I wasn't interested in, or particularly good at, any other extracurricular activities. So you would always see me with a book. My grandfather too is a writer. Literature is big in my family. I grew up on a regular diet of Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl and soon enough I couldn't get enough of the fantasy franchises. I thought it was only natural that I set about writing my own book.
I actually finished the book when I was in fifth grade. The editing and publishing bit took a lot longer than anticipated. I was naturally excited and happy about writing my own book but on the flipside, there were so many relatives, friends and teachers interested in it that I couldn't help feeling stressed by all the curiosity. By the end of it, I couldn't finish it fast enough. Nevertheless it's a nice memento of my younger days.
What about now though? Are you still writing?
I scribble all the time. I give my articles to be published every now and then. I have a story in the works too however it is quite the balancing act. I'm studying corporate law at the moment and the academic course demands most of my time right now.
I thought it would be smart to look into a different career choice because the hardest thing about being a writer is you don't know if you are good or bad. Art is so subjective and you don't know if you will sell, and make a living out of it. There is a lot I still have to figure out and explore. Of course, I plan to continue writing but for the moment it is only for me. So it isn't writer's block that is holding me back from coming out with new work, it is more (my) writer's insecurities.
So how do you plan to deal with it? Read some more?
I know almost all writers recommend that you read a lot especially if you plan to pursue writing yourself. It's incredibly helpful they say, but ever since I was a child I have had this notion that it might do more harm. You definitely need to read tons if you are going ahead with academic writing or some well researched story pieces but with fantasies and fictions, I feel we might be better off without reading too much. You are bound to be influenced by other works and I worry it might affect my originality. There is this conflict every time. Whenever I'm reading, I wonder if I should be writing instead.
What about Nepali books? How often do you read them?
I have read a couple from the likes of Palpasa café to Karnali Blues. At the moment, I'm actually trying to go through Seto Dharti but yes, I'm afraid comparatively I don't read Nepali books as often as the English ones.
Why do you think Nepali books are comparatively less popular among youngsters like you?
Personally after school, there wasn't a need to read in Nepali. Books in English are everywhere whereas one has to make a conscious effort to search for and give time to read Nepali literature. Also once you lose the habit of reading Nepali, I think we have all felt, it can prove to be a little tricky. It was actually one of the reasons why I started picking up Nepali books again.
But even as I try to read more in Nepali, it is very hard to learn about the various options that are available in the market. I think the Nepali literature scene needs to work on its publicity tactics because there are only a few names and works that masses at large are familiar with. The rest tend to get lost among the shelves. We might be missing out on a lot of good writers and interesting works because we just haven't heard of them.
Being an avid reader, how do you feel when people say "books aren't their thing"?
A couple of years ago, I'd judge them for sure. If you had asked me this question then, I'd say I didn't understand such people at all. But now I know a few people who are like that. They don't keep a must have book list. They don't even make it a point to finish a couple of books a year. Nevertheless, the thing is they are capable, articulate, informed people. It's just they are passionate about other things. Their source of information could be music, movies, sports, businesses, and so on. So I try and empathize with them these days. I just let them be.
Lastly, e-books versus print editions; where do you stand on this debate?
I think about it every time I turn on my tablet. I know where my loyalties should lie and I agree paperback has its own charm but books are so expensive. If I like the sound of a book, then I have to read it. I just have to have it. I can be quite compulsive about this. So in this scenario, e-books give readers like us a distinct advantage. It makes so many works accessible. Especially for us Nepalis, what with the lack of libraries and daily load shedding, I'm all for e-books, tablets and kindles.
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