All my books begin with a philosophy that I have thought of, want to convey or wish to debate. The story works as a wrapper to do that or at least to make readers think about it. Conflict would arise in writing, if I wrestle with the story or if I am unclear about the philosophy. But I usually think about the philosophy, debate it with family and ensure that there's clarity in thought. Then to weave philosophy into the story, I just surrender and allow it to emerge in the manner it has to. That's why I never face a writer's block.
I had a difficult time only once. One or two years into writing my first book, The Immortals of Meluha, I had completely given up. A maths graduate and an MBA from IIM Calcutta, who spent 14 years doing management jobs, you can imagine the kind of person I was. Using the rational side was my natural way of being. So I planned and read all these self-help books, tried doing character sketches... And it just didn't work! That's when my wife said to me, "Don't use this controlling approach when you are writing." It brought about a mental shift. As soon as I started writing instinctively, my story began to flow.
That's why people say failure is important. If a strategy has worked for you, it's not easy to give up; the strategy has to fail for you to change. It makes you think of something new. The impulse to be rational does return, but I keep it in check. When you are thinking of financials, contracts and marketing, you obviously have to utilise that side, but I have come to believe that when you are creating, you have to surrender. Now that's how I write all my books.
—As told to Pooja Bhula
