When I wrote my first novel, I had no clue about the writing industry. I did not know how to begin writing the book, what it takes to make a good book, how to find a publisher and had endless questions like these in my mind. I did not even try to approach someone to guide because I too shy to ask questions. I felt they might think, ‘what a silly girl and what silly questions is she asking!’
There’s a famous quote which says to travel is to live! I find my peace, when I am travelling. Travelling keeps me sane!
Travelling is also my way of seeking inspiration for my books. If I wouldn’t have travelled, I wouldn’t have been able to pen my books. Though it’s now the age where you get all the information on google, about places, cultures, people and what not. But I really need to see and experience things before I write, if not the entire thing but at least a part of it. Like in my 4th book, I am mentioning places in UAE and Europe that I haven’t visited yet. But I met a couple of people while travelling who shared their experiences and minute details about the places that made is easier for me to pen it down.
When I travel, I have a weird habit of interacting with locals. Once I was in Shimla, wearing on the upper market of Mall road. I saw an old book shop. It’s still there, you if visit Shimla do check it out. So, when I saw this book shop, I couldn’t resist walking in and checking it out. It was really a small shop and had no place to stand. The books were stuffed (not kept) on the racks and huge piles of books were kept on the floor. I was totally fascinated to see that old books kept (sorry, stuffed) in the racks. I am sure my expressions were weird and so, an old man said from the back of the counter, ‘you are liking this place. Isn’t it?’
I smiled and said, ‘yes! Sir how old is this book shop?’ he replied, ‘over 150 years! My grandfather founded this shop’
‘and sir, you must be having really old books too?’ I asked
‘Yes, the oldest book I have is of 1770 but it’s condition is not good, so I don’t keep it here in the shop’
I was awestruck and this was clearly visible on my face. ‘You really like books?’ the old man asked me, as I picked an old book from the pile.
‘Yes sir! Actually, I am an author’ I introduced myself
‘Oh! Now all’s clear with me. So, you write love stories?’ He asked
‘Yes sir, but it has some sort of life lesson added in it.’ I explained
‘But beta, these days I don’t think real love exists. It’s all about one night stands. Real love was what we did in our times!’
Being an old school kid at heart, I clearly got what he was trying to say. But still I wanted to hear from him so I asked, ‘Means?’
‘it’s very simple! Today, if you girl or guy don’t show up for a week, the next people get along with a new person. In our times, love was so pure. Love these days is losing its charm! People don’t have patience. They just don’t want to wait!’
I smiled, big goodbye to the man and came out of the shop with a plot. Yes, I was sure that I had to write a story that defines true love. The old man was right. People just don’t want to wait. We have become so impatient that we don’t want to ‘waste’ our time in knowing others’ issues. We prefer to move on. I had to write something that defines what love actually is (at least for me). Love is doesn’t mean you become a drunkard if you didn’t get to spend your life with that person; love is simply loving the person and respecting that person’s decision. Love is sacrifice. Love means waiting & trusting that if it’s true one you will get what you want, whether it’s the person or the answer from him or her.
Have I not travelled to Shimla, I wouldn’t have got this plot? Then I walked through the mall road and other places and I could visualize my characters there. There is a church on the mall road where I felt that this should be place where my protagonist can get her answers.
Not just this, when you travel you get to explore my new cultures, traditions, places and meet people which itself is so inspiring. Travelling helps me weave my stories. Even if my stories are inspired by true incidents, with travelling I am able to create better scenarios as it helps me learn about new places, people and more.
If you too want to know what’s your true calling, try travelling and you never know… what might happen next, because when you travel, you are actually weaving a new story!
Peace out!
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