talk to me?"
SBS was such a cornerstone of connection...It was the only thing that kind of made me feel connected to other people, and my family connected to other people.
As a child of Lebanese migrants, Chemali says that SBS had been a vital point of connection for her family as they settled into life in Australia. "SBS was such a cornerstone of connection...It was the only thing that kind of made me feel connected to other people, and my family connected to other people."
Chemali's ability to be that same source of connection for the people who read her work now is what makes her so good at what she does.
Writing about the migrant experience is "one of the most important things I feel I've ever done or can do," she says. "Because it is so different to what someone who was raised in a non-migrant family has experienced." But she finds that many readers find comfort in the familiarity of the things she writes about. "They identify with so many of the things I'm saying."
Know that these people are in your life and they're real people and sometimes telling stories that are honest can bring a lot of pain for the people around you.
Readers can't mistake the love with which Chemali writes about the people in her life. But she says that writing about the people who matter to you can come with challenges. She warns other writers: "know that these people are in your life and they're real people and sometimes telling stories that are honest can bring a lot of pain for the people around you."
Chemali says that it is possible to write honestly and lovingly in a way that is respectful of the experiences of other. She says that the drafting process can allow a writer to tell the story in all its brutal honesty.
"Tear away all the 'What will people think of what I'm saying? Or what I'm thinking' and just write exactly how you feel rather than what you think you should be saying."
Once you have it all on the page, a good editor can help a writer to refine the story. "If your piece has heart, and warmth and love and shares your experience, your editor will guide you," says Chemali.
And when it comes to writers who suffer from self-doubt, as she does, Chemali says, "Jump, jump, jump. Never hold back. Just write it out."
SBS wants to hear your story...because there's a writer in all of us. Submit your story of 1000-2000 words that speaks to the beauty and/or challenges of being Between Two Worlds in diverse Australia and you could win up to $5000 and kickstart your career. Entries are open from August 16-September 16. Go to for more information and register to enter.
Listen to SBS Voices' new podcast, The New Writer’s Room, in the , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.
