Meet the New Generation of Cambodian Authors

By Nakren Keo, I’mACE Magazine Intern

The literature movement is growing in Cambodia. In recent years, many books have been written and published by young Cambodian authors. I’mACE Magazine recently had the opportunity to meet two talented young Cambodian authors who have captured the attention of their readers. We asked Dara Ly and Leakna Chuong to share their experiences of writing and their opinions on the rising trend in reading in Cambodia.

Dara Ly is a graduate of the University of Puthisastra and the Chairman of Cambodia Young Authors 111 (CYA111), which works to promote the publishing industry and a culture of reading in Cambodia. He is also the founder of DARA LY Reading Space, a learning centre and study space for young Cambodians. Dara began his writing journey in 2016 and has published eight books to date.

Chanleakna Chuong was born in Battambang and moved to Phnom Penh when she was six years old. She recently moved to Melbourne, Australia, to further her education. She is currently completing Year 11 at Kurnai College. Over the past two years, she has published three novels: Behind a Perfect Smile, Chaotic Heart and Magnetic Love, which come together as a series titled Lost and Love.

What made you first start writing?

Dara Ly: I think writing is very interesting, engaging and addictive. When you write, you feel good. Reading is another reason that I began to write. I want to make it big and impact our society, and I want people to read as much as they can while eliminating lazy habits when it comes to reading. I also saw that we didn’t have a lot of publications by Khmer authors, so I thought that I just had to do it. That’s why I wrote my first book, Dara Ly Reading Standards.

Chanleakna Chuong: I always find writing challenging and satisfying, but the reason I started writing in the first place was loneliness. I was surrounded by bad people and I was deceived and broken, physically and emotionally. I found that writing it all down helped me a lot.

Why did you decide to write in English?

Dara Ly: I’m a student of English Literature. The fact of the matter is I read more books in the English language. Technically, writing in Khmer would be more difficult, and I would be clumsy in expressing my thoughts. But I do plan to translate my books and learn how to write and express myself in my own language.

Chanleakna Chuong: English isn’t my first language, but in Khmer, it was too difficult for me to wrap up my feelings and thoughts and put them into words. In addition, I’d like native English speakers to give me feedback on areas for improvement. On the other hand, though, I’d also like Khmer people to be able to read what I write.

What challenges have you faced as a writer?

Dara Ly: As a writer, I have faced a lot of challenges. The biggest two are technical and emotional. First, the technical challenge is to write books that are understandable. Readers have different levels of English, so the problem is how to write a book that is easy to read and of a high standard at the same time. I started to pick up books written in intermediate English. As I read them, I saw that writing doesn’t always have to be grammatically correct. Exceptions can be made for readers whose English is not very good. Second, the emotional challenge is having too much self-doubt. You feel that maybe readers will not love your book, maybe you will not make it as an author. People asked me what I would do if I wasn’t an author, which indicated to me that they didn’t trust me. I also asked myself that same question. Fortunately, I overcame those doubts and kept on writing. Now, I feel proud that I did not give up. As writers, we begin our projects because we want people to read and we want our stories to be shared.

Chanleakna Chuong: As a high school student who is very active in volunteer programs and competitions, a lack of time and focus has always challenged me. Balancing school work, volunteer programs, preparation for competitions and writing is never easy.

From where do you derive your ideas for your books?

Dara Ly: I believe in the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction: that positivity attracts positivity. I read self-help books a lot, especially books about how we can survive negative experiences and create the best version of ourselves. If I can do that, I want my readers to be able to do it too.

Chanleakna Chuong: I read a lot of novels and poetry in English. A lot of different authors from all over the world have inspired me with their amazing work. I’ve recently become addicted to reading poetry, and I decided to try something different myself. Not many people write poetry, but it has become very popular among young people, so I thought, “Why not?”

What message are you trying to send to your readers?

Dara Ly: My message is very simple. I want to let everyone know that we can all create something great. I want my readers to be creators rather than receivers, and to trust themselves. Plus, I want all of my books to touch my readers’ hearts, so that they can become stronger psychologically.

Chanleakna Chuong: I genuinely understand how it feels to be depressed. I want my readers to know that they’re not alone, and that people care about them. I also want to encourage them to open up to people with whom they feel comfortable. Keeping our feelings to ourselves is a problem. I write down my feelings and share them: if I’m facing something, others are facing it too.

What is your writing process like?

Dara Ly: My writing process is a bit weird. I write at night and sleep in the morning. I spend at least one or two hours every day studying films and their stories. I develop my writing from what I understand from those films. I also spend some time reading, but I don’t write when I read. Moreover, I don’t write in a structured way, chapter by chapter. I write randomly and revise later. I also study word usage: vocabulary that my readers can understand without needing to check a dictionary too often.

Chanleakna Chuong: Initially, I recorded my feelings in a diary each day. I then started to combine my daily diary entries to create longer pieces of writing. I learned that these didn’t always have to be connected. The third step was to give each part a title and seek feedback from my writing coaches.

How have your readers responded to your writing?

Dara Ly: I think they like it because I can see their excitement when they talk to me. They tell me about the latest book of mine that has blown their mind. Some readers have said that they never thought they could like reading this much. They find the stories and messages in my books relatable. Some of them still face a language barrier and often have to use a dictionary, but most of my readers don’t have that difficulty.

Chanleakna Chuong: There is always both positive and negative feedback, but most of the time I receive very positive responses. The less positive ones are helpful, in that they teach me where I can improve.

Do you have any advice for our readers who want to become writers?

Dara Ly: First, they need stories to share, but the good news is that everyone has their own stories. They also need readers who can inspire and motivate them. I read a lot and I listen to a lot of people. I also write a lot. So, I would advise reading, listening and writing.

Chanleakna Chuong: First, we all make mistakes: none of us is perfect. Second, if you want to start writing, start now! Third, always ask for support from a professional who can give you sound advice.

Are you optimistic about being a writer and the publishing industry?

Dara Ly: Yes, I am. I believe that more people are beginning to realise the benefits of literature. I also believe that the publishing industry is growing, with young authors publishing more and more books. There is also support from the government, with many government ministries involved in organising the Cambodia Book Fair.