Pearl Diving: An Interview with Sarah Ang
Final-year English student Sarah Ang, recipient of the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation’s Author of Tomorrow Prize, speaks to Pi Media about how Covid-19 served as her inspiration, what she plans to do with the prize money, and her advice for budding storytellers.
Sarah Ang, winner of the Author of Tomorrow Prize (photography: Sarah Ang)
How did you discover the Author of Tomorrow Prize?
I found the award serendipitously while trawling the internet, and it immediately piqued my interest. The prize awards £1,000 for the best adventure story between 1,500 and 5,000 words, and is run in partnership with Worldreader, a charity which aims to improve global literacy levels by bringing digital books to children in low and middle-income countries.
Without revealing any spoilers, can you give a brief summary of the story?
There are a lot of elements in the story and there’s also a twist, but I’ll try to summarise it briefly. Pearl Diving is about a girl named Pearl living by the sea in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious disease has taken over, that has deadly consequences for those it afflicts and drives the world into chaos…and may sound very familiar in these times! The story revolves around Pearl struggling to single handedly take care of her younger sister who has become bedridden by the disease, while coping with the disappearance of her mother, a marine biologist involved in the discovery of a cure. Throughout the story, Pearl grapples with grief, loss and the bonds of family, and finds solace in her trips to the ocean. Then, two strangers turn up at her doorstep with a shocking revelation, forcing her to make a difficult choice.
What inspired you to write the story?
Well, first and foremost, I took inspiration from Covid-19 and its devastating impact around the world. Seeing news reports about the chaos and hearing heart-wrenching stories about people who lost their loved ones and didn’t get to say goodbye, much like Pearl and her mother, made me imagine what it would be like to have a loved one suffering from the disease. I’ve also always been entranced by the ocean, and marine animals – this played a significant part in my crafting of the story, as I wanted to tell a tale that showcases its otherworldly beauty. Lastly, I was inspired by my relationship with my family, and envisioning the prospect of losing them was a raw undercurrent flowing through this tale.
Having said this, while this story takes inspiration from the pandemic, it is also more than a pandemic story. I think the main character’s grappling with loss, the bonds of family, and the central struggle with a difficult choice transcend Covid-19.
What appeals to you the most about creative writing? What about adventure writing in particular?
Creative writing can sometimes be an arduous and frustrating process, especially when you can’t quite find the words for what you want to express. Yet I think I do relish the art of weaving together a compelling story that draws readers in. When I really get into the spirit of writing, and the words just flow out one after the other; when I find myself really entranced in the narrative that I’m crafting, and the stories of my characters; I think that sensation is immensely satisfying. What I find most rewarding, however, is when I finish a story, and people tell me that what I’ve written has impacted them emotionally, even bringing them to tears in some cases. I find it really comforting that what I write has meaning.
To me, adventure writing allows readers to embark on a journey. I wanted to take readers on a journey into the unknown both within and without themselves, and I wanted to leave an impression that would last long after the final word – rather ambitious, I know, but I hope I managed to achieve some semblance of that.
How did you feel when you heard that you had won?
I was incredibly humbled and gratified! I find it really comforting to know people around the world found meaning in my story, that something in it resonated with what they have gone through or are going through.
Do you have any idea yet what you plan to do with the prize money?
I’m still thinking about that, and I will probably use the money to treat my family and save some of it, but I do want to put a portion towards helping those who are hurting from the effects of Covid-19.
How do you imagine creative writing will come in useful after you graduate?
Well, I think there are definitely transferable skills from writing, like creativity, the ability to craft a compelling story, and clear communication skills.
However, I don’t think creative writing has to be “useful” in the traditional sense – I think it’s a misconception that all the pursuits we engage in have to reap some kind of tangible reward for a career. You can pursue something because you are passionate about it, not as a means to an end. I think the written word is beautiful for its power to inspire and elicit emotions in others, and that alone is enough.
What would you say to those keen to write, but perhaps feel nervous to pick up a pen?
Write anyway! Writers often suffer from insecurity that their writing isn’t good enough – I know I certainly do. But you write for yourself – you don’t have to show it to anyone if you’re not comfortable with that, and it can be incredibly cathartic to pour out your emotions and ideas onto the page, no matter how incomplete and unformed they might be. If writing is something you want to do, then don’t let self-doubt stop you from doing that.
Sarah Ang has won multiple international awards for her writing, including first place in the Author of Tomorrow Award, first place in the iYeats International Poetry Competition (Emerging Category), first place in the IGGY and Litro Young Writers’ Prize, second place in the Alpine Fellowship Academic Writing Prize, and third place in the Ledbury Poetry Competition for Young People. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Mithila Review, Alexandria Quarterly, Medusa’s Laugh Press, the Claremont Review, Page & Spine and the Forest for the Trees Journal, among others.