
Book review : Siddhartha – The Boy Who Became The Buddha
They say that sometimes the journey is more interesting than the destination. This couldn’t have been truer for Buddha. The world today knows him as
From blogging during the lockdown to winning writing contests, Varunika Rajput has sailed a long way to writing and publishing her first book ‘Women and Their World’ – a collection of seven short stories. Here’s chatting with the young author.
I think I am dating both motherhood and writing at the same time..
We had asked who Varunika is; and look, how beautifully she has summed up all her parts!
Mother to two gregarious girls and wife to a skillful sailor, you will find me chasing my kids like a phantom mother throughout the week. The weekends, however, are spent in the company of a good book, my camaraderie with a pen and the smell of freshly baked cakes in my oven.
I am my children’s laughter that echoes around the house, the taste of my food that lingers in their mouth and mind for days, and the mess that makes my house a home.
I am the companion I am to my loved ones, the shoulder, and the hope I lend to someone.
I am your friend and the foe to your foe.
I am the tears in my eyes, the pain in my heart and I am also the resurrection.
I am the coffee I brew and the wine that I offer.
I am the books that I read, the ones that I have written and the ones that I will be writing.
I am the summation of a bit of this and a bit of that.
I write because it brings joy to my soul
The fact that lockdowns during Covid-19 served as a boon to few is further conveyed through Varunika’s journey and evolution from a blogger to a published author.
I started writing in 2020, when the pandemic hit us badly. I began blogging on the brilliant platform of MOMSPRESSO, purely out of a desire to connect with the outside world. Slowly, my blogs started garnering a lot of praise, appreciation, and views. That gave me confidence and motivation to write more and to write better. One thing led to another. I started participating in contests and workshops. Lost some, won a few. And somewhere in 2021 the book called out to me. I couldn’t ignore the calling.
‘Women and their World’ – Let’s get to know more about the book
The idea to write a book was planted in my mind by my elder daughter when she saw that my blogs were doing well, and writing made me happy. I just nurtured it well, followed my heart and that’s how the book happened.
I think the stories chose me. I also believe the story always chooses the writer.
Varunika’s first book is a collection of seven short stories. It is a difficult choice, but we asked about her favourite story from the book.
Although people have chosen other stories as their favorite, the one that I love most is SOME OTHER TIME. Even though the main character is in doldrums and angst, the story ends with a smile on her face. As my own critique I think I have done well in that story.
The book highlights the good, bad, and ugly of being a middle class Indian woman
I think the relatability quotient is very high. And that should stand out in a reader’s mind. Also, the stories don’t necessarily end on a happy note. Because they just snippet a woman’s life which is not always pleasant.
On balancing writing and a large chunk of parenthood..
Varunika’s husband is a sailor and mostly away for work. She is raising two very young daughters and managing the household while writing.
I would love to hand out a schedule but honestly I can’t. Time is truly a luxury for me. Because my husband is a sailor, I have had to raise my two girls single handedly, and who still require a lot of handholding. They’re just 4 and 7! So, I do what I can do. On weekdays, I put them to bed early and squeeze in an hour or two. On weekends, I wake up early and write as much as I can. I write when they head for free play together. With schools opening, I am in a more comfortable space now. But the book happened while they were dancing around me! Both my love interests (writing and motherhood) seem to nag me occasionally, but I am learning to get better at both!
Writing ritual – I have a fetish for books and mugs!
When I sit down to write, the first thing I ensure is that a huge mug of tea/ Coffee is in front of me. And the kind of mug varies with the mood of the story I am about to work on. And I ensure I have a few books neatly stacked on my desk. I like to have a view! Without the two I find it difficult to proceed. That’s a ritual I follow religiously.
Varunika’s favourite writers
When I was a teenager books like ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ ‘Gone With the Wind’ and ‘Great Expectations’ made a huge impact on me. Ruskin Bond was always a favourite courtesy our common love for hills. Then I got introduced to the works of Ayn Rand, Khaled Hosseini, Malcolm Gladwell, and I fell in love with their writing genius. In recent times I have developed a strong affinity for Anita Nair and Asha Iyer Kumar. I think they are both brilliant with the characters they create, especially women.
Write more, write better
Though not an expert, all I can advise is this:
Be in sync with your thoughts and yourself. It gets challenging on the way. Clarity is a must. Read as often as possible and write every day.
Research well before considering whether to self-publish or going the traditional way.
Good luck!
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