An interview with an author who wrote about History. One of the best read if you love history. Get your copy here.
About the Author:
Rahul Mitra grew up in Delhi and is currently working as an IT Marketing Professional with a multinational company in Mumbai. Passionately interested in all things Indian, Rahul is vociferous in his opinions about India, its people, and its culture. Like many others before him, he believes he can change the world and influence people through his writing.
About the Author:
Rahul Mitra grew up in Delhi and is currently working as an IT Marketing Professional with a multinational company in Mumbai. Passionately interested in all things Indian, Rahul is vociferous in his opinions about India, its people, and its culture. Like many others before him, he believes he can change the world and influence people through his writing.
Interview:
1: What inspires you to write?
My day job is an endless source of inspiration, constantly pushing me to take my writing career seriously.
2: How long does it take you to write a book?
It took me about 4 months to research and 6 months to write the first draft of ‘The Boy from Pataliputra’. However, there were multiple re-writings a process which took over one-and-a-half years. So you could say it takes me over two years.
3: In which genre you would write your book other than this Genre!
I’d like to write literary fiction capturing the lives of people in the Indian IT industry today. I also want to write a book of nonsense verse in Hindi.
4: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I don’t think it changed my process of writing…what it has done is that it has made me more confident that I can write and that there is a certain kind of reader who likes what I write.
5: What are common traps for aspiring writers?
There are many. One of the most common ones I have seen is to get stuck in the process of re-writing and re-writing your first draft and yet never finishing it. When writing the first draft, perfectionism can be your enemy.
6: How often do you write?
When I’m working on a story, I write every day.
7: Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who writes only when they feel inspired?
Let me tell you a secret. I don’t think any of the guys who write only when inspired have ever been published. Inspiration is for amateurs and poets, real writers sit in front of a blank page and weep till they find something to write about.
8: Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you
It’s a bit of both. So for ‘The Boy from Pataliputra’ I knew where I wanted it to begin and where I wanted it to end i.e. The Battle of the Hydaspes. I also knew that I wanted him to journey from Pataliputra to Takshashila so he could participate in the revolt of the students in Takshashila.
However, the details of how that was to happen, I did not know. I did not know the friends he would make or the troubles he would face. All of that came later, once I started writing.
9: Do you recall the first ever book/novel you read?
Not really…must have been some picture books.
10: What does literary success look like to you?
The ability to give joy, companionship, motivation, insight and a sense of contentment to people. The ability to contribute to the world.
11: What are your hobbies, passion other than writing?
I am pretty much an information junkie and can spend entire days researching stuff on the net. I love lifting weights, sleeping, reading and trying out new places to eat.
Blog by Vidhya Thakkar
