Thursday 11 May 2017

Questionnaire with Bhavya Kaushik



So, for this month  we have a  writer   "Bhavya Kaushik" 



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


Ever since I was a kid, I found it a little hard to fit myself into a “description”. I think I’m at a still point of a moving world. I’m a constellation of these millions of people that are living inside me. I’m a stargazer, a dreamer, a writer – and everything else in between. Writing for me is more than just a passion. It’s a way of living.

I can’t simply go through every notion of life without living. I work as a full-time writer. As hard as it can get sometimes to make others understand – writing can be your full-time job as well. I think I’m one of those fortunate souls who are able to make a fulfilling profession out of something they love.






Questionnaire with Bhavya Kaushik

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

I started writing when I was in grade VII when my teacher insisted me to come up with an original piece for a poem recitation competition. The process of it was so cathartic. There was certainly no looking back since then. I started maintaining my blog and my journal ever since. I wrote my first book when I was 18. Even though I didn’t get it published, it made me learn a lot.

My first book was published when I was 22, and the response was overwhelming. After a while, I decided to do this on a full-time basis. I want to make a difference in this world with my words. One day, I think I’ll get there. Regarding imagination – I think I’m an imaginative person. At least I hope so! I think all writers are pretty imaginative. We need a constant source of inspiration to write and our imagination is something that keeps us running.


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

Frankly speaking, nothing at all! If you love writing, then you can never find it challenging. One should be vulnerable while writing their best of pieces. Too often, I see people hiding their own self while writing, which should always be avoided. Writing is such an integral part of me. I don’t know if it is the oxygen or my words that keep me running. I can’t live without it. For me, writing is something as effortless as breathing.



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

I like to travel – a lot, which helps me see my world from a whole different perspective. I’m a bibliophile. I’m either reading, writing, traveling – or doing all of these things together at times.


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

Writing – hopefully. I think I would have visited a few more places 6 months down the lane. Five years is something! I believe I would outgrow myself as a writer and as an individual by then. I want to create a difference in this world. I think I would be able to take an initial step to make things better for someone else.


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

I keep on reading stuff and always try to stay at the top of my game. I keep myself updated with all the recent activities that happen around us. Most significantly, I try to interact with as many people as I can. I think all of us have a story. We all are bestsellers in ourselves. I never try to write a book or a story. I write characters instead. I believe in depicting unadulterated human emotions, which can never happen if you lay your focus on your story. Always try to write true and honest characters rather than any run of the mill story. It always helps me keep coming up with different genres of writing.


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

You can’t make everyone happy. There is no such thing as perfection. Chances are that you are going to disappoint a few people. There would always be someone who won’t like your work. Keeping your reader’s opinion and perception in mind is one thing, but you can’t simply write to please them. Write for yourself. As long as you are able to satisfy your emotions, nothing else should matter. Keep every constructive review in mind. Try to learn from others authors. But never write to please them. You are not supposed to write for anyone else. You have to do it for yourself – for each and every cell of your being. It is your prerogative.



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

When we write a book, we give an opportunity to our readers to change their entire life. I think this is the best part about writing. You can create a difference in someone’s life. As a writer, you can give your readers plenty of things. You can inspire them and even help them get better. But most significantly, you can give them hope.

I remember a few years back, I was at an event and a woman came to me to congratulate me for my work. She had a story. I could see her in her eyes. After a while, she told me how she lost her husband earlier that year. I could feel her pain as she narrated the incident. According to her, she was not able to come out of her depression until she read one of my books (The Other Side of The Bed).

“I was not able to say goodbye to him, but your book helped me move on. It gave me the kind of closure I never thought I would get. It gave me a hope to live and I can’t thank you enough for that.”
The moment she said those words, I realized I have made a difference in someone’s life. It was more than what I could have asked for.

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

I think writing is an excellent career alternative. It is my bread and butter. I do this for a living and I have never been so happy in my life. Earlier this year, I left my full-time job and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It has been such a life-changing experience for me. I work as a freelancer and there are plenty of sources for me to earn as a writer. Yes, writing books is a big part of it. I would say that you should take it one step at a time.

Rome was not built in a day, right? Don’t just leave what you are doing right away to do this on a full-time basis. Take baby steps and get there in time. I left my job when I was able to make more money from my writing than my corporate profile. It is a very important factor. With writing, the sky is the limit. You can literally earn as much as you want.

9.     What motivates you most in life?

My people are my biggest motivation. I always try to surround myself with my loved ones. My family and friends are one of my major driving forces. They are my biggest inspiration.

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

It’s quite sad to know that. I strongly believe that writing is a work of art and it can be subjective in nature. No one writes a book to offend anyone. We should read it with an open perspective and not let religion or any other belief hinder our reading experience.


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

I try to walk an extra mile to come up with exciting names for my books. The Other Side of The Bed is the story of a widower who lost his wife in a serial bombing attack. He found it hard to fall asleep on the other side of the bed, where his wife used to sleep. In a way, the entire novel revolved around that empty side of the bed, which shaped the title.

The Infinite Equinox is the story of a girl who had an “almost” life. She never had a perfect day. It was an equal mix of the good and the bad. Symbolically, every day of her life was an equinox (the time of the year when the night and the day are of an equal duration). So, in a way, her entire life was a recursion of the equinox. An Infinite Equinox, to be precise.

12.What are your views on increasing plagiarism?

I can’t understand the motive of copying someone else’s work. You can’t call yourself a writer if you are not able to generate original and relevant content. It is okay to get inspired from someone else’s work sometimes, but you can’t plagiarize it. It’s wrong on so many levels. Just don’t do it. Be true to who you are. If you are true to yourself, then you don’t need anything else.


Thanks a lot for these thoughtful questions, Dipali. I had a great time answering them and was able to relive my journey as a writer all over again. Thank you, for giving me a moment like this!

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