Zain Rishi is on the cusp of becoming a household name in Scottish contemporary literature.
“Poetry came to me as a means of belonging,” the 25-year-old says, pen in hand, ready to write.
Beginning his journey through Edinburgh’s literary scene on a whim, Zain applied for the Creative Writing Masters at Edinburgh University in 2022, casting ideals of a medical degree to one side.
When he came to Edinburgh, Zain was swept up by the literary history of Scotland’s capital city.
“This is a place where my poetry and my identity have grown very naturally,” Zain says. “I feel like here, I can operate on the same level as my peers and learn so much more from the writers here than in any other city.”
Talking to Surge about his recent recognition in independent literary magazines such as Gutter, Propel and the Oxford Poetry Magazine, Zain speaks with the certitude of a writer well-versed in the world of creativity, community and language.
After years pursuing many different forms of creativity, Zain says poetry and prose are his bread and butter.
“I love to write about my experience of leaving Birmingham and coming to Edinburgh. I’ve been able to look at my life before from a distance, and I see myself so differently now.”
Zain says becoming an Edinburger gave him abundant inspiration in his writing. “That experience of leaving your hometown is so universal and brings up so many emotions; I’ve found people relate to the significant impact my experience has had through my poetry.”
There aren’t many young writers out there with the confidence to not only reflect the world at their feet but also find grounding in the process. Zain is a sure-fire face of a modern Scottish writer.
“Feeling a sense of belonging as a person and writer is crucial to me,” he says. “In the creative world, especially in Edinburgh, regardless of who you are or how you identify or where your work ends up, you are still a writer.”
Walking along Victoria Street, Zain slots in perfectly with the rhythm of the city’s long-established literary roots.
Check out our other innovator stories: Dr Yola Jones and Anna Smart
*Editor’s note: This article was edited on 21st October 2025 and a paragraph was removed at the request of the interviewee for personal reasons.
