Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Seddik Jelouane. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Seddik, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Legacy is a heavy word, and I honestly don’t think I can carry its weight, even when I’m gone. But what I hope to build for myself and the community which I represent is a new tradition, one where we all break from the outdated social norms and the culture of silence, especially for those who identify as masculine people in a society that regards expressing emotions to be unmanly. I am a man who is quite open with putting his feelings out there, though I’m still working on taking off many layers from the environment I was raised in, I chose the road less traveled by and it made all the difference. Poetry has been that road for me, and a friend when I needed one the most, though I only started writing a few years ago. So, my purpose now is to normalize showing men’s emotional side, and speaking up about one’s mental issues without the fear of others’ judgment clouding our lives. However, I still keep some parts of myself that I’m not ready to disclose yet, only because I don’t feel safe enough to be who I am, and the thought of having people say that I wasn’t brave to face my truth after I’m gone is haunting me. But I hope to be remembered for at least trying to live authentically through my poems, and for being the first in my family line to contribute to the literary scene.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a published Moroccan poet, authoring four books titled: “Bittersweet” – “Somewhere or Another” – “BECOMING” – “Moon Ink”. My writing journey started a few years ago when I was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English literature, and as part of the program I studied poetry, although none of the poems I wrote followed the rules I had learned. The task was mainly understanding those rules first, and then attempting to break them. However, I eventually shaped my own style under the influence of the poets I was introduced to during university, the thing which later on helped me develop and enhance a unique vision through my poems. I write about things that touch on the human experience, and the connection with our surroundings, be it nature or other people. Both the mystery of life, and the infinity of death have always intrigued me to question and seek answers, that curiosity has given me a rich sense of imagination to be more creative. I’m a perfectionist by nature, a virgo to say the least, therefore my poetry is mostly composed of complex meaning even though the language I use is easy to read. I also like to think that being trilingual and writing in a foreign language is what sets me apart from others. One of my proudest moments was the day I did a random Google search and a panel of my name and photo appeared next to a list of pioneers in Moroccan literature. So, I want everyone to know that I really came from nothing, even though I don’t see myself anywhere closer to saying I made it, but at least I can prove to everyone that I didn’t stand still. I am where I should be today.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I created my social media page in 2018, but it had a very different purpose. I started on Instagram as a bookworm, exchanging book recommendations and sharing reader reviews with a global community of readers. That allowed me to better understand people who shared the same passion and interest in literature as mine. A few months later that same year, I felt more comfortable asking some fellow writers for feedback on my writing, and the feedback I received gave me more confidence in connecting with my audience. To be honest, not all of the comments were encouraging, some of them even made me doubt that I might never become a good writer. But I didn’t give up, because my journey didn’t have to end there. The following year, I discovered Amazon and wanted to explore the publishing industry. So, I invested my time and energy into building my social media presence by sharing more of my poems. Then I made sure I had the support of certain people before I started self-publishing.

So the first piece of advice I always give my fellow creatives is to take your time and avoid rushing. Because starting is easy, but keeping it going is quite difficult. You don’t have to follow the same steps as me, but there are some parts you shouldn’t miss. My second tip is to put as much heart into it as possible, people will identify and engage with what we have in common, so being honest with your audience is key to staying relevant. That is durable.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being able to reach people’s hearts and have them relate with my experience through my writing is the best reward for me. I’ve had people come up to me and express how my work made them feel seen and heard, and it is strangely a mutual connection, because everything I write comes from within. It’s as if my poetry translates what others can’t describe, and that is the greatest of all gifts.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seddik_jelouane/
• Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/seddikjelouane95/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/seddik_jelouane

Image Credits
Mohamed Soukri Kenza Beladel Mohamed Morchidi