This month’s feature poet is one of the guiding forces behind the establishment of Nas with Notepads. Enas Suleiman’s voice carries a special blend of romance and realism. NWN interviewed Enas to get a closer look at the poet and her creative process.
1. When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was in school at about the age of 12.
2. What motivated you to start writing poetry/spoken word? 
When I was in year 9 or 10 of high school, English was my least favourite subject. That changed when my English teacher believed I had potential in poetry after writing an assignment about a book called Z for Zachariah. I don’t think she ever knew that she was my motivator and first critic.
3. What was the title of your piece? What was it about?
The first piece I’ve ever written was about…love. If I remember correctly, it was titled ‘True Love.’ I know, I know, what did I know about such a deep topic at that age…nothing of course, but I suppose sappy dubbed Mexican TV series helped at the time. “Alejandro! Maria!”
4. What motivates/inspires you to write now?
Inspiration and motivation come in the form of feelings, a conversation I hear, a book I’m reading, a story that has grabbed my attention, projects like Nas With Notepads and my imagination. Needless to say, there are days when inspiration and I are like two parallel lines that don’t meet.
5. What’s your favorite style to write in? What do you like to write about?
I don’t particularly have a favourite style to write in as I mostly jot down words the way they flow. I used to like rhyming when I was younger, but I have come to realize later on that it was too limiting. It made me focus on the rhyming aspect of it, rather than the meaning or message I was trying to convey. Today I rhyme from time to time, but not as often as I used to.
I have been told I write a lot about love, and I think I can pretty much agree with that. Thank you, Alejandro and Maria. I think love is an all-encompassing part of life, not only romance but also the seed for most things that are beautiful.
I also like to write about topics that have deeply touched me such as domestic abuse, the death of the Somali athlete Samia Yusuf Omar as well as the veil ban controversy in France.
6. What do you like most about Nas with Notepads?
What I like about NWN is the dive
rsity that is under one roof. NWN has had performances in different languages and poets from various countries sharing their deepest feelings and suppressed words. Their power bounces off the walls of our hearts, and continues to stay with us long after the performance has passed. I admire the full dedication and enthusiasm of the organizers that put together monthly events without fail, and the poets that continue to attend and be part of this inspiring initiative.
7. What would you like to share with the NWN family? What message do you have for them (if any)?
To the NWN family, I’d like to say that I miss being there! I miss each artist and their words that had us going on and on about performances with excitement. I’d simply like to say: keep creating, keep inspiring, keep sharing!
8. Do you have a website/page you’d like to share with the NWN fam?
You can find some of my poetry on www.enassuleiman.wordpress.com
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Get to know the voices that make up Nas with Notepads and a growing generation of Sudanese writers. The NWN Feature shines light on the budding lyrical talents of Sudan, local and diaspora both. The NWN Feature occurs monthly. Feature poets are selected by online and offline NWN poets and audience. To nominate a poet for the NWN Feature, send a message through Facebook, Twiiter (#NWNFeature), or to the NWN website.