Today on 'On Writing', we have Winner of TOI WriteIndia season 1, Ruchi Singh who writes in two genres; romance and romantic thriller.
She began her writing career writing short stories and articles, which have been published on various online forums. She has been a contributing author to many anthologies and published her first book Take 2, which is a contemporary romance with a spice of social drama. Jugnu is her second novel
Welcome to 'On Writing', Ruchi!
Follow Ruchi: Twitter Amazon Author Page Goodreads Author Page Facebook
Thank you so much, Preethi for having me on your blog!
Was becoming an author always your dream or was it a particular event or incident that gave birth to the author in you?
RS: No it wasn’t a childhood dream, though I am a prolific reader. It was in 2013, when my daughter went to college. I was feeling a little low due to empty nest syndrome, that was the time friends and family suggested writing something which I would enjoy. I really loved the first few days of putting my thoughts on paper. Since I am very fond of novels, so I began with a novel and the result was Take 2.
How important are the names of the characters in your books to you? Do you spend agonizing hours deciding on their names?
RS: Yes, I do. In my opinion, the names should suit the characters, resonate with my readers and they should be easy to remember.
What is your writing process like? Do you write every day? Is there a favorite place to write?
RS: There is no fixed pattern. When I am writing the first draft I mostly write every day, but if the writing spree is interrupted it becomes difficult to start again. But it’s a good idea to write daily. I love my corner in my room near the window, which throws lots of natural light in the room.
What is special about ‘Jugnu’?
RS: Jugnu is very special because I have poured my heart out to make both the protagonists as ‘real-life’ as possible. I feel every human being is affected by their circumstances and situations, and react accordingly.
Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
RS: Definitely Zayd. He is flawed as well as perfect as he supports Ashima.
How long did it take to finish writing ‘Jugnu’?
RS: I wrote it in two installments. The original draft took three months to write, then the finishing took another five months.
Please share a passage or quote from ‘Jugnu’ for our readers.
‘The quiet house, shrouded in yellow lights, gave wings to his imagination. What if it was haunted? Zayd shook his head, dismissing the bizarre thought. He then glanced at the stout Ramprasad who looked nothing like an evil accomplice luring him to Satan’s den.
As they waited, Zayd glanced around the premises. The labor behind the well-maintained garden running parallel to the driveway was evident from the thriving plants swaying in the gentle breeze. Dotted with cast iron tables and chairs, it looked inviting in the cool, summer night.
After a couple of minutes of total silence, they heard a click on the door to the right. It opened to reveal a twenty-something lady with a dusky, serene face, a small mole on her left cheek, and her hair loosely pulled back in a knot at the nape. In a pale lime-green salwar-suit with her dupatta trailing behind, she definitely looked like a candle-holding ghost. Zayd’s imagination, inspired by Bollywood, took another quantum leap.’
Which do you prefer as a reader? eBook or Paperback?
RS: I like the paperback format, though eBook has its own advantage.
How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?
RS: Very important and a necessity in today’s world. No one else knows your product better than you and you are the only one who can do it. Writers should understand the world of both online and offline marketing, decide on a plan of action and execute, else how would the book be visible to readers. But it is tough because writers are not marketing professionals. One can hire a marketing team if the commercials permit.
What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?
She began her writing career writing short stories and articles, which have been published on various online forums. She has been a contributing author to many anthologies and published her first book Take 2, which is a contemporary romance with a spice of social drama. Jugnu is her second novel
Welcome to 'On Writing', Ruchi!
Follow Ruchi: Twitter Amazon Author Page Goodreads Author Page Facebook
Thank you so much, Preethi for having me on your blog!
Was becoming an author always your dream or was it a particular event or incident that gave birth to the author in you?
RS: No it wasn’t a childhood dream, though I am a prolific reader. It was in 2013, when my daughter went to college. I was feeling a little low due to empty nest syndrome, that was the time friends and family suggested writing something which I would enjoy. I really loved the first few days of putting my thoughts on paper. Since I am very fond of novels, so I began with a novel and the result was Take 2.
How important are the names of the characters in your books to you? Do you spend agonizing hours deciding on their names?
RS: Yes, I do. In my opinion, the names should suit the characters, resonate with my readers and they should be easy to remember.
What is your writing process like? Do you write every day? Is there a favorite place to write?
RS: There is no fixed pattern. When I am writing the first draft I mostly write every day, but if the writing spree is interrupted it becomes difficult to start again. But it’s a good idea to write daily. I love my corner in my room near the window, which throws lots of natural light in the room.
What is special about ‘Jugnu’?
RS: Jugnu is very special because I have poured my heart out to make both the protagonists as ‘real-life’ as possible. I feel every human being is affected by their circumstances and situations, and react accordingly.
Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
RS: Definitely Zayd. He is flawed as well as perfect as he supports Ashima.
How long did it take to finish writing ‘Jugnu’?
RS: I wrote it in two installments. The original draft took three months to write, then the finishing took another five months.
Please share a passage or quote from ‘Jugnu’ for our readers.
‘The quiet house, shrouded in yellow lights, gave wings to his imagination. What if it was haunted? Zayd shook his head, dismissing the bizarre thought. He then glanced at the stout Ramprasad who looked nothing like an evil accomplice luring him to Satan’s den.
As they waited, Zayd glanced around the premises. The labor behind the well-maintained garden running parallel to the driveway was evident from the thriving plants swaying in the gentle breeze. Dotted with cast iron tables and chairs, it looked inviting in the cool, summer night.
After a couple of minutes of total silence, they heard a click on the door to the right. It opened to reveal a twenty-something lady with a dusky, serene face, a small mole on her left cheek, and her hair loosely pulled back in a knot at the nape. In a pale lime-green salwar-suit with her dupatta trailing behind, she definitely looked like a candle-holding ghost. Zayd’s imagination, inspired by Bollywood, took another quantum leap.’
Which do you prefer as a reader? eBook or Paperback?
RS: I like the paperback format, though eBook has its own advantage.
How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?
RS: Very important and a necessity in today’s world. No one else knows your product better than you and you are the only one who can do it. Writers should understand the world of both online and offline marketing, decide on a plan of action and execute, else how would the book be visible to readers. But it is tough because writers are not marketing professionals. One can hire a marketing team if the commercials permit.
What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?
- Read ‘On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft’ by Stephen King and follow it.
- Buy a good editing tool and use it
- Write, write, write and edit, edit, edit…
Thank you, Ruchi! That was an interesting chat. Wishing you the very best in 2018.
Check out Jugnu here:
Blurb:
Zayd Abbas Rizvi, out on parole, wants to escape the suspicious eyes of the world and concentrate on rebuilding his future. He zeroes in on Kasauli, a small, quaint hill town.
Contrary to his expectations though, he is unable to find peace in the skirmish around the guest house, the antics of a three-year-old, and the deep, sad eyes of his mother. As he battles the demons of his past, falling in love is not in Zayd’s plan…
Ashima's life is a long, tiresome struggle, until a tall, tattoo flaunting stranger registers in her guest house. Hoping against hope for a ray of sunshine in her life, unbridled attraction to a stranger is not what Ashima bargains for…
Will Zayd and Ashima be able to forego their past and embrace their present, even when they know that if things went wrong, all they'll be left with is a broken heart and painful memories?
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