Saturday 9 January 2021

Quesionairrie with Manali Desai

 So this month featuring Author is  ' Manali Desai'

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Your profession and your hobbies! 


Somehow, that question still makes me feel like I'm appearing for a job interview. But I'll relent anyway. So, I'm Manali Desai, a freelance writer and editor cum blogger. 

 My hobbies include hunting for ideas for my writing, and some normal ones like reading and binge-watching a series or catching up on my movie watch list. 

Quesionairrie with Manali Desai

 1.      How did you first get involved in with writing, are you an imaginative person?

As a hobby, I got involved with writing since my teenage. Professionally I began content writing in 2012. And since then I have been exploring other areas of writing such as copywriting, book publishing, ghostwriting, and much more.

Yes, my imagination is my solace from the mundane and routine life. Also, my source for fiction which ultimately becomes my bread and butter. 

 2. What do you find most challenging about your writing?

Turning the many ideas that turn up in my imaginative mind into something concrete and worthy of reading. 

3. What do you do when you are not writing?

Either read or travel; sometimes both together. 

 4. Where do you see yourself in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?

I believe in taking life as it comes, living one day at a time, but also following a schedule every day. So, this 6 months and 5 years future question, isn't really something I focus on. But yes, one thing is clear, I want to grow as a writer and explore new areas of writing. 

 5.      How do you keep coming up with material / content for your story?

Through everyday incidents and my observation

6. Any specific tips you have for new writers who want to make it big in the world of published books?

1. Don't write to get published. 

      2. Know and understand the kind of publishing options available out there and the difference                      between each. 

       3. WRITE EVERY DAY 

7. What’s the best thing a writer can give to his readers?

 An honest piece of writing. Seriously, a piece written from the heart, will most definitely resonate and not to mention, give you satisfaction like nothing else when it comes to your work. 

 8.  A lot of people are interested in writing for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interested in making money from writing? What are some realistic expectations in regard to what can be made?

 Book sales alone won’t be enough (unless you are Chetan Bhagat) so you’ll need to keep exploring more options and be open about writing n varied topics and on varied platforms. There are many platforms like Medium, Vocal, PopSugar, et, al that pay writers well for any kind of piece that contributed to their platform. You can also take-up freelance writing work like content writing, copywriting, etc.

 But with everything said and done, one thing to keep in mind is to be consistent with your writing and have the patience to start earning potentially well.

9.     What motivates you most in life?

The goal to keep getting better. 

10.  The majority of the readers tend to take sides due to religion and such other considerations.

My motto is, 'Focus on the creation rather than the creator'. This helps me choose without bias and I guess that should help any reader make a choice. 

 11.  What is the story behind the name of your book?

The Art of Being Grateful and Other Stories was titled after the book cover was finalised. The simple reason being, the cover resonated best with that story which is one of the 8 short stories in the book. 

12.  What are your views on increasing plagiarism?

There needs to be a line between inspiration and blatant copying. Of course, I follow others in my field are doing too, but how do I make myself different from them or how I add the 'my factor' to what I do, is what differentiates inspiration from plagiarism. 

It's a shame that despite being so talented on our own, some of us don't put in that effort and resort to copying other's work.