Thursday 11 February 2021

Questionnaire with Vandana Saxena

 So this month's featured Author is ' Vandana Saxena'




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

 

I am a woman in my early forties. However, instead of going through a mid-life crisis, I rediscovered myself after turning forty and growing into a better version of self with every passing day. By discipline, I am an HR professional, Soft Skills Trainer, and a Content Writer.  I have worked in niches of HR and Training for over two decades in varied industries.  During my professional career, I have worked in Retail, Telecom, Education, and Credit Management Industry. 

By passion, I am a creative writer. I wear my thinking hat often and let the creative juices flow in the form stories, poetry, and a blog.  I started the writing journey with a blog, one fine day when I had a lot to say but didn’t find an honest ear. I penned everything that was making me feel anxious. The article was accepted by a leading guest blogging site and within a year, the blog reached ten million views.  Since then, there’s no looking back.

I have been writing something every day, and various digital portals are publishing my work.  Writing is now an addiction and there’s no cure.

I have also won a few accolades for my writing skills.  I am presently working as a freelance trainer for content writing and marketing.  I am also working on a few writing and editing projects with some corporates.

Apart from this I conduct content workshops for women only communities.  These workshops are specially curated for women who choose to follow their passion and take it the next level by turning it into a business.   It gives me immense pleasure in empowering women who reinvent themselves after breaking the barriers.

 To know more click https://vandanaspen.com/about-vandana-saxena/

 

Questionnaire with Vandana Saxena 

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

As a child, I was inclined towards writing.  However, in the early nineties, it was not about choices but about grades.  Though my report cards were never flashy, yet I was equipped with excellent language skills.  I wrote a few stories and poems as a child, but it was buried under the pressure of becoming a professional.

 I have always believed in stories. I have imagined and found a story in almost everything, including my own life.  Since I am an aspiring writer, I love to live in my fictional world and look forward to the intense conversation with the characters that I have created.  Indeed, I am an imaginative person.

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

 Well, I have never thought about challenges, but I guess the most challenging part is editing.  Writing is like mediation to me and it flows the moment I bend over my laptop or pick up my pen.  I find editing my own content, or anyone’s creative content challenging for me.  

 They say, “Be a ruthless editor”, but for me, deleting words and descriptions from my write-ups feels like taking away the parts of my body.  It’s indeed challenging but I am learning to cope up with it.

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

Reading, if not busy with the household and child.

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

I love to live in present.  I have no long-term plans so I can’t say where I will be after five years.  All I want to be, is alive and healthy, even after five years down the road.  In the next six months, I will be a better author with a better author, writing the best stories.

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

Like I said, there’s a story in everything and I am able to find one everywhere.

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

Like I said, there’s a story in everything and I can find one everywhere; even during this interview.

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

Take them to a new world, that they have never seen before.

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?

Earning money from writing is easy but the difficult part is to write.  One must understand the difference between content and creative.  You may earn from content writing, but creative writing is for the writer alone.  

 While content writing is the readers’ perspective creative writing is the writers’ perspective. Before writing content think about your target audience and the purpose of the content.  You will never go wrong this way.  Write quality content and never miss a deadline.  Initially, it may not skyrocket your writing career, but it will pick up with time.  Be consistent with quality and time.  You will earn. If you are writing a story write it for your happiness.  Don’t think about the reader.  Simple rule for creative writing.

9.  What motivates you most in life?

My failures.  Whenever I lose a writing challenge, I am motivated to write better, write more.

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

 Readers’ perspective is beyond my control.  Trust me, there’s nothing that a writer can do about it.  My job here is to write, so I write.  If an opinion affects a writer, he/she will never be able to express his/her own beliefs, and that’s the only job a writer should do

11.  What are your views on increasing plagiarism?

A famous writer said, “If you have read one thousand books, you can write one.”  It’s all about inspiration.  It’s ok to get inspired but it’s not OK to copy.   A writer can’t go a long way with this.  Writing something that has never been created before, helps you evolve as a writer.   Copying helps you evolve as a thief.   Choice is yours!