Hello fellow Wattpadders! Today we have shortgirlbigbook with us, the author of the book, The Woman My Grandmother Loved.

I am Abhipreeti (_abhipreeti_) and I have interviewed shortgirlbigbook.

shortgirlbigbook, is the writer behind The Woman My Grandmother Loved, Did You Get Your Period? and Periods, Pyaar and Patriarchy. She's a twenty-something, passionate about reading, writing and everything literary! She's been on a bit of a writing hiatus for a while now, but she does hope to get back to writing once life slows down a bit!

At what age did you realize that you have a special place for writing? Are you currently or do you ever dream of one day being in the writing industry?

>>I think I always wanted to write. If I'm to pinpoint an age, it would probably be as early as 7-8 but my early teens was when it really got a grip on me. I'm someone who had stories scrawled at the back of her school notebooks, I used to write up stories during free periods and force my friends to read them, haha. I think they HAD to give positive feedback considering that they were my friends but that definitely worked out for me! I loved reading, so writing just felt natural. I loved stories, I had to make my own, right!

Did any story, on or off Wattpad, inspire you ever and help you carve your interest towards writing books?

>>Definitely! I think every book that I read and like leaves a little imprint on me. It's the same way with writers and their writing styles! My early introduction to writing was definitely shaped my Enid Blyton, Meg Cabot and I still gravitate towards writing about teens/young adults with lighter themes. There are few stories that I always draw from in my writing. I love the ease in Princess Diaries, I love the raw emotions in Khaled Hosseini's writing. I adore Ocean Vuong's lyrical prose.

What is the genre(s) in which you mostly write your books? Do you think you are able to create brilliant plots when you write in that specific genre(s)?

>>I haven't really explored with a lot of genres. I've written mostly with a focus on romance, youth and perhaps a bit of a social message nestled in somewhere. I think that's my comfort zone considering the fact that it's what I enjoy reading the most as well.

I think my plots are far from brilliant. I think they need a lot of work. I hope I am able to work and improve on it more. But I do have a leaning towards those specific stories and I hope I am able to better myself over the years.

What advice would you like to give to authors who are writing in the same genre(s) as yours?

>>I would say, write what you know. I think it's specifically for this genre it's particularly helpful because it's very intertwined with the world as we know. It's not fantasy or world building (damn, the sheer creativity needed for that). It's more real, so it needs to be something that people identify with. You pick a small thing. A missing period, lingering glance, a broken keyring your ex-best friend gave you. Then you work that resonance off from there.

Do you have any favourite quote or quotes from your book?

>>It feels a little narcissistic haha, but I do like going back and reading some aspects of it. I like my work in the last two chapters; I think those are the only ones I read with the least amount of "uh, this needs fixing." As for quotes; I do like some but none so magnificent that they immediately come to mind.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

>>Oh, god. That's a terrifying question. And it's a little funny to think how I would barely give a thought before writing an answer to these timeline questions as a kid. I loved the clarity, but I suppose I'm at an age where I'm constantly asked that every waking hour of the day. If not by others, by myself. So I'm not doing the generic timeline thing, mostly because everything feels so uncertain and transient right now.

I see myself loved. Confident as fuck. Happy. Content. Satisfied.

Now let us talk about your book. How would you describe your story in five words? Could you please give us a brief summary of what your book is about? What makes your book different from other books in the same genre(s)?

>>Five words in a sentence: It is a love story.

Five separate words: Love, Loss, Romantic, Patience, Resilience.

This book is about two young women, who fall in love. One of them is an Indian journalist in a wheelchair, the other a British art teacher at a school. It's set in the 1970s. Who could the odds be more against? But who else would have a capacity to withstand them, regardless?

I wouldn't know best what makes it different because I feel like that's for the readers to choose among the books that they have read and loved. I think I've tried writing this with an inclination towards a romantic philosophy. And it's a lesbian love story based on India's Emergency period. I think that might make it stand out a bit.

Which character or characters of your story do you relate to most? And why?

>>Oh, I think I relate to Anita, more so now than I did starting on. I think we share our emotional traits (slightly avoidant, ahem) and we're quite stubborn. But she's also so much more confident in her skin.

How did you come up with such a fascinating plot? Were there any inspirations?

>>I came up with the plot as a vague idea. I knew I wanted to write about a woman who was a journalist during the Emergency period. I kept reading "Letters from a father to a daughter" by Jawaharlal Nehru. I think it made me wonder about Indira Gandhi a lot and what it must have been like to be alive at a time when our country was so young as a democracy.

And of course, after that- I think I leaned into my strengths more. I shifted the focus towards romance and then eventually sexuality and non-heterosexual love. But it initially started with the fascination with the backdrop and not to be cliche, but the story wrote itself thereafter.

How did you discover Wattpad? And what engendered you to begin writing on this platform? What do you like best about this application?

>>I discovered Wattpad a long, long time back in school. I think around 2015-16. A lot of my friends were reading on it and had shifted from quotev; which was our favourite platform back in the day. My friend and I wrote fanfictions on quotev as well and its' hilarious to think I've written a whole ass fanfic about my friend (she insisted on being the main character) and this Brazilian footballer Oscar Dos Santos Emboaba Junior.

I haven't really been active on Wattpad other than reading comments and responding to messages which also I've become amiss about. I know the app has changed a lot- when I was last reading Paid stories had just been introduced.

When did you start writing on Wattpad? How has your writing journey been ever since then?

>>I started writing over almost six years ago. Phew, but it was always half-baked stories about bad boys (please forgive me, those were the rage back then). And then I think I actually started writing DYGYP which is my first book here back in 2019. Thereafter, I've been writing except for the past two years where I've been completely swamped with exams and what else.

What is your writing process and how do you cope when writers' block hits you?

>>I usually write it without planning a lot and let the story flow. I think that serves best to get the bad ideas out. This is also how I found out I am not a writer who has a committed plot in her head and if I publish before a book is done; I end up taking it all away. And the inconsistency is a little embarrassing when you do it in front of an audience. So I write a very bad story, then a bad one and then a better one.

I think I've been in a writer's block for the past two years. But that's also a lot because of college finals and the real world exams and what else. But I think earlier, I would just try not to write for a bit. And then read a little.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? During which time of the day do you usually write?

>>Definitely a pantser. Anytime inspiration hits, I suppose.

What would be your advice to young and budding authors, who are just beginning their journey on Wattpad and are quite new to the writing world?

>>It would be to write! Write! Wattpad is very forgiving as a platform and as a young writer it is amazing to have that kind of confidence and belief in your writing. Use that feedback to become better. And also, its' okay to feel like your writing is like muck. You'll get better at it, you feel that way because your taste is better than your writing is. It gets better. But after a few years, you'll read everything you've written and think "why?" That is also a part of the process.

Is there any author(s) on Wattpad whom you look up to as an amazing writer?

>>Oh, Blondeanddangerous. Loved her books. I also really liked wigglysubu's writing. And there's RubixCube. And the author behind the entire Season series. Amazing writers.

Could we please have two or more Wattpad story recommendations? What do you like most about these stories?

>>I don't think I have ever stopped recommending The Curves Ahead. Hands down one of my favourite books on Wattpad of all time.

What would be the three words to describe yourself as an author?

>>Could do better.Those three words!

Thank you so much! It was an honour to have you here for the interview conducted by Kalon Community. We wish you lots of success on your writing journey and may you flourish more. Thank you once again!