Shweta Taneja - I’m Still Doing Things I Imagined Doing as a Child (Author, Novelist & Editor's Choice Awardee)

"Ideas or desires are not enough, neither is cultivating a network or figuring out how to get published or market yourself, till you do not have a product to show to the world. You have to write that novel. Keep writing, line after line after page after page." - Shweta Taneja

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I grew up creating stories and playing games with cousins and friends. As an adult, I studied literature from LSR in Delhi and fashion communication at NIFT, tumbling into the glamourous world of fashion journalism. A few years of chasing, rather beautiful people, for their stories made me realize that I wanted to create stories myself.
 
About twelve years ago, I plunged into the world of fiction while continuing journalism. Since then, I’ve written seven novels, more than 300 articles on technology, travel, and career, and a few short stories. My latest novel is non-fiction on science and Indian scientists, called They Made What? They Found What? which, I’m happy to say, has become a bestseller in India and has been recommended by the likes of celebrity scientist Sonam Wangchuk.
 
My other work includes fantasy series Anantya Tantrist Mysteries, Ghost Hunters of Kurseong a mystery for kids, and graphic novel Krishna: Defender of Dharma. I was a finalist in a prestigious French award, have been awarded the Editor’s Choice Award for best Asian science fiction, received the Charles Wallace Writing Fellowship, and have given talks at WorldCon, Eurocon, and the Cartoon Museum London. However, my most cherished award remains a painting of an owl (nicknamed Speky) which was gifted to me by an 11-year-old fan. Spiky reminds her every day to laugh, work hard, and create fascinating worlds for my readers. Oh, and I continue to write!
 
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 
Without realizing it, I was always the writer. I would constantly scribble, notes, blogs, thoughts, was made the editor in my school paper, drifted into journalism. After a few years of chasing stories as a journalist and editor, I realized that I wanted to tell stories instead –write fiction, write long-form books instead of articles. But the plunge itself of leaving a ‘career’ for something that society considers a ‘hobby’ was hard. It took me years, a Master’s degree in literature, one failed novel, and millions of little procrastinating moments to finally do something that is the first rule of being a writer: Write. Once I started on a book, I couldn’t stop. In the last decade, I’ve written seven novels, countless articles, and a few short stories.
 
3. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
 
In the age of multiple gadgets, I can’t build a plot of a novel electronically. Instead, I use recycled paper, tear it into bits of rectangles, and scribble down all plot points, scenes, and ideas on them. These bits of paper are scattered on a table, constantly rearranged, looked at while brushing teeth, and are not allowed to be touched by anyone but me. It can be months before they’re given an electronic form and packed away. I have a bag full of these chits from each of the novels I’ve written.
 
4. Where does your inspiration lie?
 
Reading is definitely one way to get inspired. I usually read a different genre from what I’m writing as I want to get inspired but not unintentionally change my style of writing. It’s lovely how different authors use the same language in such a varied manner – across different genres of books. Another inspiration source for me, and that has been constant, are newspapers which I regularly read, stories that I gather during my travels across this wonderful land, or even listen to over a cup of tea. Keep observation also gives you new ideas – be it heritage, nature, or culture. Right now, I’m learning names of trees around us and their behavior and that’s giving me ideas for some pretty weird monster-filled stories. Everything about life inspires me, gives me a character’s expression, a dialogue, a sigh full of meaning, or a phrase.
 
5. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
 
They Made What? They Found What? my latest book on science has stories of Indian scientists, including esoteric boxes on fields of science, activities for kids, quizzes, and other fun stuff. Creating this book taught me that science is creative, which was a surprise as we rather think of creativity as different from scientific thinking. To be a great scientist, you have to have a certain imagination, a certain flair, an instinct to go in a certain direction with your work – and all of these are exactly the qualities that make a good writer too.
 
6. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
 
I wanted to be a storyteller, to teach others, to tell them stories, and somewhere I feel, though I’m not in the education field, I’m still doing things I imagined doing as a child.
 
7. Do you have any tips for people who want to be an author?  
 
Well, let’s start with the first one for someone who wants to become an author. There are two essentials to do: Read more so you understand how words can be used creatively and write more. Ideas or desires are not enough, neither is cultivating a network or figuring out how to get published or market yourself, till you do not have a product to show to the world. You have to write that novel. Keep writing, line after line after page after page. 

Once your work is complete, take a break and edit it till you feel it’s ready for the world. Now you figure out what you want to do with it. Do you want to put it up online? Share it with your friends? Or do you want to get it commercially published? Each writer’s journey, writing process, and passions are different and you should cherish your unique ones and decide your path accordingly.

Checkout Her New Book: They Made What? They Found What?

Shweta Taneja | Author, Novelist & Editor's Choice Awardee

Her Website - Shweta Taneja

Interviewed By - Shubh Jani