Ask the Author: Saurabh Dashora
Answered Questions (4)
Saurabh Dashora
Hi Faith. That would be great. You can message me the details.
Saurabh Dashora
Well, that's not the easiest thing to answer. There are so many things going on right now. The pressure of marketing my first book and trying to build a readership is quite real. Also, my day-job keeps me quite occupied.
However, good thing is that I'm able to find the time to write. I've currently around 6 novels planned in various genres that I intend to write in the coming years. Also, there are 2 novellas that I'm looking forward to write based on my older unpublished stories.
Currently, I'm working on a novel with a smaller scope. It's basically a love story, a coming-of-age story and more to do with chasing your dreams. Can't wait to share details about it once it gets to a certain stage. At the same time, I'm building the base for the sequel to Starship Samudram. In fact 2 sequels because originally I had wanted it to be a trilogy. Anyone who has read the book would know the reason for the sequel.
Then, there is another novel in the Cyberpunk genre that I'm currently researching and building notes about. Let's see how that goes.
However, good thing is that I'm able to find the time to write. I've currently around 6 novels planned in various genres that I intend to write in the coming years. Also, there are 2 novellas that I'm looking forward to write based on my older unpublished stories.
Currently, I'm working on a novel with a smaller scope. It's basically a love story, a coming-of-age story and more to do with chasing your dreams. Can't wait to share details about it once it gets to a certain stage. At the same time, I'm building the base for the sequel to Starship Samudram. In fact 2 sequels because originally I had wanted it to be a trilogy. Anyone who has read the book would know the reason for the sequel.
Then, there is another novel in the Cyberpunk genre that I'm currently researching and building notes about. Let's see how that goes.
Saurabh Dashora
I've actually had a very bad experience with writer's block initially. Even though I had been writing for quite a few years, it has taken me a long time to publish a completed work.
There are still 4-5 incomplete novels lying in my computer and most of them are incomplete because of writer's block. But now, after completing Starship Samudram, I think I've found a way to beat the writer's block.
I think it has been a process of gaining maturity over the years that has made me a much more stable writer. Also, I've started keeping notes and material much more rigorously to help keep me on track with the story even though I might not write for a few days because of other work commitments. Earlier, I used to rely more on impulse but I realized that the mind is a tricky repository. Thoughts vanish, get garbled and generally, lot of things get lost over time.
While writing, I try to take breaks, read through my notes and also read other people's work which helps me stay motivated. It's always inspiring to see how well another writer has written and it helps to build your faith in yourself and motivate you to write better. I hope that writer's block will not be a big problem in the future.
There are still 4-5 incomplete novels lying in my computer and most of them are incomplete because of writer's block. But now, after completing Starship Samudram, I think I've found a way to beat the writer's block.
I think it has been a process of gaining maturity over the years that has made me a much more stable writer. Also, I've started keeping notes and material much more rigorously to help keep me on track with the story even though I might not write for a few days because of other work commitments. Earlier, I used to rely more on impulse but I realized that the mind is a tricky repository. Thoughts vanish, get garbled and generally, lot of things get lost over time.
While writing, I try to take breaks, read through my notes and also read other people's work which helps me stay motivated. It's always inspiring to see how well another writer has written and it helps to build your faith in yourself and motivate you to write better. I hope that writer's block will not be a big problem in the future.
Saurabh Dashora
Hello,
Sorry for getting around to answering this so late. I was quite occupied with setting up my website and preparing some other stuff.
To answer your question, the idea for Starship Samudram came to me more than a year ago while watching one of the discovery channel shows about Saturn's largest moon, Titan. I always wanted to write something about Titan. And then there was also this premise about exploring mankind's true origin and challenging the very idea of God.
Initially, there was only this one scene in my mind that I would call as the true inspiration. An astronaut standing on a cliff and looking over the horizon to see nothing but Saturn looming in the sky. How insignificant he would be feel in that moment? How will it even feel to be on this strange world in our own solar system where methane rained instead of water and mighty Saturn covered the skies rather than the familiar sight of sun?
The whole story came later in various iterations but that image has stayed with me since the beginning of the writing process. I've tried to keep that sense of wonderment through the entire story even though other elements of horror, exploration, mystery, philosophy and science have seeped their way into the novel.
I hope I answered your question. Feel free to ask more if you wish.
Sorry for getting around to answering this so late. I was quite occupied with setting up my website and preparing some other stuff.
To answer your question, the idea for Starship Samudram came to me more than a year ago while watching one of the discovery channel shows about Saturn's largest moon, Titan. I always wanted to write something about Titan. And then there was also this premise about exploring mankind's true origin and challenging the very idea of God.
Initially, there was only this one scene in my mind that I would call as the true inspiration. An astronaut standing on a cliff and looking over the horizon to see nothing but Saturn looming in the sky. How insignificant he would be feel in that moment? How will it even feel to be on this strange world in our own solar system where methane rained instead of water and mighty Saturn covered the skies rather than the familiar sight of sun?
The whole story came later in various iterations but that image has stayed with me since the beginning of the writing process. I've tried to keep that sense of wonderment through the entire story even though other elements of horror, exploration, mystery, philosophy and science have seeped their way into the novel.
I hope I answered your question. Feel free to ask more if you wish.
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