Fatma Latif in the Spotlight

Fatma Latif, whose poem ‘Threads of a Soft Language’ is published in the fourth issue of Lucent Dreaming, is an aspiring writer from Sudan with two internationally published poems to her track. She began writing in the eighth grade. Penning stories and sentiments in her native language, when she turned 18 years of age, she created a personal blog as a birthday gift to herself as a space to actively post. Fatma’s writing journey marks the honest unravelling of a woman-becoming. Fascinated with the human condition, she tailors each piece as a conversation and a testimonial, a liberating declaration of a life that is lived and valued deeply.

So, what inspired your piece ‘Threads of a Soft Language’ and how did it find its way to Lucent Dreaming?

I wrote this piece when I was going through a heavy period of confusion & later reflection; at a stage of life where change is ever-present and uninterrupted, a time when tenderness is deeply needed to handle, and tackle everything. I knew of Lucent Dreaming through an online search once, and I was very keen in establishing a connection with a space that would truly understand and embrace this piece.

What does writing mean to you?

Writing is how I heal. It is where I channel all of my emotions & thoughts into coherent meaning! It is where I place forward my truths, unravel and grow in every sentence.

What writing/creative projects are you currently working on?

I am working on gathering past pieces and present ones into a collective book celebrating the journey of becoming of a young woman.

What are you most excited about right now and for the future?

Honestly, I am excited about the endless possibilities that lay ahead, wherever they are, in whichever form they come!

How and where do you find inspiration to do your craft?

Through life and all its experiences. I think art takes an important room, and I find myself drawn to details in which the beauty of transparency is found. People, films, music, books, even my tiny garden, all shower me with inspiration by arousing curiosity and meaning.

What advice would you give those who want to do what you do?

I would say discover and protect your interests, read more, meditate often, and find the courage to accept who you are, in the name of love and support to the person you could become.