4 Books for Indian Writers to Get Noticed

Writing is that desk, an eye candy, sometimes a brooding, heavy, wooden table stacked with pages, often a typewriter, sometimes ink pens. A writer is that glamorous, romanticized, rich (ahem) person. Well, the truth is far far away from what the TV shows and stylised photographs show you.  Writing is a mess. It is a landslide of frustrations, anxiety, bills, and imposter syndrome. Added with a (usually ugly) laptop, unnumbered pages and pens that can never be found. The number of books giving tips on writing are innumerable but good books are hard to cross paths with. A new or inexperienced writer has many questions in his mind that need quick answers —should I hire an editor, is a literary agent necessary to get published in India, how to pitch to international journals, what are the best writing tips to get started. For someone trying to publish a book or byline in India, the industry is quite different from the international one.  You might be googling all day on how to better your writing skills or how to get published in India but what if there are quicker ways than google for your answers?

Here are the best books for Indian writers to pitch their ideas, write better and seal a publishing deal. Whether you are a freelancer, an aspiring writer, a blogger or an academician, these writing help books will come handy and help you to better your craft of writing and get noticed.

1.Kissing the Demon by Amrita Kumar

Kissing the Demon is a crash course into the publishing world. It reads like a series of lectures that covers all aspects of writing a book, from forming a vague idea into your head to making your novel ready for the prospective publisher’s eyes. I love how Kumar explained terms that will beautify your writing, pointed out clichés writers fall into, listed the loopholes in contracts and also talked about getting work done in a non-romanticized version of writing atmosphere — traffic, noise and constant interruptions affecting a typical Indian household — without the perfect desk you dream of (This was one of my favourite chapters in the book) and also physical exercises to help you stay focused on your work. This is a Bible for those wanting to break into the Indian publishing scene.

Read more about the book here.

2.How to get Published in India by Meghna Pant

Save yourself months of Googling and get your hands on Pant’s helpful guide for writers. It is divided into two sections, one about how to get around the publishing industry in India and the other is a collection of essays from professionals in the industry — agents, reviewers, editors, best selling authors, and self published authors. This book has everything you’ll need — list of publishing houses, magazines to send work to, literary agents working with Indian writers, how to gain more exposure for your book, how does book distribution work and what revenue to expect from writing. The best part about How to get Published in India are the numbers — copies, money made, profits and expenses — something that every writer is worried about but find hard to get the information from a reliable source. The book doesn’t go deep into the writing process, but touches on important aspects with examples but it goes deep enough into the number game, the differences in putting fiction, non-fiction and poetry out to the world and also words of caution to avoid publishing blunders.

Read more about the book here.

3.Everything you wanted to Know about Freelance Journalism (but didn’t know whom to ask) by Kavitha Rao and Charukesi Ramadurai

The title says it all. Everything you Wanted to Know about Freelance Journalism stands out by its honest takes on the writing world and relatable writing (this book works for all freelancers, not just Indians but it gives a promising perspective to aspiring Indian writers). This is one of the best help books I’ve read on freelance writing. Kavitha Rao is a renowned freelance journalist who started out early and Charukesi Ramadurai transformed her career from a blogger to a freelance journalist. They list out their mistakes, tips, what editors look for (with inputs from famous editors), sample query letters, what went south in their personal experiences, how to check rates for your work, how to say no, how to navigate international publications, and how to survive the freelancing world through their experiences with several dream publications. Whether you are starting out as a freelancer or have a few projects on your portfolio, this guide will help you work your way up. This book gives the reader such a boost of positive energy. By the end of it you feel yourself saying ‘I can do it. I just have to try.’

4.Writing is Easy by Amitava Kumar

Amitava Kumar’s Writing is Easy is a universal writing guide, not targeted specifically for an Indian audience. It is not a book for writers who are beginners, rather for those who are in love with the idea and process of giving life to words, more specifically creative nonfiction and academic writing. Blurbed as a ‘style guide for those who want to write well’, (and sprinkled with so many book titles about writing), the book includes reflections on writing from Kumar himself (and his ten rules), and helpful advice from prolific writers (Marilynne Robinson, George Saunder, Colson Whitehead, Alain de Bottom to name a few). It explores style and form, the importance of reading and is more philosophical in nature. Sections can be read in no particular order and you will find yourself thinking — and rethinking — about the short chapters. This is what I loved about the book too. It makes you question, assess yourself, look at other writer’s work with more critical eyes and urges you to think ‘how can I be better’.

<Featured image by Rizky Subakja

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