“A book consists of thoughts that for a moment don’t mind holding hands”. Many of us enjoy letting our brains wander into the huge world of magazines and novels or just any piece of writing that catches our eye. “Just like coffee beans can soak you in its aroma, stories too, can soak you in characters”, says Chaitali Bangre, the author of “Way To Fall In Love and Dreams”, “Itni Si Baat” and “The 2020 Quarantime”.
Though Chaitali has always loved reading and writing “Social write-ups”, becoming a writer wasn’t always her plan. It was the occurrence of an incident during her college days that urged her to shift from engineering to content creation. Thus, she started by writing for a news magazines’ youth column and proceeded towards writing her own book! Chaitali loves traveling and listening to stories, as she feels, they transport you to a different place and expose you to a variety of viewpoints and thoughts altogether!
Keep reading further as Chaitali Bangre takes Storiyaan through her journey as a writer, how she developed an interest in the same, and tips for budding writers as well!
Chaitali Bangre- The “Half-Full” Writer
Interview
Questions and answers
When did you first realize your niche for writing and how did you gradually start working on your passion?
While I was pursuing my engineering, an incident happened that captured a lot of attention here in Nagpur. And I felt like doing something about it, so I ended up writing a piece on it and showed it to a leading news magazine. They wished to publish it and later offered me a position to write for their youth column and that’s how writing came to me, and I went ahead with it.
Writing is therapy for you. How do you get the sanity and the peace of mind that you desire to attain?
Writing is therapy for me because it heals me internally. When it’s not my day, I jot down those feelings and emotions. The next day I start fresh with positivity, my words in their own way soothe me and give me comfort.
Share with us any roadblocks you faced in life which you emerged out successfully.
I faced a lot of rejection during my debut book, the majority of writers do not get a platform to showcase their talent. But I knew that the rejections I am facing aren’t due to my writing, it has nothing to do with it. It is because as a budding author it is difficult to get attention. I remember when I shared my first draft of the book with a few of my friends the response I received was assuring enough for me and I went ahead with a publishing house and launched my book.
Can you take us through the process of writing a book?
For me, before I start writing a narrative, I do my thorough research. I start sketching a background of my characters, first thin into story-making. Second, I make sure my characters live their life to the fullest. I don’t like writing with dead characters.
Then, I try writing relatable experiences so it is something my readers can connect with them. I share my first draft with people I know as well as people whom I don’t. This way I get a very good review and critique which is unbiased and helps me grow and expand.
Travel creates so much scope for life in every possible sense. How do you generate and modify your stories after listening to them from strangers?
To quote myself, “Strangers have the best stories to narrate.” We have our own story, timeline, and journey. No one has the same story to tell. So, when I go on road trips, I make sure to stop at tea stalls, because you will meet all kinds of people with different viewpoints, no matter what the subject. You get to hear so many stories by simply standing and sipping your cup of chai.
After being an engineer, what made you shift your profession to being a writer?
During my college days, an incident occurred right in front of my college. The way it happened and the way it was portrayed on TV was extremely different. My inner voice kept telling me that this is wrong, and I wanted to bring light on the matter and that’s how I started writing. So, during placements in college, I was confused about how will I work in an IT company, a 9 to 5 job where I act like a robot. And I wanted a creatively driven career. One day my sister suggested blending my passion and profession. I did my research and came across content creation which is such a growing industry, there is so much one can do here. Eventually, things fall into place when you have the passion and urge to do something towards it.
What do you think one needs the most to be a successful writer?
Appreciation from your people is the biggest reward a writer gets. It feels like your efforts are recognized and all the hard work has paid off!
What is your message for coming up writers?
Be yourself. Be original and authentic. People lack originality these days and have become artificial. Don’t care what others think- You do you and the world will accept you.