From Short Stories to Published Author: My Takeaways

My author journey began during my undergraduate days at IIT Delhi, where I discovered my passion for storytelling. I started with writing short stories on my friends as a pastime, honing my craft and exploring different genres. Little did I know that these stories would eventually pave the way for my career as an author.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unexpected changes in my life, as it did for many of us. With more time on my hands, I decided to take a leap of faith and share my stories with the world. That's when I connected with my literary agent The Book Bakers. This decision led to the publication of my debut book, "By Hook or By Crook", by Petals Publishers. The transition from writing stories as a hobby to becoming a published author has been the most rewarding part of my journey so far. Many might feel it is a testament to my dedication, perseverance, and belief in my abilities. It serves as a reminder that with passion and hard work, dreams can become a reality. For aspiring writers, my journey offers valuable insights and tips to help you on your own path to success. Here are a few key takeaways: 1. Find your passion: Discover what genre or style of writing resonates with you the most. But before anything, be sure that you want to make an identity from writing, and not just writing for a specific project in mind. Thereafter, experiment with different forms of storytelling and explore various themes until you find your niche. 2. Hone your craft: Writing is a skill that can be developed and improved over time. Take the time to study the craft of writing, read books in your chosen genre, and practice regularly. Join writing workshops or courses to learn from experienced authors and receive feedback on your work. 3. Embrace challenges: The road to becoming a published author is not without its obstacles. Embrace rejection as a learning opportunity and use it to fuel your determination. Every step in the publishing journey feels like more challenging than the previous one. Keep pushing forward, even when faced with setbacks. 4. Actively seek help: You'll be surprised to know how many people are willing to selflessly extend a helping hand, just so you don't make the same mistake they made when they were in this place. Actively reach out to anyone for help, because you'll realise later that this journey can't be traversed alone. 5. Celebrate small victories: We often get so indulged chasing the goal and moving the goalpost that we often forget celebrating smaller victories we once aspired to achieve. Finishing first chapter, first draft, first pitch, first sale, we all have these goals in our journeys, but when we achieve those, instead of taking time to celebrate and cheer ourselves up, we start looking beyond for the next goal. My journey from writing short stories to becoming a published author is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the belief in one's own abilities. If you have a story to tell, don't let fear or doubt hold you back. I hope you take inspiration from this journey and start your own author journey today. Who knows, you might just be the next success story in the literary world.