“RC made me a good reader which in return made me a writer.”
Author Sedef Betil has followed her short story collections with an intergenerational novel: Leylekler Aşklar Söylentiler (Storks Loves Rumors, İletişim Yayınları). Revolving around a painter, the novel spans decades, while exploring filial dynamics. Indeed it was the importance of families that incited Betil to write in long form: “We get our first values, behavioral traits, tastes of all sorts through family members. Large families enlarge one’s views, especially if you live together, even partly. I grew up with lots of women around me. My latest book covers the very long life of a woman. It is more or less a debt gratitude to my large family who had nourished me with their love, knowledge and wit and who also challenged my curiosity.”
When comparing the two literary forms, Betil sees a clear difference in creative process: “I prefer to express myself, to narrate my stories in short texts, that is why I write short stories; it’s like taking a photograph of a feeling, a gesture, a cry, an unspeakable joy or desire. Writing a short story needs a lot of concentration, I generate my thoughts around the subject for a while, but then it comes out fast and clear. Novel writing needs a longer time, more planning and working.”
Betil returned to the RC campus on December 22, 2025 as a guest of the Turkish Language and Literature Department to engage with current RC students. She puts the contribution of RC to her literary career succinctly: “RC made me a good reader which in return made me a writer.”
