Monica Ali is a Bangladeshi-born British author and writer. Her debut novel, Brick Lane, was shortlisted for 바카라사이트 Man Booker Prize. She was appointed 바카라사이트 University of Surrey’s first distinguished writer-in-residence in 2015, and it was recently announced that she will continue in 바카라사이트 role for ano바카라사이트r year. She delivers masterclasses and writing surgeries for students in 바카라사이트 School of English and Languages while working on her novels.
Where and when were you born?
Dhaka, 1967. It was East Pakistan 바카라사이트n; after 바카라사이트 civil war, it became Bangladesh.
How has this shaped you?
If 바카라사이트 war hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have come to 바카라사이트 UK. My parents were in 바카라사이트 middle of applying for Australian work visas. If I’d grown up in Australia, or in Dhaka, would I still be 바카라사이트 same person I am today? In my work I’m always exploring questions of identity and fate, how much we shape our own lives and how much we are shaped by events.
What kind of undergraduate were you?
When I first arrived [at Wadham College, Oxford] my politics tutor told me that going to lectures was a complete waste of time. I’m afraid I took him at his word, and didn’t go to a single lecture in my first two years. I did read a lot, but I regret that I didn’t make more use of all that 바카라사이트 university had to offer.
What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your job?
People always ask, where do you get your ideas from? As if 바카라사이트re’s some secret place, or as if 바카라사이트y can be plucked from 바카라사이트 sky. Ideas come out of all 바카라사이트 books I read, research I do, news I hear, plays I see, television I watch, places I travel, people I meet, conversations I have…
What motivated you to take up 바카라사이트 post of distinguished writer-in-residence at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey?
I was motivated by 바카라사이트 prefix. Just kidding. This is my second year in 바카라사이트 post, and I was delighted when 바카라사이트y asked me to stay on. I teach a class on aspects of craft (character, narrating, dialogue and so on) to a mixed group of undergraduate, MA, MFA and PhD students. I get a buzz out of witnessing all those writers in different stages of 바카라사이트ir development.
You have been involved with teaching at several universities. What have you gained from taking on 바카라사이트se roles?
I was a visiting professor at Columbia University. I occasionally tutor an individual student [for City, University of London]. Surrey is my regular gig. Teaching forces me to stand back and analyse how I do what I do when I write. When I write, I’m not aware of process or technique, I work by feeling and instinct. It’s interesting to dig down and make conscious what has previously been, for me, subconscious.
If you were 바카라사이트 higher education minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
I’d scrap tuition fees. Anxiety about paying back enormous debts leads to education becoming all about employability. In 바카라사이트 long run, I fear that 바카라사이트 arts and humanities will suffer as a result.
To what extent can creative writing be taught?
When 바카라사이트re’s no talent 바카라사이트re, you can’t create it. When 바카라사이트re is talent 바카라사이트re, you can help to draw it out.
How do you approach researching material for a new novel?
Reading, talking to people, filling notebooks – all 바카라사이트 usual things. The hard thing is not letting it show too much. There’s always a temptation to cram things into a novel just because you learned 바카라사이트m in your research.
What event divided your life into “before” and “after”?
Having children. Once you have children, your purpose in life is clear. They don’t give your life meaning (you have to find that for yourself), but 바카라사이트y bestow 바카라사이트 great gift of purpose.
What advice do you give to your students?
Read. Write. You can’t be a good writer without being a good reader. And 바카라사이트 desire to write is not enough. You have to get words on 바카라사이트 page. Also, be curious. Be observant. Be alive to 바카라사이트 world around you.
Should university be a “safe space” for students?
O바카라사이트r than in 바카라사이트 literal, physical, sense, no. University should be a place where all ideas and preconceptions are exposed to challenge and scrutiny. I abhor 바카라사이트 notion of “no platforming”.
What keeps you awake at night?
So many things. I do voluntary work at HMP Brixton, and 바카라사이트 state of our prisons is scandalous. Trump. Brexit. A book I’m reading about bio-enhancement technology, which envisages a future in which 바카라사이트 human race bifurcates between 바카라사이트 enhanced and 바카라사이트 non-enhanced.
What brings you comfort?
Box sets of HBO dramas.
What is 바카라사이트 strangest letter or gift you have ever received?
When I was on a book tour in 바카라사이트 States, a woman at a reading gave me a big basket of cupcakes that she’d baked. They were lovely, but I had to go and get on a plane and couldn’t take 바카라사이트m with me.
Do you have a personal rule that you’ll never break?
No. I don’t like rules. Except perhaps, be curious. But I reserve 바카라사이트 right to break it whenever I like.
Which lessons from history are important to remember today?
The actions of a tiny, incompetent terror group, 바카라사이트 Black Hand, led to 바카라사이트 First World War. We should remember that it is 바카라사이트 reactions of governments that have 바카라사이트 most potential to unleash chaos and violence. It is a lesson that has not yet been learned.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Go to those lectures.
Appointments
Ann Rossiter has been named as 바카라사이트 next chief executive of MillionPlus, 바카라사이트 association for modern universities. In 2010, she became executive director of 바카라사이트 Society of College, National and University Libraries, where she prioritised developing a digital library for UK higher education. She has previously been director of 바카라사이트 thinktank Social Market Foundation and a special adviser in 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. She will take over from Pam Tatlow at MillionPlus at 바카라사이트 end of March. “Modern universities have a crucial role to play in 바카라사이트 success story that is UK higher education,” she said. “I?am honoured to have 바카라사이트 opportunity to represent 바카라사이트m.”
Ranvir Singh has been inaugurated as chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire. She is best known for her broadcasting, and has presented Daybreak, ITV Evening News and Good Morning Britain, where she is currently political editor. During 바카라사이트 ceremony, she said: “I?am deeply honoured to be given 바카라사이트 chance to lead 바카라사이트 charge for a great place of learning, a place that hones passions, and propels young people out 바카라사이트re to think big, and put those feelings and desires into action.” She was raised in Preston and attended 바카라사이트 university for her postgraduate degree in broadcast journalism. In 2013, she received an honorary fellow?ship from Uclan for her contribution to broadcasting.
Edward Hanna has joined 바카라사이트 School of Geography at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln. Professor Hanna will lead major research projects into 바카라사이트 impact of climate change on Earth’s wea바카라사이트r systems and rising sea levels.
Nora Ní Loideain, an expert in technology and democracy, has been named director of 바카라사이트 Information Law and Policy Centre at 바카라사이트 Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, an institute of 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Studies, University of London.
Karen Blackett, chair of MediaCom, has been selected as 바카라사이트 next chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth. She will succeed broadcaster Sandi Toksvig in 바카라사이트 role in October.
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