She is a graduate of Nagpur University, where she earned her Masters in English Literature. She’s currently working as a freelance writer.
Her stories have been featured in Borderless Journal, Kitaab Magazine, Setu Journal, The Bombay Review, Indian Periodical, Muse Journal, Women’s Web, Pawners Paper, Universe Journal, and Indus Women Writing.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. I don’t have anything interesting to say about myself.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. Currently writing another short story collection. Not sure when it might get published or released.
Q.3 What inspired you to write a collection centred on themes such as loneliness, paranoia, grief, ageing, and memory?
A. I never plot or theme my stories before writing. So I didn’t plan to write about these themes.
Q.4 Settings such as Shimla, Dalhousie, cemeteries, cottages, and quiet neighbourhoods contribute significantly to the atmosphere of the stories. How important is place-making in your creative process?
A. In my stories, the setting is not a mere backdrop, but a character in its own right, propelling the story forward. I believe the stories would not have worked in different settings.
Q.5 How long did it take from the first draft to the final manuscript?
A. I have been writing short stories and submitting them to magazines and journals for years now. When a few of my stories got accepted, that encouraged me to publish a collection. I suppose it took nearly two years.
Q.6 Were there moments when you wanted to stop writing this book? If so, what kept you going?
A. On the contrary, I was buzzed to get it done.
Q.7 The collection often blurs the boundaries between reality, memory, and imagination. How do you decide how much ambiguity to leave for readers to interpret?
A. Just enough for the readers to use their interpretation and imagination to fill in the gap while keeping the essential story details clear.
Q.8 Which story in the collection was the most emotionally challenging for you to write, and why?
A. I can’t think of a specific story that was emotionally difficult for me to write.
Q.9 Was there a particular character whose journey stayed with you long after the story was completed?
A. Dhami in When It Rained.
Q.10 Were there any literary influences, authors, or traditions that shaped your approach to writing Niltava in the Oak Tree?
A. No.
Q.11 What has surprised you most about readers' responses to the collection since its publication?
A. Only a few copies have been sold, and the response has been positive so far. Not surprised, but delighted that readers enjoyed the book.
Q.12 What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A. My stories are plotless. They focus more on capturing the emotions and complex human relationships. I wouldn’t say that they are unique or original, but different in their lingering concern with emotions.
Q.13 How do you decide when a story is finished and ready to be shared with others?
A. When I’m fully satisfied with it.
Q.14 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Getting into their head to know how their minds work.
Q.15 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. I Google unique Indian names and select ones that sound unique and at the same time familiar.
Q.16 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. I take a break and don’t return to it until I’m ready.
Q.17 What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
A. Reading and going out on long walks.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. My family is supportive of my writing venture.
Q.19 Is there a story or line from your book that you’re most proud of?
A. The line from Poison Damsel in Distress - “That’s just in our nature, isn’t it? Persisting with the belief that if we put enough effort, we can make it work. Turn around our failing business. Reverse the rapidly deteriorating health. Work out the struggling relationship. But, sometimes, we just have to let go.”
Q.20 Share the overall experience of your writing journey so far.
A. I learned a lot in the process of writing, both in terms of gaining new knowledge while researching, as well as learning how to write compelling stories by following writing advice and reading other stories.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. I don’t have anything interesting to say about myself.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. Currently writing another short story collection. Not sure when it might get published or released.
Q.3 What inspired you to write a collection centred on themes such as loneliness, paranoia, grief, ageing, and memory?
A. I never plot or theme my stories before writing. So I didn’t plan to write about these themes.
Q.4 Settings such as Shimla, Dalhousie, cemeteries, cottages, and quiet neighbourhoods contribute significantly to the atmosphere of the stories. How important is place-making in your creative process?
A. In my stories, the setting is not a mere backdrop, but a character in its own right, propelling the story forward. I believe the stories would not have worked in different settings.
Q.5 How long did it take from the first draft to the final manuscript?
A. I have been writing short stories and submitting them to magazines and journals for years now. When a few of my stories got accepted, that encouraged me to publish a collection. I suppose it took nearly two years.
Q.6 Were there moments when you wanted to stop writing this book? If so, what kept you going?
A. On the contrary, I was buzzed to get it done.
Q.7 The collection often blurs the boundaries between reality, memory, and imagination. How do you decide how much ambiguity to leave for readers to interpret?
A. Just enough for the readers to use their interpretation and imagination to fill in the gap while keeping the essential story details clear.
Q.8 Which story in the collection was the most emotionally challenging for you to write, and why?
A. I can’t think of a specific story that was emotionally difficult for me to write.
Q.9 Was there a particular character whose journey stayed with you long after the story was completed?
A. Dhami in When It Rained.
Q.10 Were there any literary influences, authors, or traditions that shaped your approach to writing Niltava in the Oak Tree?
A. No.
Q.11 What has surprised you most about readers' responses to the collection since its publication?
A. Only a few copies have been sold, and the response has been positive so far. Not surprised, but delighted that readers enjoyed the book.
Q.12 What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A. My stories are plotless. They focus more on capturing the emotions and complex human relationships. I wouldn’t say that they are unique or original, but different in their lingering concern with emotions.
Q.13 How do you decide when a story is finished and ready to be shared with others?
A. When I’m fully satisfied with it.
Q.14 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Getting into their head to know how their minds work.
Q.15 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. I Google unique Indian names and select ones that sound unique and at the same time familiar.
Q.16 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. I take a break and don’t return to it until I’m ready.
Q.17 What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
A. Reading and going out on long walks.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. My family is supportive of my writing venture.
Q.19 Is there a story or line from your book that you’re most proud of?
A. The line from Poison Damsel in Distress - “That’s just in our nature, isn’t it? Persisting with the belief that if we put enough effort, we can make it work. Turn around our failing business. Reverse the rapidly deteriorating health. Work out the struggling relationship. But, sometimes, we just have to let go.”
Q.20 Share the overall experience of your writing journey so far.
A. I learned a lot in the process of writing, both in terms of gaining new knowledge while researching, as well as learning how to write compelling stories by following writing advice and reading other stories.
I also learned the importance of multiple edits for a good story. I’m more confident in my writing now than I was when I started this collection two years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment