: Re: How do I write real-world stories separate from my country of origin? I live in India. And the stories I write don't want to. The thing is, as you all might already know, my country has

@Odierno164

Vote Up Vote Down

Stop being an Indian writer, and become a writer. There is an Elton John bio movie coming out. He was born Reginald Dwight and changed his name. In one of the preview clips somebody tells Reginald "You have to stop being the person you were born to be, and become the person you want to be."

Same thing for you. Being born Indian doesn't mean you have to write Indian. I don't think it is bad to set your stories in India, it is something you can do far more authoritatively than I can do sitting in the USA. But even that is not a requirement; in the modern world you have all the resources you need to research what daily life is like for most people in the USA, in cities or small towns or the suburbs; fictional and non-fictional resources.

As I repeat often on this forum, I finish novels, but I couldn't do that if I didn't love writing and getting my imagination on paper in a finalized form. It is too much work. There is no guaranteed money, and even most published authors don't earn what I can earn in my regular non-writing professional capacity. But I truly enjoy the escape of writing, it's the first thing I do every day, about 360 days a year. It's like my alternate life. It's an escape from reality.

If I were only in it for the potential money, I wouldn't do it; I already make enough to live on comfortably. If I didn't love what I was writing, it would be a *job. Some people can do that. Perhaps I am too spoiled, I wouldn't bother.

In any case, I don't recommend it. Write what you will truly enjoy writing about; your enthusiasm for the topic will make your writing better because you will really want to get it right and say exactly what you truly mean. And when you finish you can be proud of the art you created, and want to put it in other hands.

Write a western book. Publish under a pseudonym; or initials (U. Seth). India isn't the only market that counts, find an agent or publisher willing to consider non-Indian books, be they inside or outside of India. Working with people in other countries is no longer difficult to figure out; especially since you already speak English.

It is already hard enough to create a work of art, don't make it harder by creating art you don't even like.

(0)

Login to post a comment!