Nussaibah Younis: Take the Pressure Off and Just Write Badly
Dr. Nussaibah Younis is a peace-building practitioner and a globally recognized expert on contemporary Iraq. She has a PhD in international affairs from Durham University in the U.K. and a BA in modern history and English from the University of Oxford. Dr. Younis was a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, where she directed the Future of Iraq Task Force and offered strategic advice to U.S. government agencies on Iraq policy. Dr. Younis has published op-eds in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian, and has provided on-air commentary for the BBC and Al Jazeera. She was born in the United Kingdom to an Iraqi father and a Pakistani mother, and currently lives in London. Follow her on X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Photo courtesy of the author
In this interview, Nussaibah discusses how imaging a conversation with her teenage self sparked the idea for her debut literary novel, Fundamentally, her hope for readers, and more.
Name: Nussaibah Younis
Literary agent: Allison Malecha, Trellis Literary Management
Book title: Fundamentally
Publisher: Tiny Reparations, Penguin Random House
Release date: February 25, 2025
Genre/category: Literary Fiction
Elevator pitch: Fundamentally is a darkly funny novel about heartbroken academic Nadia who accepts a UN job in Baghdad—where she’s tasked with deradicalizing ISIS women. After an absurd and chaotic start to the role, Nadia becomes engrossed by one of the women in her care, forcing her to make a radical choice.
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What prompted you to write this book?
I wanted to write something really funny and entertaining—as well as thought-provoking‚—based on the career I’ve had as a peacebuilding practitioner in the Middle East. There’s a tendency to treat the UN and international NGOs as rarefied institutions, but the reality is chaotic, dramatic, and often hilarious, and I’ve rarely seen that reflected in fiction. The topic of radicalization is one that has long fascinated me, but I wanted to explore it through rich and relatable characters that you enjoy hanging out with. I firmly believe novels should be engrossing and joyful, even if they tackle serious issues.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
The idea for the novel came when I imagined having a conversation with my 15-year-old self. It was immediately funny yet confronting to think about what my devoutly religious and precocious teenage self would say to my 30-something self, who was no longer a believer. I spent one solid year writing, and once I’d finished, it took me only a couple of weeks to get an agent, and within 48 hours of going on submission in the U.K. I had my first pre-empt offer for the book and my first offer for the TV option. The U.S. deal came a few weeks later. I know this is not the norm and I am extremely fortunate to have had such a smooth ride.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I have befriended many authors who are at different stages in their careers, and I’ve found it extremely sobering to learn how difficult it is to build a sustainable career as a writer—even if you’ve had one major book deal. The pressure can be debilitating to creativity, and I definitely miss the naivety I had when I wrote my debut novel.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
The Ernest Hemmingway adage is spot on, “Writing is rewriting.” My first draft was truly abysmal, but I rewrote it and rewrote it until it worked. I didn’t realize that you could edit your way to success even if the first draft is really bad, but you can!
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
I want readers to snort so hard with laughter that fellow commuters will move away from the adjoining seats.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Give yourself permission to write a terrible first draft. You need to start by getting words onto the page. Take the pressure off and just write badly. Trust that you can make it better later.
