so, you want to be a writer?

The following is a transcript from Nandini Nayar’s session for Kahani Takbak’s first celebrations.

 So, you want to be a writer was the topic of the Facebook live chat. Minutes before Nandini went live, the internet connection went down.   Thankfully, she had downloaded the Facebook app on her phone yesterday.  As she was not familiar with using the Facebook app , she couldn’t spot the ‘Post’ button and ended up doing the entire session in the Comments section.  The questions given below were asked by the participants of the session.

1.      Where does one begin? How do you channel all random ideas into a concrete piece of work?

               Random ideas are amazing. Store them, think about them. Brood and wonder- why? When? What if?

2.      Even when the manuscript is good, there can be rejection for various reasons. That could be luck, but you have written so much. How do you manage your time?

I have a schedule and I stick to it. I don't take holidays.

3.      How do you manage to be so prolific, 

Guess, I've been lucky,

4.      What’s the first most difficult thing about writing?

 - getting the first 1000 words on paper!

5.      What’s the second most difficult thing about writing?

 - getting the second 1000 words on paper!

6.      What’s your daily writing schedule like? Do you set aside a number of hours every day for your writing?

Yes, a rigid schedule is very important to me. It means I often ignore dirty dishes and a messy house. But if you don't take yourself and your writing seriously, then who will?

7.      How many hours do you write for? And what is your schedule like?

I get to work by 9 am. And I aim to write a certain number of words per day.

8.      I have been trying to ignore the mess and demands of the family and scheduling a time to write, but it is not always easy.

Trust me, I know. I've been there. But keep your dream strong and write.

8. How do you always get an authentic child's point of view?

I am a shameless eavesdropper! I listen in on children's conversations.

9. How do you get over the demon of the first draft? I find them terrible or incomplete and then don't know how to rewrite it.

If you've written a first draft you deserve applause! Ask yourself if you need to change the voice, the setting, characters. Then rework…

10. How many drafts are needed for a story to become perfect?

Ooooh! Some stories are good as gold and pretty much write themselves. Sometimes the story is well-behaved and you love it. I think the stick-with-itness is an important quality of being a writer.

Others have to be reworked several times before they work. When a story goes well you get the sparkle it shines out. And you know you've done a good job.

 11.  What do you think of self publishing or 'vanity publishing?

        I haven't really thought about it.

 12. What are your own favourite children's books?

       Lots of them! I like Shashi Deshpande's children's fiction, Subhadra Sen Gupta, Diana Wynne Jones, and Stephen King.

                   Random musings from Nandini

1. ·      If you really want to write no one can stop you. But keep away from anything that distracts you.
2. ·        Keep away from Facebook(FB). Because, let's face it-FB is NOT your support system. You support and keep FB going, with your stories
3.           People think of reading as an escape from reality. I think writing helps you escape too.

Nandini Nayar is a Hyderabad based children’s writer. She has written picture books, novels, short stories, and non-fiction.

 Don’t tell you mother (Juggernaut) is her latest book. http://bit.ly/2ygJqV3

 To check out Nandini’s other books, click here.