Monday, October 14, 2013

Blog Tour Q&A

When I met Becky Shillington at the Carolinas SCBWI Conference, she asked me whether I'd like to participate in a blog tour. I wasn't sure, but she said she'd email me instructions. In my physics lab the motto was: If all else fails, follow the instructions. 

What are you working on right now?
My YA historical, Emergency. I’m polishing my manuscript right now and giddy with excitement.

How does it differ from other works in its genre?
Although there have been many scholarly works published by journalists about this period in India’s history (1975-1976), there’s not much fiction, save that of Rohinton Mistry’s A FINE BALANCE, and no children’s books. Actually, this is the book that turned me into a writer, as I delved into my own memories of this period. Shortly after, I bought Anne Lamott's BIRD BY BIRD, and filled a half-used biochemistry notebook with words. My story looks at this period through the lens of a 13-year-old who is directly affected.

Why do you write what you do?
I write in a great many areas, spanning many ages. But it is curiosity that drives the writing. I write to understand, to make sense of the world we live in. I write to make a difference in people’s lives. I write to give a voice to those who have none. It reflects what I read once by Anais Nin: "The role of the writer is not to say what all can say but what we are unable to say."

How does your writing process work?
 
Write, Research, Revise, Rest.
Repeat as needed.
But in all honesty, I bite nails, procrastinate, read, read, read, clean house, blog, cook, walk, journal, goof-off, play, and pray far more than I actually place my BIC and write. But all these other activities feed my writing (except when they don't).


Any departing words of wisdom for other authors?

Write. Just do it. Throw out the TV. Stop browsing the web. Don't talk. Be still. Write.

Look at these writers to find out how they answer these same questions next week. I hope they all share something about their wips.

1.      Ruth Schiffman
2.      Anne Bingham
3.      Rosemary Freeman

11 comments:

Mirka Breen said...

Can't wait for Emergency...

Johnell said...

Good advice--I do that too--clean house, read, etc. Sometimes I just have to walk away for a bit and then go back.

Faith E. Hough said...

My favorite part of this is the writing advice. Spot on.

Romance Book Haven said...

Awesome writing advice. Thanks.

Nas

Vijaya said...

Mirka, I can't wait to be done!

Johnell, the household tasks can be meditative and useful breaks from the writing ... it's when I decide to clean something that's not urgent that I know I'm procrastinating.

Faith, I do have a rule though: people first, then things :)

Nas, I hope you find it useful.

Becky Shillington said...

Thanks so much for joining in the blog tour, Vijaya! I love your four "Rs!" = )

Ann Eisenstein said...

Beautiful piece, Vijaya! Bird by Bird is such an inspiration - as are you! I will try to follow your advice about staying off the web - so goodbye, now! :-)

Vijaya said...

Becky, thanks for including me in the blog hop.

Ann, thank you and write on!

Ruth Schiffmann said...

Great answers. I love the quote from
Anais Nin, and loved hearing about your WIP and your process. Thanks for passing this on to me. I'll work on getting a post together.

Marcia said...

I cannot wait to see this book...

Vijaya said...

Ruth, I look forward to reading your answers.

Marcia, I'm working, I'm working, albeit slowly :)