HomeNewsInterviewWomen's Day: Writing is like breathing for me. I have to do it, says Andaleeb Wajid

Women's Day: Writing is like breathing for me. I have to do it, says Andaleeb Wajid

The author who has published 33 books says that the secret to writing is commitment and crazy hard work.

March 08, 2022 / 11:17 IST
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Andaleeb Wajid's recent novels All Drama No Queen and Mirror, Mirror were published by Penguin Random House and Duckbill respectively in 2021.
Andaleeb Wajid's recent novels All Drama No Queen and Mirror, Mirror were published by Penguin Random House and Duckbill respectively in 2021.

Andaleeb Wajid is a hybrid author, having published 33 novels in the past 12 years. Andaleeb enjoys writing in a number of different genres such as young adult, romance, and horror. Andaleeb's recent novels All Drama No Queen and Mirror, Mirror were published by Penguin Random House and Duckbill respectively in 2021. She has an upcoming YA novel with Harper Collins.

The first book you remember reading An illustrated book called Ranga the Rat

Your hands-down favourite writer Lisa Jewell

A genre you're partial to
Crime fiction
Read also: Women's Day special coverage
A book you outgrew and grew into again 
A Court of Thorns and Roses

A classic you'd like to have written 
The Mill on the Floss

An author you want to meet on the other side 

TS Eliot

As you work, you listen to 
Nothing. I can't concentrate if I listen to music.
The book(s) you've gifted most 
Crumb - by Saee Koranne Khandekar
Your personal mad tea party guests, and the food you'd serve. 
My writer friends Apeksha and Shilpa, and lots of chocolate.
Ever fallen in love with a character? Whom? 
Nope.

The book with your favourite food descriptions. 
Chocolat
On writing during the pandemic...
Found it to be something that had to be done for my mental health
On what keeps you writing 
Writing is like breathing for me. I have to do it.
A book-based movie you liked better than the book 
Ready Player One

A woman or girl you wish had got a different ending 
Maggie Tulliver from Mill on the Floss
The secret to being a prolific writer
Commitment and crazy hard work
Tips on self-publishing and what makes it worth it 
Write, edit, publish and then repeat all over. It's the only way to make it work. What makes it worth it is the satisfaction of telling a good story and having readers read it soon enough.
Chetana Divya Vasudev
first published: Mar 8, 2022 11:17 am

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