The Author Interviews: Round 4: #1: Raghav Sharma
Round Four of the Author Interviews kicks off with writer Raghav Sharma. Raghav has published a verse in Cactus Flower, BITS Pilani’s literary journal and can be contacted on Instagram @saysraghav.
You can take only three items to your secret island. What would you take? Why?My laptop (for writing and music), the ASOIAF series, and my diaryYou are living in the world from your latest novel. Where are you? What is it like?It is just like any metropolitan city, except reality has been constructed. And lately, the grand design is crumbling and things are starting to get chaotic.You are your most recent protagonist. Who are you? What is the first thing you do?I am Arthur Glint, a detective. I have been fired for having possession of files I was never meant to see. I carry on with my search for truth even after being fired.Who is your favourite author? Why?George RR Martin for the world he has built, the diverse characters and character arcs he writes and the subtle thematic overlay in his entire manuscripts; Also, Marry Shelly for the way she weaved words together in Frankenstein.Where do you get your ideas?I just get an idea in the most unusual of places (usually places I can’t jot them down- like while I’m bathing or about to go to sleep; the brain is evil), and when I obsess over it, the entire world surrounding the idea unravels.Why do you write?There’s a story inside of me that wants to get out, that wants to appeal to people the way it does to me!How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I look for constructive bad reviews and criticism from my beta readers, friends and other people I look up to, and have learnt to take them well (and with a grain of salt, occasionally). Rejections sting and I still have to learn to deal with them. For now, I stuff myself every time I’m rejected.What do you find difficult about writing?There’s a perfect balance of conflict, detailing and progression that can make a story gripping and extremely hard to put down. I have read many such works, but feel I am yet to achieve something similar.Do you ever outsource (editing and cover design) your work?I haven’t been published yet, but once the novel I am working on is complete, I plan to self-edit it. I would outsource my cover design though.What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?I think indie publishing can be extremely exhaustive, but when the efforts are in the right direction, the fruits it bears are fresh as spring. For those who can deal with two dozen rejections without losing faith in themselves, traditional publishing can definitely work.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Never lose confidence, for that is the fuel you need. Nothing else – rejection, criticism, ridicule – can match the harm that self-doubt does to you. Always believe in yourself. Wear a t-shirt with that written on it.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Absolutely! A book is essentially a world, an alternate reality you can submerge yourself in. I would want to dive into a good world more than once, I believe.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Are any of them more important to you than others?Priority order: Description, Reviews, Author, Price.Do you have a favourite genre? Tell us more!Fantasy is my favourite. It happens to be the best way to escape from the trivialities of day-today life.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I generally review books on Facebook, since I am not very active on Goodreads. I review every book I buy off Amazon. Leaving reviews really help authors in growing their reach, and I insist everyone to do so!Do you ever visit an author's website? If so, what do you look at?I look at their FAQs for fellow writers, I look for lists of their publications, and for any news of their upcoming works.Thanks to Ragvan for this interview and all the best with your work.
You can take only three items to your secret island. What would you take? Why?My laptop (for writing and music), the ASOIAF series, and my diaryYou are living in the world from your latest novel. Where are you? What is it like?It is just like any metropolitan city, except reality has been constructed. And lately, the grand design is crumbling and things are starting to get chaotic.You are your most recent protagonist. Who are you? What is the first thing you do?I am Arthur Glint, a detective. I have been fired for having possession of files I was never meant to see. I carry on with my search for truth even after being fired.Who is your favourite author? Why?George RR Martin for the world he has built, the diverse characters and character arcs he writes and the subtle thematic overlay in his entire manuscripts; Also, Marry Shelly for the way she weaved words together in Frankenstein.Where do you get your ideas?I just get an idea in the most unusual of places (usually places I can’t jot them down- like while I’m bathing or about to go to sleep; the brain is evil), and when I obsess over it, the entire world surrounding the idea unravels.Why do you write?There’s a story inside of me that wants to get out, that wants to appeal to people the way it does to me!How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I look for constructive bad reviews and criticism from my beta readers, friends and other people I look up to, and have learnt to take them well (and with a grain of salt, occasionally). Rejections sting and I still have to learn to deal with them. For now, I stuff myself every time I’m rejected.What do you find difficult about writing?There’s a perfect balance of conflict, detailing and progression that can make a story gripping and extremely hard to put down. I have read many such works, but feel I am yet to achieve something similar.Do you ever outsource (editing and cover design) your work?I haven’t been published yet, but once the novel I am working on is complete, I plan to self-edit it. I would outsource my cover design though.What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?I think indie publishing can be extremely exhaustive, but when the efforts are in the right direction, the fruits it bears are fresh as spring. For those who can deal with two dozen rejections without losing faith in themselves, traditional publishing can definitely work.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Never lose confidence, for that is the fuel you need. Nothing else – rejection, criticism, ridicule – can match the harm that self-doubt does to you. Always believe in yourself. Wear a t-shirt with that written on it.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Absolutely! A book is essentially a world, an alternate reality you can submerge yourself in. I would want to dive into a good world more than once, I believe.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Are any of them more important to you than others?Priority order: Description, Reviews, Author, Price.Do you have a favourite genre? Tell us more!Fantasy is my favourite. It happens to be the best way to escape from the trivialities of day-today life.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I generally review books on Facebook, since I am not very active on Goodreads. I review every book I buy off Amazon. Leaving reviews really help authors in growing their reach, and I insist everyone to do so!Do you ever visit an author's website? If so, what do you look at?I look at their FAQs for fellow writers, I look for lists of their publications, and for any news of their upcoming works.Thanks to Ragvan for this interview and all the best with your work.
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