Preethi Venugopala: Newbie Corner: Thiru Waran

Today on Newbie Corner we have a nineteen year old who loves writing romance. Let us learn more about Thiru Waran through this lovely chat.

Welcome to Newbie Corner Thiru Waran!

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin writing?

I am Thiru Waran, a regular Bangalore, or as some may say Bengaluru based nineteen year old, for whom writing a book was always a fantasy. I always did wonder though, as to what made an author write about and portray his or her characters in the unique and yet so special way they did. I always made an assumption that a particular character or an incident written in the book was inspired by their own life. Much of which is true, to a certain extent at least. I never really thought that I would end up writing a book, even though it was one of my childhood fantasy. What made me write it, was rather an awkward occurrence of many events. This book was actually inspired by many real life incidents, some of which are my own. Everyone knows about the strict pre-university college life (11 and 12^th grade) and how important it is for the long run. But no one really knows or cares about, the many ways some private education institutes have grown to take advantage of things. This was my main inspiration to write the book “In the shade of a dark cloud”.

What is your favorite genre in writing?

I love writing romantic books. I mean, who doesn’t?? After all, I am a firm believer that every broken heart has a story to tell. A story that is not like a fairytale, but a story that has loads of emotions riding on it. I believe this are the kind of stories, that will make you laugh and even remind you of the time. That you spent with your special someone, it need not be a grand date. But something that is rather simple, like having a ‘Khulfi’ on the side of the road, while having your special someone by your side, and failing to realize that the clock had gone well past midnight. And these are the stories that can make you laugh wholeheartedly, and yet you find yourself crying when you are half way down the book. These are the kind of books that can truly touch and even win people’s heart.

I love to portray my characters with a slight shade of grey. There is no such thing as a perfect love story, if it is. Then one has got a lot of depth left to explore. I like to portray my characters with a dark past, as we all know. It takes a lot for a person to overcome the darkness of their past, and they would hope to have someone, that could truly understand them. And yet, stay by their side. However, in life it is really hard to find someone like that, and those who did must be the luckiest souls on this planet. Love is not when having a hot and sexy girlfriend, who stays by your side only when you are successful and happy or A smart and handsome boyfriend, that likes to show you off as a piece of trophy. Some may feel that I might be too young to talk about true love and all, but according to me. True love is when people refuse to give up on each other, and staying with each other no matter what may be the situations. After all, two broken people, completely different from each other. End up finding similarities in between them and they try to fix the other, without caring much for themselves. Now that is the kind of love story that can actually make people to hang on to their hope.

Who inspires you most and to whom would you dedicate your creative growth?

People can get inspired by many other people or incidents that occur in their life. For example, a kid that wakes up at 5.00 in the morning and goes for cricket practice, will consider Sachin Tendulkar as his biggest inspiration. I believe that, even then smallest of things can inspire you to create big changes in your life. The incident that occurred during my days in a very well reputed pre-university college, acted as a major catalyst to my writing. I always do consider my lectures, who had always told me that I was useless and worth nothing in life. As one of my biggest inspirations. It is not like, what they did was for my greater good or anything like that. But, they did serve as a force that made me break my so called ‘boundaries’ and fight hard for the things I want in life.

I would dedicate my growth to my Sister, trust me when I say this. It is not easy to have a brother like me around, and my loving sister does an amazing job, at well….. Being my sister. She is someone that has always been with me, during my good and bad times. And unlike most people, my bad times are like ‘LEGANDARY’ bad times. My sister is my pillar of support. My friends, that have always understood me, and stood by me when the going got tough. They are the kind of friends, that can drive anybody crazy, but the love they show. Can never be expected, even from a girlfriend. I am sure, we all have our very own special someone, irrespective of your age. It would be my honor, to dedicate my growth, to my special someone. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be with her. But she gave me a new purpose in life, and I hope she is proud of me someday.

What kind of a writer are you? Do you plot the entire novel/story or make it up as you write?

I am a kind of writer that works on the basic plot of the story first. The basic plot of the story, eventually gives the book a firm foundation, that is very much necessary. Except from the basic plot of the story, I tend to travel along with my characters and make it up as the novel progresses.

I find this way, to be more fascinating. Because, it tends to create a strong bond between the author and his/her characters. Isn’t it special when you laugh along with the story line and put yourselves in the shoes of the characters and end up thinking, on how you would have reacted to the same particular situation?

Do you have a favorite place to write or a scheduled time to write every day?

I love to write in my bedroom, whilst most people like to keep a private space for work in their home. Some may like to write in an open space such as, a garden or on top of a terrace even. But my brain starts working effectively, when I am in my bedroom and staring at a laptop of a book in front of me. Most of my first book was written in my bedroom.

I do maintain a scheduled time, to write every day. I believe it gives the author a sense of sincerity, for the work they do. It also gives them a chance to explore their own depths as a writer. All though, I do prefer to take a break sometime, it helps me get a fresh mind. And I hope for some new ideas to pop out.

Who are your favorite authors and what is the genre that you like reading most?

I have a long list of my favorite authors, some of them are the people I look up to as a source of my inspiration. Dan Brown, is my most favorite author. I think I would have read “ The DA VINCI CODE” for about three times I guess. Many Indian authors, such as Durjoy Dutta, Ravinder Singh and Sudeep Nagarkar. Are also my favorite and they always reminds me that, behind their fame and success is a long persistent tale of hard work, that not many would have heard of.

I love to read mystery novels, the kind of novels. That always makes you want to turn over to the next page. And I love reading Romantic novels, that slows down you reading speed and makes you travel a journey along with them.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

Well, Apart from finally getting a degree in Marine Engineering and working in a reputed shipping company. I would like to see myself as a people’s author. The kind of author who doesn’t have a complex style of writing. But rather whose books can be read by everyone and whose books rides high on emotions and makes people enjoy the journey of reading my books.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?

As of now, I would never want to write a supernatural thriller. Even though I am mad of series such as ‘Supernatural’ ‘Sleepy Hallow’ etc. I don’t think I have learnt the art of writing down a supernatural thriller yet.

How much important do you think marketing is for the success of a book?

Yes, of course marketing is really important for the success of the book. If I am not wrong, the people and the general public are the judges to the success or a failure of a particular book. And Marketing is the key, in which we can make sure that our book is available for a larger number of people to play judge.

What is the message that you want to convey to the readers through your writing?

For all my readers out there. Most of writings are based on never ending hope. Yeah I know, many of you people may feel hopeless some time, most of the time or all the time. And some may feel it is not worth to hold on to hope. Hope maybe of just four word. But, just like love. These four words means a lot. It is really easy to lose confidence in yourself, it is very easy to lose hope in some situations. But never let go of it, it may seem really tough and there maybe no other solution for your problems. But there is, you just need to look in the right direction and you need the right person by your side to show you the way sometimes. So never lose Hope.