Ask the Author: Saumya Dave
Answered Questions (4)
Saumya Dave
I loved writing all of them but Nandini has an extra special place in my heart. The original story was about Simran and Kunal. During medical school, I had a tough experience on a rotation and while I was reflecting on it, Nandini's voice came into my mind. I wrote four pages right away that ended up in the middle of the final draft of the book. She taught me how to learn from a character and trust them.
Saumya Dave
The only thing that's ever worked for me is to sit in the chair and start somewhere. Sometimes that means only one word will come out and at other times, that means I need to read more. I find reading poetry and trying some writing prompts to both be effective writing palette cleansers.
Saumya Dave
I'm currently working on my third novel and getting ready to launch my second, What a Happy Family, that comes out June 22nd! It’s about an immigrant family navigating mental health, how they break apart, and come back together.
Saumya Dave
Ah, where to begin?! First, I’d recommend reading as much as possible. Read fiction, nonfiction, essays, poetry, whatever you can. Read things that you enjoy and things that you dislike. Pick them apart and see what works, what doesn’t, and why. I’d also encourage writers to take time with their story and see what feels right.
Lastly, and this is more of a reminder, I want to emphasize to allow things to take longer than you may have envisioned. This process is about learning, patience, and persistence. It’s not worth rushing to submit a manuscript that isn’t ready. Sit with your work, process it, and take some time away from it. Find readers you trust and who can tell you where it needs work.
Lastly, and this is more of a reminder, I want to emphasize to allow things to take longer than you may have envisioned. This process is about learning, patience, and persistence. It’s not worth rushing to submit a manuscript that isn’t ready. Sit with your work, process it, and take some time away from it. Find readers you trust and who can tell you where it needs work.
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