Mahmud El Sayed
@mahmudelsayed.bsky.social
Writer | SFF | Arabfuturist | BSFA | Codex | Debut THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY out in 2026 from Gollancz & Saga Press
The view from my writing desk today.
February 4, 2026 at 12:23 PM
The view from my writing desk today.
Me: Are you really going to kill off this character? Really?1?
Also me: He has to go blud, he has to go!
Also me: He has to go blud, he has to go!
February 1, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Me: Are you really going to kill off this character? Really?1?
Also me: He has to go blud, he has to go!
Also me: He has to go blud, he has to go!
"Freeeeeeeeeeze! BFBI!"
(Also, Shabana Mahmood is really making me hate my name!)
(Also, Shabana Mahmood is really making me hate my name!)
January 25, 2026 at 7:44 PM
"Freeeeeeeeeeze! BFBI!"
(Also, Shabana Mahmood is really making me hate my name!)
(Also, Shabana Mahmood is really making me hate my name!)
You are a regular character, you can enter a scene.
You are a regular character, you can make that plot point.
You are a regular character, you know when the chapter ends.
You are a regular character, you know what it means to be you.
You are a regular character, you can make that plot point.
You are a regular character, you know when the chapter ends.
You are a regular character, you know what it means to be you.
January 25, 2026 at 2:22 AM
You are a regular character, you can enter a scene.
You are a regular character, you can make that plot point.
You are a regular character, you know when the chapter ends.
You are a regular character, you know what it means to be you.
You are a regular character, you can make that plot point.
You are a regular character, you know when the chapter ends.
You are a regular character, you know what it means to be you.
A final front page for my father who sadly passed away this week. Permanence is for God alone.
January 1, 2026 at 2:05 AM
A final front page for my father who sadly passed away this week. Permanence is for God alone.
Reader: What's up with this POV chapter? It keeps skipping between different genres. Ugh, why can't you just write something normally, Mahmud?
Me (yes, doing the voice): Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated.
Me (yes, doing the voice): Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated.
December 26, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Reader: What's up with this POV chapter? It keeps skipping between different genres. Ugh, why can't you just write something normally, Mahmud?
Me (yes, doing the voice): Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated.
Me (yes, doing the voice): Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated.
Me: Yes, of course I've got the whole story meticulously plotted out. Detailed notes. Character sheets. Scene breakdowns. A world building bible. My pantsing days are over, I swear. I'm a plotter now. Look! Just look at my notes!
My notes:
My notes:
December 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Me: Yes, of course I've got the whole story meticulously plotted out. Detailed notes. Character sheets. Scene breakdowns. A world building bible. My pantsing days are over, I swear. I'm a plotter now. Look! Just look at my notes!
My notes:
My notes:
Mewish elegance, part one and two.
December 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Mewish elegance, part one and two.
Stop! Who would access the notebook must answer me these questions three ere the notes he see.
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
November 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Stop! Who would access the notebook must answer me these questions three ere the notes he see.
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
One, where is the wet food? Two, can I have some wet food? Three, gimmie!
REPUBLIC OF MEMORY character name inspirations
November 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
REPUBLIC OF MEMORY character name inspirations
Very proud that THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY was picked as one of the SFF books to look out for in 2026 by The Bookseller (alongside some other bangers!). While you wait, there are already a few Arabfuturist books available in English that you should check out (1/4)
November 23, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Very proud that THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY was picked as one of the SFF books to look out for in 2026 by The Bookseller (alongside some other bangers!). While you wait, there are already a few Arabfuturist books available in English that you should check out (1/4)
Bubba this, Bubba that, Bubba Ho-Tep. Take a break and watch this Bruce Campbell classic which sees the "real" Elvis Presley and black JFK fighting an Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
November 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Bubba this, Bubba that, Bubba Ho-Tep. Take a break and watch this Bruce Campbell classic which sees the "real" Elvis Presley and black JFK fighting an Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
It's still just about Caturday and I wanted to share Mew's new perching spot. Listening to her pur while I write is very relaxing. (Wall notes have been redacted for 'nunya' reasons 🧐)
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It's still just about Caturday and I wanted to share Mew's new perching spot. Listening to her pur while I write is very relaxing. (Wall notes have been redacted for 'nunya' reasons 🧐)
Wonderful to hold a translation of a story I wrote in my hands. 'Ihr Körper, das Schiff.' Respect to all the translators 🫡
November 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Wonderful to hold a translation of a story I wrote in my hands. 'Ihr Körper, das Schiff.' Respect to all the translators 🫡
Everywhere I go... I see her face... Even Comic Con.
October 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Everywhere I go... I see her face... Even Comic Con.
Arabfuturism is coming! It's THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY cover reveal day. Don't ask me which one I like more. They're both epic! (It's Gollancz on the left and Saga Press on the right 🫡)
October 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Arabfuturism is coming! It's THE REPUBLIC OF MEMORY cover reveal day. Don't ask me which one I like more. They're both epic! (It's Gollancz on the left and Saga Press on the right 🫡)
The duality of cat
October 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The duality of cat
Duolingo reminders are now just a long string of emojis like an Arab father wishing you good morning. I'm being haunted by judgemental emoji owls 🦉
October 13, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Duolingo reminders are now just a long string of emojis like an Arab father wishing you good morning. I'm being haunted by judgemental emoji owls 🦉
How it started vs. How it's going (Maximus edition)
October 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
How it started vs. How it's going (Maximus edition)
How it started vs. How it's going (Mew edition)
October 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
How it started vs. How it's going (Mew edition)
When a writer comes down with a cold and needs to ask themselves for some sick leave.
"Of course, Mahmud, I have the same faith in you that all the editors and agents have!"
"Thank you, Mahmud."
"No, thank you. Mahmud."
"Of course, Mahmud, I have the same faith in you that all the editors and agents have!"
"Thank you, Mahmud."
"No, thank you. Mahmud."
September 28, 2025 at 4:21 AM
When a writer comes down with a cold and needs to ask themselves for some sick leave.
"Of course, Mahmud, I have the same faith in you that all the editors and agents have!"
"Thank you, Mahmud."
"No, thank you. Mahmud."
"Of course, Mahmud, I have the same faith in you that all the editors and agents have!"
"Thank you, Mahmud."
"No, thank you. Mahmud."
Not me on the tube reading Gravity's Rainbow. "Performative reading? Never heard of it."
September 18, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Not me on the tube reading Gravity's Rainbow. "Performative reading? Never heard of it."
Trying and failing to explain my excitement to non-Brits.
September 15, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Trying and failing to explain my excitement to non-Brits.
Mew: (sneeringly) What? You had to read all these books about writing to write one book?
September 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Mew: (sneeringly) What? You had to read all these books about writing to write one book?
All I hear about is cozy crime, cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, but what about cozy cat?
September 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
All I hear about is cozy crime, cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, but what about cozy cat?