Interview with Geetika Saigal

Geetika Saigal is an Author of G-spot.

Check the review of her book here.
Get a copy of her book here.
#FindingyourGspot

Connect with her on Here.

About the author:Vidhya Thakkar- Indian blogger, Mumbai blogger, book blogger, Book blogger Mumbai

Geetika Saigal, is an MBA and Economics grad by education; a Corporate Leader turned Entrepreneur turned Writer, by profession; an explorer of the unknown and a believer in self-created destiny.
She chose the path of a life lived fully, explored globally, experienced intimately; before she took a pause and started to write.
This is her debut book.  Explore her daily inspirations via her Instagram handle @gstorytime
Invite her over for a conversation by sending her an email on imgeetikasaigal@gmail.com

Interview:

1: What do you think makes a good story?

One that’s penned with passion! A story can be of any genre – romance, mystery, horror, inspirational, motivational – but it needs to be written with a fervour that comes from an almost-obsession-like passion from the writer. When the writer eats, breathes, sleeps the story…that’s when it will have the power to grab and hold a reader’s attention and illicit the desired emotions, even when they talk about it years later!

2- What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That it’s not simply a creative process, but very much like a targeted project at work that requires discipline! I know I know…even I was surprised to find this out, but you see, there is a difference between being a writer and being an author. Creating an entire book, with each character, situation, emotion well-thought out; at the same time keeping it crisp and tight; working on the flow; the twists and turns; yet maintaining to keep that single message throughout…it requires an approach and discipline to your writing.

3- In which genre you would write your book other than this Genre!

I hate to be boxed. There are more than 50 shades to me! Even my hair’s got a fair number of shades :) I’m primarily a Thinker. My mind is very rarely at rest. Even when I de-clutter my mind, my objective is not to simply empty it all, but to make space for what’s more important. I write. Simply write. Genre-agnostic. But yea, the underlying thread would probably be that there is always a theme that runs through whatever I write. That theme or essence is what drives me to write that piece, which only I know when I write, but hopefully the reader will sense too when it’s read.

4- How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

It hasn’t! I write from the heart and hope to always do that. It may or may not appeal to all, but I want people to instantly recognize that a piece is mine after reading it.

5- What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Many! Worrying more about ‘how to publish’ than ‘what to write’! Getting sucked into writer’s block and feeling un-inspired Trying too hard and getting frustrated The opposite – finishing fast but not re-looking to improve it and making it its best possible version What’s common in it all? When they ‘think more, feel less’…’push too hard’ rather than let the passion drive them…lose the ‘reason’ they write for in the first place.

6- What inspires you to write?

In general, my life and the life I see around me. I’m a touch-n-feel person, so small lil’ nothings, interactions, moments…touch me. Sometimes they are stand-alone thoughts that take the form of a rant, sometimes they fall into a poetic rhyme and sometimes many moments weave together to inspire a single feeling to translate into a longer piece, a book you may say.As for this book in particular… there was no single ’aha’ moment as such. It all started when I decided to do the unthinkable for the first time in life – Nothing! It was almost as if I had been running for 18 years and finally taken a pause to catch my breath, which turned into an opportunity to reflect upon my life, my choices and my journey.

“When the noises cease, all you hear is YOU.” …and the words started to pour.

7- How often do you write?

I scribble all the time. I like to keep my head free and my diary full!

If you see my Instagram handle, you’ll notice I have my diary in many pics! Sometimes I even pen corny lil’ poems on my phone and save in drafts or a thought that pops into my head and save it in SMS/Email drafts!

8- Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?

Hmmm now here’s the thing. When it’s simply about writing, it’s all about spontaneity, so yeah, as and when, on the spur of the moment. But those are really lil’ nothing notes here-n-there.If it’s about a book, then I have a schedule. And I follow it daily, as much as possible. It helps keep the focus on the book over all other aspects of life, on output and word-count, on keeping the tempo of the story or narration, and not losing the plot. A schedule helps drive a book to completion!

9- Do you recall the first ever book/novel you read?

Aaaalll of Enid Blyton’s books – Famous Five, Five Find-outers, St. Clares, Malory Towers. Then I had a phase of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. And finally became the official supplier (to my friends!) for Mills & Boon, Harlequin romance, Silhouette Desires :)

Also, Robinson Crusoe was the first book I seriously read as a kid, coz it was part of our School Curriculum!

10-  What are your hobbies, passion other than writing?  

I’m a big time music buff. Barring when I’m working, music is always on whether it’s VH1 in my room, my phone playlist if I’m walking in the park or 94.3FM if I’m driving. If there’s one thing I love more than the sound of music, it’s the pleasure of eating! Sadly (for my waistline!) good food makes feel alive-n-kickin’. Lately I have taken to fending for myself and cooking a fair bit (finally growing up I guess!). And when I can manage, I simply move out. Travel is like being re-born. If it’s to some place known then it recharges the nerves and if it’s to places being discovered it re-ignites the soul. I love beaches, the sound of the sea, the feel of the sand, all except the humidity that ruins my hair! For that reason, I like cold places like Europe or as I call my home, London.

11- Can you tell us about your current projects? 

Readers, readers and readers! That’s the core of my current project. I may have written this book for me, but it’s published for others to read. Hence, everything I do around the book is, and will be, centered on getting it to more potential readers and engaging with the ones who do read it. That’s my key current project.Other than that – there’s a fiction novel about a young woman and there’s a non-fiction topic in my head I want to write about…for now though I want to do justice to my baby and do everything I can to give it wings to fly. If you’ve read my banterings here, please do read Finding Your G-Spot, and hopefully recommend to your friends and family (or enemies if you didn’t like it!) to read.

12- Word of advice to the young writers out there?

“We die with every breath we take, yet every breath we take is testimony that we are still alive.” – From Finding Your G-Spot.Don’t procrastinate, just do it.Let it flow, make it happen. Seize the moment, there’s no better time that now. Don’t just aspire. Be…be a writer. Now. Worry about publishing and selling later!

 

 

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