Q&A with Dalal AlSalim (2025 winner):
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Damascus, Syria, and I’m currently living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember—it’s always been my escape from reality. I started reading when I was young because I wanted to be like my older sister, who also got me into writing later on.
What do you read? List 5 books and authors:
I read a lot of fiction, mystery, thriller, and fantasy books.
The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Classic books like Little Women by Louisa May Alcott or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.
A Good Girl’s Guide series and all of Holly Jackson’s books.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Have you published any stories or books?
No, I haven’t published any stories or books but it has always been my dream to do so.
Why did you take part in the Merdeka Writing Competition?
To be honest, I don’t really know why. I never entered a writing competition before and I never actually won first place in anything. I saw the advertisement for it when I was in class with my friend and she said we should both join so we did. I guess that’s one of the reasons. I also really wanted to share one of my writings to be considered, even if I didn’t win.
How much planning was involved for the story?
I’m not sure exactly. I wrote two different stories with full planning and everything but I gave up on them. This was my third idea for a story but it had the least amount of planning. I just wanted it to be true so I had my idea in my head and started writing. When I finished I started editing it and planning it better.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me around a week. In the beginning I didn’t have a lot of motivation but as the deadline came I suddenly channelled into my inner writer self and finished.
How did you react when you found out you won?
I was honestly so shocked because, as I said before, I never won first place in something.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
My advice would be to read as much as you can, because reading teaches you things no guide ever could. You start to pick up on what makes a story good and what moves you as a reader. And when it comes to writing, don’t pressure yourself to be perfect—just write, even if it’s messy. The more you write, the more your own style will start to show.
Q&A with Olivia Tan Rui Tong (2024 winner):
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in a hospital located in Selangor and I’m currently living in Labuan. Although I only started reading novels recently, I’ve found a passion for stories and writing, especially inspired by competitions like this one. Writing has become a way to explore new ideas and express myself in ways I hadn’t before.
What do you read? List 5 books and authors.
Recently, I’ve started exploring both physical as well as online novels and definitely have enjoyed Jim Aitchison’s books quite a lot. Here’s a list of 5 books and authors I’m getting into:
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Perahu Kertas by Dee Lestari
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bittersweet Love by Alana Izarra
Have you published any stories or books?
No, I haven’t published any stories or books.
Why did you take part in the Merdeka Writing Competition?
My English teacher suggested that I join the competition after noticing my writing. So, I thought I’d give it a try and it’d be a great experience.
How much planning was involved for the story?
I thought of ideas everywhere I went. As I was working close to the deadline, I looked up synonyms to avoid repeating words.
How long did it take you to write it?
I started early, writing a few sentences or paragraphs here and there, but I only gained the motivation to finish as the deadline drew closer.
What were your expectations?
I didn’t expect much and would’ve been grateful even for a consolation prize as it was my first writing competition.
How did you react when you found out you won?
I was honestly very surprised to read the email and felt very fortunate.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
From my perspective, practice makes perfect, so don’t give up even when writing feels challenging. Reading is also a great habit to expand your vocabulary—you never know where it might lead.
Q&A with Tan Yuan Guan (2023 winner):
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Penang in 2009. I have a younger sister. I was in a Chinese school and now I’m in a government secondary school.
What do you read?
Books: Fortunately, the Milk; The School for Good and Evil book 3: The Last Ever After; A series of Unfortunate Events book 12: The Penultimate Peril; The Land of Stories book 5: An Author’s Odyssey; The God Equation
Authors: Neil Gaiman; Soman Chainani; J.K. Rowling; Rick Riordan; Lemony Snicket
Have you published any stories or books?
I was part of the Junior Writers Programme 2022 and wrote a story for Secrets and Lies.
Why did you take part in the Merdeka Writing Competition?
I took part as it was the last chance to qualify for the competition due to the age limit and I didn’t want to miss it. I have entered three times in the hope of gaining more experience in the art of literature.
How much planning was involved for the story?
It was a rush job as I only started thinking about the plot on the final day. I had just only finished my mid-term exams and had almost forgotten about the competition. For research, I flipped through the dictionary for some new words that would be suitable for the story.
How long did it take you to write it?
The entire process took about an hour and a half and I read through it once.
What were your expectations?
I thought that there was still room for improvement and I hoped fervently that it would at least win me a minor prize.
How did you react when you found out you won?
I was surprised and very glad.
You were in JWP2022. How did you like that? Tell us about that experience.
JWP2022 taught me the purpose of writing and showed me all its benefits. It was a new type of exposure and I’m sure that I will remember it as long as I live. I enjoyed writing because a story is a world that is created by an author where anything is possible and the author can control every detail just by writing something down.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
Knowledge and imagination are the greatest tools for writing and the best way to master them is to read good books. Practising one’s writing skills is also helpful because the best stories are made out of good sentences and writers need to create their own style of writing as the story is supported mainly by one’s words. Hard work is the only way to success.
Tell us about Robin Wong Kung Shan (2022 Winner).
I was born in Puchong and moved to Petaling Jaya when I was one. I was born in 2008.
Do you have siblings?
Yes. I have two brothers and one sister.
What type of school do you go to – sekolah kebangsaan, international, Chinese? Or are you homeschooled?
I am homeschooled by my mother.
Name 5 favourite books and 5 favourite authors.
To be honest, I read anything I can get my hands on. My 5 favourite authors are: Stephen King, J.R.R Tolkien, John Grisham, Jeffery Deaver, and Dean Koontz.
Have you published any stories or books?
I have not published any books.
Why did you take part in the Merdeka Writing Competition?
I took part in the Merdeka Writing Competition because I hoped it would hone my writing skills.
How much planning was involved for the story?
I wrote a few drafts from a few angles to see which was best, but I honestly prefer to simply write and let it flow. I did not do any research.
How long did it take you to write it?
I took about 20 minutes to half an hour. Checking took about 10-20 minutes; I edited the manuscript twice before sending it off.
What were your expectations?
I just did what I thought of and expected maybe a consolation prize.
How did you react when you found out you won?
I was very shocked and happy.
Will you be accepting a place in the Junior Writers Programme 2023?
I probably will; it is a valuable opportunity.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
My advice would be: Read a lot, read as much as you can. Reading helps the writer a great deal.
