Rishi Piparaiya
Q Why do you write?
It is the easiest and clearest way to express myself, that too without others interrupting.
Q Describe your favourite writing space.
A wooden desk in a sea- facing room with ample space to pace.
Q Your favourite word?
“Legacy”. Behind those three syllables lies a powerful force that transcends generations and inspires me to create and share.
Q Do you have a writing schedule?
Definitely. Whenever I feel the urge to write, I do and when I don’t, I don’t.
Q Ever struggled with writer’s block?
Yes, but for procrastinators like me, who don’t have a systematic approach to writing, it is less of a pressure. So I may write nothing for a month and 20,000 words in the following week, and on average, I am fine.
Q Do you keep a diary?
Much as I think it would be very useful, I don’t. But before I start a new book, I make reams of notes, which I continually refer to during the writing process.
Q What inspires you to write? Do you have a secret trick, or a book/ author that helps?
There is so much interesting stuff around me, and that inspires me to write. I really don’t have a trick as such — there is an invisible switch somewhere inside me, which I can flip on demand and magically, I can take on an entirely different perspective to the most mundane situations. And those become my books.
Q Best piece of advice you’ve ever got? Don’t compare yourself to anyone living.
Q Coffee/ tea/ cigarettes — numbers please — while you are writing…
A glass of single malt or red wine. I was a chain smoker but I gave up smoking a decade ago and my writing has only improved. So any reader who depends on nicotine for inspiration, know that you can do without it.
Q Which books are you reading at present? The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis.
Q Who are your favourite authors?
Roald Dahl, Jeffrey Archer and Michael Lewis — the writing is engaging, entertaining and uncomplicated.
Q Which book/ author should be banned on grounds of bad taste?
Taste is simply the perception of readers. For every author, a book is a labour of love and we shouldn’t ban passion.
Q Which is the most under- rated book?
In general, I would say that writing itself is under- rated. We are rapidly moving to an environment where people are consuming content in other forms — video, audio, images, etc. So in that light, I would consider most books out there, under- rated.
Q Which are your favourite children’s books?
As a fan of simplicity, I’ll go with Enid Blyton who was a staple for me, growing up.
Q Which classics do you want to read? All of them, all over again.
Q Who is your favourite literary character? Jeeves ( P. G. Wodehouse).