Interview With A Young Writer – Chandrayan Gupta

In my one-year blogging journey, an interesting part was meeting young talented writers and bloggers. The immense potential they possess is worthy of tons of appreciation. I appreciate the maturity in their thoughts. I especially adore their firm control over the language intricacies. Speaking to them imbibes a feeling of hope and belief in our future generation. Today I want to share my interview with a young writer – Chandrayan Gupta.

I have been following Chandrayan now for quite a long time in social media platforms. I admire his dedication and passion for literature. To me, he is a humble person aspiring to create a strong foothold in the world of writing. He is an inspiration for many.

You must definitely read his books – Birth of a Duo – https://www.amazon.in/Birth-Duo-Radha-Bose-Novel-ebook/dp/B07Z45D15B/ and The Rage Within – https://www.amazon.in/Rage-Within-Radha-Bose-Novel-ebook/dp/B07XLTPPBY. They are easily available in Amazon and has earned a good amount of appreciation from the reader's fraternity.

Presenting before you now my Interview with a Young Writer and a Talented Author – Chandrayan Gupta.

Excerpts from the Interview with A Young Writer – Chandrayan

What or Who influenced you to become a writer?

I don't know, really. I've always idolized authors. I remember reading Enid Blyton's mystery novels when I was four or five, and ever since then, I wanted to one day write a book myself and feel the satisfaction of seeing my name on the cover.

As for who influenced me to write crime novels, I suppose I'd have to say J.K. Rowling and her Cormoran Strike series (written under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith). If you haven't read the books, I highly suggest that you do.

On which genre do you focus while writing your novels?

To be honest, I don't have a specific genre. My Radha Bose series is about private investigators and does feature crime and whodunits, but that's not necessarily what the series is about. To me, it's about two fractured individuals finding in each other love and companionship, while using their unique skills to solve crimes. I've always been fascinated by two things – crime and mental health.

Being a clinical depressive and a psychology student myself, I know a lot about human emotions and how to create relatable characters with relatable problems. A lot of people who've read my books have appreciated the fact that the protagonists are likeable and relatable.

Crime thrillers are often fantastical stories, and so I keep everything grounded through my characters and their struggles with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. One reader even commented that my novels can be viewed as self-help books, which made me chuckle.

When did you write your first story?

Oh boy. Well, I've been writing since I was ten years old or something, so it'd have to be then. The first real, presentable short story that I have on my laptop is from 2017 when I was eighteen. No, I'm not going to share it, because I'd die of embarrassment. I do remember that I once wrote a 200-page plus novel when I was sixteen or seventeen, but then I deleted it because I thought it was crap.

What is your greatest achievement as a writer?

The Rage Within, my second book. If anyone asked me to show them my best work, I'd simply point to it. But as to what my greatest achievement as a writer is, I'd have to say it's every single time someone compliments me on my writing, no matter whether it's a blog post or a novel. The feeling I get from that is ineffably gratifying. There was also that one-month period when I noticed that Jeffrey Archer viewed my Instagram Stories. It sounds a little silly, but I got a huge thrill from that.

When did you first publish your first book and how was the experience?

 I published my first novel, Birth of a Duo when I was nineteen. It was through the publisher Bee Books. The process was, to me, excruciating. It's got nothing to do with Bee Books, though. I am an inherently impatient person, and absolutely detest waiting for anything.

Ironic, considering I have the fortitude to write entire 70000-word plus novels, but once they're written, I want them on the market immediately. That's the reason I switched to self-publishing, actually. I simply don't have the patience for the traditional route. I write my own stories, design my own covers, format my own interiors, submit everything, and voila! Within one week, it's out.

Please share your journey as a writer

Well, as I said, I used to read Enid Blyton's novels when I was four or five, and since then, I've always wanted to write a novel of my own. But that desire was like when you want to meet your favourite celebrity. You really, really want it, but in your heart, you know that it's probably never going to happen.

But then I wrote a short story called The Suicide when I was eighteen and thought that I could expand it to create a novella. So I did, and Birth of a Duo was born. A year later, I published its follow-up The Rage Within. Both are crime thrillers, and both have been well-received. 

Any tips you want to convey to the budding writers?

I'll say what I always say – ignore that voice in your head which screams that you can't do it, that your writing is awful, that no one will read it. Every writer, including me, has that voice in them. Ignoring it is very important, though. Edit well. There must be no mistakes in your manuscript, or you'll end up looking like an amateur. Don't be afraid to submit your work to traditional publishers.

Rejection is a part of life. We all know the story of how Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before a publisher finally took it on. Take criticism well, and not as a personal attack. Use it to improve your writing. Separate yourself from your work, basically. 

What are your future plans?

I want to finish my Radha Bose series (three books left to go). I am currently writing the third entry, titled Too Far Gone. With any luck, it'll be better than The Rage Within. I'm also a law student and want to become a corporate lawyer. In a decade's time, I want to be a lawyer who writes books on the side. That would be my ideal life.

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with a young writer – Chandrayan Gupta. Please do follow him in social media for his upcoming novels.

1. Instagram – chandrayan_gupta (https://www.instagram.com/chandrayan_gupta/)

2. Twitter – @ChandrayanGupta (https://twitter.com/ChandrayanGupta)