1. What gave you the inspiration to write this specific novel, and how did the plot develop?
My mother is the biggest inspiration for me. It was after her tragic demise in 2019 that I finally mustered some courage to start pursuing the one thing that I had long yearned for, that I had always thought of but couldn’t translate into actions. I always wanted to do some sort of creative work in my life that should have constantly kept me on my toes. It could have been Sports, Music, Writing, working in movies, Entrepreneurship or serving the society through my actions. The aim was always to not follow the majority; the Herd that I like to call.
So initially, I started off by preparing for the Civil Service Examinations. I continued preparing for the exams for almost 3 years, but it was somewhere in the middle of the year 2020 that an idea struck me. It was an idea to write a story about 4 FRIENDS who would spend their most youthful years wading through the intricacies of life. The rudimentary idea was a form of culmination of various stages in my life that I had been through till that point. In time, I started to refine and consolidate those ideas, combining them with ideas of Quantum Physics, Polity and Economics. Since Physics was my Optional subject while preparing for C.S.E., the ideas came quite naturally to me. By 2022, I was able to think it through and divide the entire story into 8 parts.
Hence, my first novel is only the first part out of a planned series of 8 books.
- Could you elaborate on the steps you use when writing? Are you more likely to enter the creative flow when you adhere to a set schedule or have special rituals?
I deem myself as an adept procrastinator. Initially, I was very reluctant to even start writing. I just enjoyed grilling my brain with various ideas and scenes that could have been a part of my first novel. But I eventually did end up finishing my debut novel, didn’t I? So what went right for me?
At this point I would like to show my heartfelt gratitude to a very specific person. That person is Acharya Prashant! It was because of his teachings that I managed to finally break my mental constraint and take the initiative of turning my thoughts into actions. Once I got into the flow of writing, it became seamless enough for me to finally complete it. Maybe, it’s often the first step that is the hardest. I owe it to Acharya Ji’s constant guidance.
In all honesty, I am a very whimsical person and do not follow a strict routine for writing or other chores in my daily life. I give in to my whims way too often and way too quickly. So, there wasn’t a strict routine for me to adhere to, though I liked to plan every subplot and chapter wise content, and repeatedly went through them in my head. Then, I made a rough draft (pen and paper method) and finally typed the entire novel. Without typing or writing at least a page daily, my day felt incomplete. I used to become restless if I didn’t contribute towards my writing endeavors each day, regardless of how many pages. I had to write or type each day. It became a compulsion for me.
I have a peculiar habit with regards to the inception of most of the ideas. I used to go for brisk walking sessions mostly in the evening and occasionally in the morning for a period of almost a year. This was the phase, wherein I would walk listening to a plethora of songs and music. These sessions helped me to form, consolidate and think over my ideas repeatedly; I constantly revised every scene of not only my first novel, but also the upcoming ones.
- Could you elaborate on the steps you use when writing?Are you more likely to enter the creative flow when you adhere to a set schedule or have special rituals?
The characters are partly based on real people, but mostly a product of my imagination. Some of the incidents described in the book are either taken from my life, directly, or from the lives of the people directly associated with me. But most of the scenes are concoctions of my mind.
4.Your book dives into [particular theme or issue]. What drove you to examine this theme, and what lessons or discussions do you hope readers will take away from your work?
I am an avid learner of Physics. Quantum Mechanics is the topic that I have been exploring in recent years. So the Sci-Fi theme came quite naturally to me. Also in India, there are hardly any SciFi writers; most of the authors focus on Romance and Drama. Though the central theme of the novel is about exploring the concepts of Quantum Mechanics in a playful manner, I have given due respect to every genre. There are elements of Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Youth Drama and Fantasy. According to my assessment, the First installment focuses more on the Youth Drama part than the aspects of Sci-fi. In the consequent releases, the genre of Sci-Fi will become more and more intricate and overarching.
I expect the readers to comprehend the seemingly complicated topics of Quantum Mechanics, that I have tried my best to simplify and explain, albeit adding my own inferences to them. Hopefully, I shall be able to pique their curiosity in this majestic field of study.
Also, I have tried to highlight the various societal, existential and personal issues that might be faced by the human race in the near future.
- The world-building in your book is very detailed and captivating. What steps did you take to create the environment, and were there any historical events or real-world locales that you found inspiring?
History- both World and Indian- has definitely inspired me and will influence my writing in the upcoming endeavors as well. There is one direct mention of a real-world location; there are indirect mentions of the school in which I had studied and the college from which I had completed my graduation.
- As a writer, how do you strike a compromise between the genre’s expectations and the need for originality? Did you face any difficulties interpreting well-known components in your own way?
The entire journey from start to finish was thoroughly challenging. The biggest challenge for me was to put forth the esoteric concepts of Quantum Mechanics in a simplified manner so that the readers, who may or may not have a Science background, find it engaging and not something going over their heads. The elements of thrill, mystery and suspense are difficult to master in a short span of time, but I have tried my best to assimilate them in my novel. In order to remain original, I only did my research in the pertinent fields, rather than reading multiple published novels related to the genres that I have explored and getting influenced by their writing styles.
- The narrative moves at a well-paced pace that holds readers’ attention from beginning to end. How do you keep the story moving forward and keeping tension high throughout?
I followed TWO simple strategies to keep the readers engaged and guessing throughout. Firstly, the ending of every chapter raises a question/s in their minds. Secondly, I have highlighted certain words and phrases throughout the story. They may either connote the important aspects of the story to be kept in mind or they may be foreshadowing certain aspects of the upcoming novels. In certain chapters, there are elements of shock that shall leave the readers wondering what just happened.
8.How do you see the function of conventional storytelling changing in the age of quickly evolving media and reader preferences? How do you modify your writing to appeal to modern audiences?
The success of Novels like Dune and Three Body Problem have inspired me to continue my work with utmost enthusiasm and optimism. The readers in India must try to read books related to the SciFi genre more often. In the age of rapidity and the deteriorating number of book readers, it’s a massive challenge and responsibility for budding authors like me to reverse this menacing trend. People must be encouraged to read not just more books, but also to read quality books. Maybe, they need something fresh and original, or maybe even an unprecedented level of reading content. There may be a need to change the approach of traditional writing by inculcating futuristic elements to it and adapting one’s thought process in a continuous manner.
I have tried to temper the complexity of my writing style wherever the need arose and strike a trade off between the expectations of the readers and the complexity in my writing. I do hope the readers find it inspirational and appetizing how the story has been designed, and eagerly await the next book in the series.
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