Shazaf Fatima Haider makes her writing debut with "How It Happened", a story that talks about arranged marriage and the wedding cultures of Pakistan.

Shazaf Fatima Haider has always been curious about how people have arranged marriages. She has often wondered how two people who are made to meet each other in planned settings, are expected to like each other and then get married. Lucky for her, she was able to experience the funny side of arranged marriages and cultural backgrounds in Pakistan and decided to write her first novel "How it Happened" on this subject.

Haider spoke with Reuters about her book, Pakistani culture and writing. She says that some parts of the book were inspired by what she heard and saw for herself. Her grandmother used to tell her stories about arranged marriages. The author also revealed she didn't have to do research for her book and everything she has written in her novel is exactly what just "popped" into her head. She says she's always been interested in what two people experience in the process of an arranged marriage. She said that she too has had a few suitors that her parents arranged for her and was able to sense their amusement and discomfort.

The author also reveals that no one but her close friend Sameer Khan knew she was writing the novel. She kept it a secret as she was scared that she may not be able to finish it or it wouldn't be good enough. Haider gives credit to Khan for his constant encouragement and feedback.

When asked what her advice to aspiring writers would be, she said, "Submit as much as you write. Don't reject your own work when there are a thousand other people, agents and publishing houses to do that for you. And don't think your words are sacred - they are not - be open to changing tone or voice or anything such to serve the cause of your story telling. Don't show your work to everyone because everyone will have a different idea of what constitutes good writing. Find that one person whose opinion you trust and show your work to them."