Excerpts from an exclusive interview with author Sonali Sharma.
We loved your posts on Instagram. What inspired these short story format posts?
I always wanted to write what I felt and present it raw and real to the world out there. I have learned the hard way that not everything needs to be perfect and structured. I think these short format posts, rather, do I prefer calling them prose format, allow one to just write, freely, with no boundaries. It just makes you free from the trap of “how to portray the emotions” because it just happens naturally. I love it when people email me or DM me stating how they loved the post with a long message conveying and explaining how it helped them feel better; it is what makes my day! I realized, no matter how fancy, perfect, or sophisticated people present themselves, down the line, everyone just wants to be loved..
What are you earliest memories of writing?
I remember how it all started and how I was always surrounded by books since childhood. Books have always fascinated me. What made me more inclined towards writing is when I started observing my own emotions changing and transformation in the actions after reading books. How it made me sit and think deeply how it takes you to a whole different world. Sixth grade, mid-December it was. I was in my school library, returning the book I borrowed to read. While I made the entry in the register and moved forward to place the book back on the shelf; the only thought that came to my mind was “only if there will be my book placed on the bookshelves too.”
The irony - the book I placed back was “Wise and Otherwise” by Sudha Murthy! One of most favorite, not just as an author, but as a lady, I am in awe of her. It was 2018 when I published my first book (which I am relaunching by around April 2020), later in 2020 I published “Small is the New Big.” I have been writing since my 7th grade. I don’t know should I term it as a way to escape out of my loneliness or find my solitude. School was tough, having no friends was tough, being bullied and made fun of in school and college was tough. But writing was therapeutic and books were my solace. From 9th grade, I started writing for local magazines, newspapers, bulletins, and that’s how it all started.
What does your process look like? How do you balance your time running a firm and writing books?
I started writing as a passion, never knew it would open the doors of opportunities for me. Slowly and gradually when this passion to profession shift happened I made sure to not mix up the projects. I managed by prioritizing and scheduling the things on the basis of urgency. Allotting specific time to personal projects every day, helped me stay consistent towards writing stories, prose, and books along with running a firm and catering to our clients.
What challenges have you faced in establishing and managing your company?
It has been around 1.5 years now since I switched to a full-time business. It has been no less than a roller coaster ride from freelancing and working alone to building a team of 5 people. The journey still continues. Team management, hiring, taking care of finances, investments in the business, training the interns, and a lot more. I really wanted to build something of my own, no matter if it turns out to be big or small. I dreamt of this or shall I say manifested this? I think what you really desire, and if you work towards it, somehow you will get it. Yes, it might take a lot of time, sometimes you will feel like giving up, but everything works out in the end.
What do you find most fulfilling about being a young author and entrepreneur in the content industry?
Having the freedom and being able to work on my own ideas. Having the ability to take risks and help people build their own brand and business. Failing early, I would say, is the most underrated advantage right now! I love how I can openly and freely really do what I like doing.
What are your future plans and aspirations?
Everything boils down to writing and executing the ideas again. I want to build a team that helps the start-ups and individuals explore and take risks to create something of their own and help them achieve what they truly wish for. I want to share stories with the world out there, high on emotions and let them know that being an emotionally sensitive person is not a weakness. Honestly, I just want to stay in a small corner of Greece, owning a small book cafe, write books, and exist in the world I would have created for myself.
