“Writing is a form of meditation for me” Exclusive Interview with Author Pranav Rao

Mr. Pranav Rao is a curious soul who is not afraid to question the traditional ways in order to find better ones. He often finds himself oscillating between free will and determinism. He studies people and situations and has an uncanny knack of finding stories around him or better still, within him.

Excerpts from our conversation with him..

Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A. I have a habit of observing and analysing things or people and situations around
me. This helps me weave the fabric of a story and my imagination takes it from
there.

Q. Does writing energize or exhaust you?
A. Writing energizes me for sure. I thoroughly enjoy it. Writing is a form of
meditation for me. It allows me to escape into a world of my own, leaving
behind daily responsibilities and stress.

Q. What are common traps for aspiring writers?
A. From what I hear or believe, the most common trap is self-doubt and over
analysing one’s writing. Some writers also tend to pretend and lose their
originality. Writing requires a lot of patience, which also is another common
trap.

Q. What is your writing Kryptonite?
A. My biggest kryptonite is not being able to be in isolation for as much time as I
would want to. I enjoy solitude when I write.

Q. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
A. For sure, but that would clearly get reflected in their writing. Every individual is
capable of doing anything if they just put their mind to it along with being
persistent.

Q. What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a
better writer?
A. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I do not have any friends who are authors. We’ve
seen how that goes with Fitzgerald and Hemingway!

Q. What advice would you give to other upcoming authors?
A. Don’t pretend. Believe in yourself and stick to your personality. Let your
thoughts and personality get reflected through your writing. There is no point in
copying someone else’s writing style nor is there a point in trying to force fit
fancy words just for the heck of it. Enjoy the entire process of writing because
once your words are out there in the world, you have no control over the
reactions they will receive.