For most university students, balancing academics, internships and personal projects is no mean feat. For Malcom Seah, a third-year undergraduate from Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Economics, that balance included writing a novel - one that is now set for publication by Penguin Random House SEA on 29 April 2025.
Titled Swimming Lessons, the novel explores sisterhood, identity and the supernatural, set within the backdrop of contemporary Singapore. But beyond its intriguing premise, the book carries deeply personal meaning for Malcom. Just a month into writing, his mother suffered a sudden stage five subarachnoid brain haemorrhage, an event that shaped both his writing and his perspective.
"At first, I felt an odd sense of guilt—like I had written the accident into reality," Malcom shared. "But writing became a way to process everything. The novel isn’t autobiographical, but it carries a lot of the emotions I was going through.”
Balancing penning a novel with the demands of university life was no easy feat. Malcom, who is majoring in Economics and Global Asia, revealed that he often set the manuscript aside for long periods, revisiting it between semesters or during quieter moments.
"I didn’t always have a clear plan. Sometimes, I’d return to it with fresh eyes and completely rewrite sections," he explained. "It wasn’t just a story I wanted to tell - it was one I needed to tell. I’m aware that I’m extremely young for an author. That’s why I’m extending an invite to my readers and friends to grow up with me through my prose and paragraphs.”
While economics and fiction writing may seem like opposite pursuits, Malcom found that shifting between them helped him stay engaged.
"They’re two completely different ways of thinking, which helps me avoid burnout," he said.
How SMU shaped Malcom’s perspective
Malcom’s experiences at SMU played a part in shaping his outlook and writing. Modules under the SMU Core Curriculum, such as Big Questions: Wealth and Poverty pushed him to examine privilege and personal agency, while professors such as Dr Ngoei Wen Qing, Dr Darlene Espena and Dr Chris Tan left lasting impressions through their thought-provoking discussions.
"Their classes challenged me to think differently, and I think that inevitably found its way into my writing," Malcom reflected. “The process of writing can be an incredibly isolating experience. It’s discouraging, all-consuming and extremely spontaneous. Thankfully, I adore the chaos.”
With Swimming Lessons set for release this April, Malcom is focused on sharing the book with readers rather than rushing into the next project. Though he has other manuscripts drafted, he let on that he would be taking his time.
"I’d rather give this book the attention it deserves before thinking about the next one," he said. “Presently, I’m just ecstatic for what this year entails. I’m going to embark on multiple novel-related events overseas including panel discussions on top of my impending exchange semester in Copenhagen.”
For students aspiring to pen a novel, Malcom offered the following advice: "Your story is worth telling. Don’t worry about whether it’s ‘original’—what matters is how you tell it."
Pre-order a copy of Swimming Lessons on Amazon or Kinokuniya.