Tell me a bit about yourself.
I was born in Nagercoil, the capital of Kanyakumari district in South India. I’ve lived most of my life in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, with my parents. I’ve also lived in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, West Bengal, and Delhi.
I’ve always loved the English language and have been a voracious reader since childhood. I’ve studied in five schools and two colleges and held numerous jobs. I’ve worked as an editor, copywriter for greeting cards, copywriter for IT firms, and freelance journalist.
What genre/s do you write in?
I’ve written humor, romance, and horror so far.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve written since childhood, and I was published first in my school magazine and then in my college magazine, followed by national newspapers. I have been writing drabbles and flash fiction since 2017.
Do you have any published books or articles? Tell me a bit about these and what publishing route you took.
My flash fiction and poetry have been featured in over a dozen anthologies. My horror flash fiction ‘Bat to the future’ was among the top 50 entries chosen by Neil D’ Silva, one of India’s leading horror writers, in a competition conducted by the publisher, Half-Baked Beans. It features in HBB Micro Fiction Anthology Vol. 2: Selected Entries: Horror ( https://www.amazon.in/HBB-Micro-Fiction-Anthology-Selected-ebook/dp/B08GQ8TFBF/)
My horror drabble, ‘A Fiendish Turn’ was published in ‘Extreme Drabbles of Dread’ by The Macabre Ladies.
I was also among the top three in a poetry competition conducted by Writefluence and my five winning poems were published in ‘Tickled Pink’, a poetry anthology available on the NotionPress website and Amazon. https://www.amazon.in/Tickled-Pink-Happiness-multiplied-Five-ebook/dp/B097HD9QLL/
My flash fiction, essays and poetry have been published by Sweetycat Press and others.
Did you use an editor? If so who?
No, I didn’t.
Did you use a book formatter and cover designer?
No, I didn’t.
Did you self-publish or get traditionally published? How did this go for you?
I’ve not self-published. My work has been published by the publishers I’ve mentioned.
How do you market your work and promote your brand? (Include links)
I write on my blog/website and share updates of my work on social media.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/aishwariya
Bookstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashtalksbooks/
Pinterest- https://in.pinterest.com/aishwariyalaxmi/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Aishwariyal
What social media and writing platforms would you recommend?
I recommend Twitter and Facebook for writers. I’m happy with Wordpress, too, so far as a blogging platform. I’ve written for Womensweb and Sweek writing platforms in the past.
Do you use an agent?
I haven’t come to that stage yet😊
Do you use paid advertising? If so, what?
No, I don’t.
Do you have a blog or website?
What inspires you most to write?
My own emotions – joy and pain - inspire me to write.
What do you do to help with writers’ block?
I try to take some time away from social media and write in notebooks. I also try to do other things like walking and cooking. I listen to music and get some rest, too.
How do you plan your writing and start?
So far, I have either written to prompts or themes shared by those who have published me. I’m still a pantser and haven’t become a plotter yet.
Is writing your full-time job? If not what else do you do?
I do not write full-time. I work as a consultant editor in an integrated communications firm.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on a volume of poetry.
What is your target audience?
People of all ages can enjoy my work.
How long does it take you to write a book?
I will let you know once I write one😊
When did you first discover you enjoyed writing?
I first discovered it as a child in class five.
What does your writing schedule look like?
I don’t have one. I’m trying to get organized.
What does your family think about you writing?
My mother thinks my poetry is good, and my dad is a reader who critiques my work. They encourage me and are supportive.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I listen to music, read and do household chores.
Where do you get information and ideas for your writing?
My own head.
What do you think makes a good story?
A good story should grip the reader’s attention and hold his/her interest. It should have a beginning, middle, and end.
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