A person who graduated from the field of Science, young fiction writer Tarang Sinha also possesses a Diploma in Creative Writing from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). She is a freelance writer whose writing has appeared in publications such as, Housekeeping India, Child India, Woman’s Era. She has now emerged as a novelist with her debut novel We Will Meet Again. In this feature Tarang gives a glimpse of her path to becoming a novelist as she took to the path of the pen, as a committed writer.
Q.When did you discover your passion for fiction writing? And how did you make your initial steps towards becoming a novelist?
A –Unlike many writers, I discovered the writer in me very late. I did not write any poem when I was 9. I did not write (or even think of writing) any story when I was 16. I wanted to be everything except a writer. For me, writing was accidental. It just happened. Sprouted and burgeoned (still growing). Once I wrote a short write-up about an incident that touched me, and sent it to a popular magazine without any expectations. It got published. That’s when I thought, ‘Maybe, I can write!’ One more published short story, and I decided to take my writing seriously. Thereafter, I started my blog – a great platform to express yourself, connect, write regularly and improve!
Q. India has a very robust community of fiction writers in English. How hard is it to become a published author in India?
A When it comes to traditional publishing, yes, it’s tough to publish your debut work, however, there are many writers who get their first chance with Traditional Publishers.
In India, you don’t need a literary agent to pitch to the publishers, and so many new writers (who write in English language) are emerging every day. Maybe, that’s the reason for the growing Self Publishing Houses in India. But, even if you are self publishing, I believe, you should be very careful about your writing because what matters most is how well you craft your book.
Q. We Will Meet Again is your debut novel. How long did it take for you to write this novel and what were your sources of inspiration?
A It took almost 8 months to finish my messy first draft. But, I did not like what I wrote, so I let it rest for some time; then began vigorous editing, re-writing, major changes…For me, it was a tough, yet, enlightening journey. We Will Meet Again was a short story (with different title) that I wrote many years ago. But, I thought the idea was too broad for a short story, as back then, I was not familiar with the concept of 4,000-5,000 word long stories. I left that story unfinished, but that idea did not leave me. That’s when I thought I might turn it into a full length novel. Talking about inspiration, it’s my always occupied and observant mind. Also, real life stories and incidents inspire me a lot.
Q. How has the reception been so far for We Will Meet Again?
A Thankfully, it’s getting good reviews. Most readers have connected with the believable characters and convincing situations in my story.
Q. And, have you started working on a new novel? What future plans do you have as a novelist?
A Honestly, I’m struggling to be disciplined, but yes, I have, finally. In fact, I’m working on two plots; however, they are still at nascent stages.
I want to write good books, realistic stories. And most importantly, I want to focus on better writing and learning. Experiment with the writing style and genres. I believe being a good author is more important than being a best-selling book.
An excerpt from We Will Meet Again by Tarang Sinha has been provided for publication by the author, as part of this feature for the Sunday Observer. The excerpt is as follows –
“Paridhi.” I hear him say and stop abruptly. I turn to find Abhigyan leaning against the car, cross-legged. I walk ahead with nervous heartbeat, and stand in front of Abhigyan, looking everywhere except him.
After a lengthy pause, he says, “Want to say anything?”
I moisten my lips. “Thank you,” I say.
A faint smile appears on his face. “Thank you?” He pauses for a moment, and then says, “You might be an expert in hiding your emotions, but you failed this time, Pari. It’s pretty obvious from your eyes.”
“What?” I dare to look at him.
He tilts his head a little and smiles wanly. How wonderful he looks!
“That you like me. A lot. I can see it in your eyes.” His tone is challenging me.
My heartbeat seems like a cyclone. I am thankful the way he cared for Mini last night, but my ego has congested my heart. I collect my voice to say something that I’m confused about.
“Thank you so much for all you’ve done for us, but there’s nothing in my eyes for you, Abhigyan. Not in my eyes, not in my heart, and not in my life.” I don’t know how I finished these lines. “Bye. Take care,” I say and turn towards the gate.
I enter my room, and a sudden sense of loneliness clutches me. Perhaps, for the first time, I haven’t bothered about the number of stairs. I was so engrossed that it was kind of robotic.
For an instant, I want to run downstairs and call him. But, I won’t do that. This has to end this way only. It’s just an emotional stupidity. It won’t last forever.