Romila Rhymes #AuthorAnswers @romspeaks

Romila_Interview

Blogging is easy as it is difficult, it is how you perceive it yet we have an experienced blogger and author, Romila who makes it all looks so effortless. She blogs at NovembersChild and you can find her peppy tweets @romspeaks

Today she shares her drive and passion about writing, her blogging mantras and how she manages to make it all so effortless.

Please welcome Romila to #EloquentArticulation

 

  1. What is the idea behind your poetry book, The Three Flowers?

I have always been fascinated by the idea of ‘poetry’ and I always wanted to bring out a book of my poems. The idea behind my first ever poetry book is to have a creationist story. I used the rudiments in a way that represents parts of emotions. I opted for Micro-poetry format as it was a challenge for me to express in just 3 lines/verses. I really wanted to give a wide range of theme types, while having them reflect the elements they are structured with.

 

2.   This is your second book; tell us about the journey from your first book“My Writing Workshop” to poetry with “The Three Flowers”?

When I wrote my first e-Book it was something totally unplanned. I never knew posts of blogging challenge can be turned into an e-Book. As my first year with ATOZ challenge was super successful, I immediately decided to be a part of in 2017 too and it took me less than 2months to decide on taking up the challenge of micro-poetry as my 2nd e-Book theme and by November 2016 end I had all my 26 poems ready. The reviews and the encouragement I received on my first book really inspired and helped me to take up the idea of the 2nd book.

  1. The cover is worth a thousand words, how much of the cover designs for the books did you choose or were they designed by someone else?

A cover is basically the face of a book. As our face can reflect our inner feelings, similarly a book cover can also reflect what is inside that book. Book covers play the role of introducing the book to the potential readers. I am a DO-IT-YOURSELF person. I don’t depend on others, I work on my own creativity and both the book covers were done by me with the help of designing websites and guidance through videos on Youtube. Both my book covers have been appreciated and well accepted by my readers.

 

The Three Flowers_Cover

The Writing Workshop_Cover

 

  1. Give us three “Good to Know” facts about you. Be creative.

 

I’m a bit obsessive about cleanliness – Very often I have been made fun of by friends and family on how obsessively I am always cleaning things and putting things in order around the house and elsewhere. I have, on many occasions found myself clearing the clutter off others tables when I am visiting my relatives/friends at their home for parties or meals, sometimes cleaning their beds or sorting out kids’ room, even folding their clothes.  They have often asked why I do it. What is the need? After all, how does it affect me if their side is cluttered? Here is what I tell them – I feel a sense of clarity in thoughts when I see the clutter being cleared around me. Don’t you think cleanliness affects your state of mind? For me, not just cleanliness but also the process of cleaning around has an equally good impact. It helps my mind focus, it gives me a different perspective on issues that are bothering me, and it helps me think logically. It is almost like cleaning the clutter in the head as I clean the clutter outside. Am sure you would agree. If you are having a bad day, come back home and indulge in some massive cleaning. Trust me; it works like magic in uplifting your mood. It really is next to Godliness.

I don’t give compliments unless I feel that you truly deserve it – It’s a natural human need, isn’t it? We all yearn for a thank you, you’ve done well or that was awesome. Whatever the compliment when received it just feels great, and when given by certain people it even feels better. To me compliments come from the heart, that’s when they have real meaning, that’s when the person receiving the compliment really gets a tangible benefit, the compliment has a long-term benefit because the compliment was genuine. Genuine compliments are about the person, not a thing, for example, you look beautiful.

I’m curious about almost everything that I know/want to know. Actually, my curiosity is something that’s insatiable – I have a strong innate urge to find out more about anything/anyone. Curiosity does not kill the cat. It is impatient teaching that kills curiosity. I have an insatiable curiosity for acquiring knowledge; I am cognizant about what productive use of that knowledge can be made. And this is precisely what wisdom means to me. I can call it that “it is my hobby to learn new things”, and it is a good thing as it’s not consuming other priorities in life. I feel such delight when considering that through the blessing of the internet, for the most part, ANYTHING I want to know, learn, read, discover, is all right there just a click away. One click!

 

  1. What can your readers look forward to next? Share some details about your Work in progress?

Now as my poetry book has been more successful than the first book, I am all charged up for my third book which shall come out in August/September and it is non-fiction, collection of various quotes about 30 different things I like along with my opinion on that particular theme and may be some intelligence shared by my friends on the same. After this book, I have 2 drafts ready -short stories and poems (I have been writing them since 2013), which I plan to bring it out towards the end of this year or early next year. This makes total 3 books in making which will be available to my readers before summer 2018.

  1. What is your mantra for getting your writing done in spite of a busy schedule and full-time career? Tips for budding writers?

I have a busy schedule – taking care of my parents and the house, being the eldest kid I have plenty of responsibilities but that doesn’t stop me from writing and blogging. I blog 30days, I don’t like taking breaks, in these 14 years of blogging I have not taken any blog break. There has been a post every day. I hate if I don’t write 500-1000 words a day. I don’t have a full-time job but being a freelancer is no less to it. I do have my work which I do from home. I am the Queen of Multitasking, making up new survival plans. Even though I am doing several things at once, I can still hone in and focus.

I’m frequently asked for advice on how to go about the business of writing and in particular, how to get started with blogging, how to get published or get on with self-publishing or writing in general. Let me be very frank there is no magic wand to be a writer but I can offer a few tips and pointers based on my own experience.  However, please bear in mind that there’s no one route to writing success, just about every writer/blogger/author will have a different tale to tell, so no shooting the messenger!

  1. Always start with writing small: Writing short stories is a great way to do that. Writing a good short story prepares you for writing big and it is also much less intimidating than writing a novel.
  2. Maintain a journal: It’s helpful to jot down ideas for stories, bits of conversation you overhear, interesting situations you learn of, and character names you create. Keep a little notebook for this purpose and put it on your bedside table at night. Don’t trust your memory. That great idea you thought of just before going to bed will probably be gone in the morning.
  3. Seek out constructive feedback on your work: Take suggestions seriously, and learn from them. Not all criticisms will be on the mark, but even those that aren’t can help you spot problems that need attention. You must decide for yourself which suggestions to take, and which to leave.
  4. Don’t write because you want to be rich and famous overnight. Write because you love it because there’s nothing else you’d rather be doing.

It was wonderful speaking to you Romila, I wish you many successful bestsellers ahead.

Keep writing.

Comments

  1. Pingback: Reviews of my Ebooks – Novemberschild

  2. Pingback: #TheThreeFlowers @Romspeaks #Poetry

  3. Mithila Menezes

    It’s perfectly true that writing with the sole aim of making money is not a good idea. More often than not, an audience will always be able to figure out whether you’re writing for the love of it, or just to earn money.

    Loved your frank answers, Romila! Awaiting your next book 🙂

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