Exclusive: Indian authors share their writing tips

Writing is a creative task, an amalgamation of imagination and words. While one may possess the art of creative thinking, creative writing can be extremely challenging in the field of literature. For an aspiring writer there is no greater joy than to finish writing a book, getting it published and seeing it on the bookshelves of the bookstores. However, the literary journey is either very tedious or filled with hurdles, but with the right advice, anyone can reach their goals and ambition.

Well-renowned Indian authors spoke to the TOI Books and shared some very essential tips and advice to help budding and aspiring writers to fulfill their dreams of becoming fine authors.

Rana Safvi, author of Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi - "My advice to any author, whether writing on history or anything else, write about something you're passionate about. Don't write just for the sake of writing. If you're writing on history, there's only one thumb rule and that is Research, Research and some more Research."

Ashwin Sanghi, author of the 'Vault of Vishnu' - "Too many people think about writing, but they don't write. Get down to writing. Too many people seem to be worried about what others are gonna think about their writing. You write for yourself. Don't worry about the words. You can find a dime a dozen great people to edit your work. Its more important that you think about the story."

Sutapa Basu, author of 'The Curse of Nader Shah' - "To all the budding writers, doesn't matter whether you are a woman or a man, you should take your writing seriously. Because if you don't take it seriously, nobody else is going to take it seriously."

Manimugdha Sharma, author of 'Allahu Akbar: Understanding the Great Mughal in Today’s India' - "Keep writing and do not ignore ideas that come to you thinking that they are silly because some of the most silly ideas have produced some of most remarkable books in human history.”

Jerry Pinto, author of 'Postcards from Bombay' - "Don't be in a hurry. Writing is organic. It's like farming. You can’t plant the seed and say tomorrow I need the crop. You plant the seed and you wait. In a similar way, writing needs a little waiting, it requires maturing, writing needs to grow."

Papa CJ, author of 'Naked' - "Don't write for money"

Manjul Bajaj, author of 'In Search of Heer' - "Write every day! Everybody has a book inside them. The ones that actually get it out are from the ones that actually sit down and start writing."

Madhu Gurung, Author of 'Tibet with my Eyes Closed' - "Write the way you feel. If it doesn't move you, it will not move anybody else."

Radhika Oberoi, author of 'Stillborn Season' - "Just keep writing and find your own voice. There's no point in mimicking other people and catering to a market. Be true to yourself.”