Taking our series of interviews with writers further, we welcome Kulpreet Yadav as our guest for this month. Kulpreet works with the government of India and has interests in writing poetry, short stories and novels. His books: 'the bet' (2006) and 'the waiting wave' (2011) have made news, and his debut novel has connected well with the audience. Prominent authors like Indra Sinha, Upamanyu Chatterjee and jug Suraiya, besides others, have hailed Kulpreet's writing abilities

Apart from being known for his writing abilities, Kulpreet comes across as a modest yet focused individual. Team Okiedoks wishes success and happiness to him and his family. Let us know more about the talented author…

You work as a government official with the GOI. Has your official stint influenced your writing?

Work place has had significant influence in shaping my ideas and thoughts as it has taken me from place A to B to C and so on, in India and elsewhere. Meeting new people, seeing them react in different situations and seeing new settings has, indeed, lent a layer through which it has been possible to write believable stories. And I think stories should be such that people are able to relate to in their real lives. Writing for me, therefore, is unlike, Indian cinema.     

How and when did the writer in you start to evolve?

I guess I always knew I would write, but the process of writing in real life began about a decade or so ago. Earlier, I played with words that seemed like poetry and I kept it hidden from the world.  

Movies have become money making projects but writing still hasn’t been adulterated. What is your take on it?

I guess the publishers are more to be blamed for it, than us writers. There is too much focus on style and literary merit than the soul of the story. The people at large don't want anything complicated. The new age Indian publishers are, in my opinion, slowly and steadily changing all of that.      

Hitchcock once said, writers and filmmakers are the only 2 people who can make money via their insecurities. Do you think insecurity really helps the writer fraternity?

Insecurity, to my mind, is a dangerous territory for anyone. But often, when the doors close, a new one opens. 

How different is short story writing than a novel?

Short story is a wonderful medium for a writer to connect with his readers. It is a pity that we don't have too many publishers keen to experiment with this. Short stories have now taken very interesting forms, and the one I like most is flash fiction. I have penned down over 300 flash fiction pieces in past two years and many have found place in some of the best publications from around the world. 

Coming to the difference part, I guess as a writer one has a greater control over a short story, whereas in a novel, the idea has to stay for a longer time and the characters have a tendency to pull it from the corners. So, in other words, there can be changes in the story from what you had intended in the beginning. How much you resist the change and how much you adapt to it, is very important. 

Could you share any of your experiences while getting your book published?

I had to dump three books before my new novel - a waiting wave was finally accepted. 

Experience: you call up. You send mail. You call up. You send e mail. You call up. You send courier. You call up. You give up, dump the project and after one year with a better work start all over again. 

In the scale of 1 to 10, what are the chances of a good yet amateur writer to get his/her work published?

It is very tough to get published. Real tough!! The process can sometimes shake the belief in one's writing completely. Many lose way trying to find a good publisher. On such a scale I would reckon 2-3. But this is not to suggest, it can't be achieved at all. By constantly improving the quality of writing, taking feedback from fellow writers and having faith, it can be achieved sooner than later. 

Which authors do you recommend for budding authors? Who is your favorite author?

It would be hard to recommend authors to budding writers, as the preference of genres would be different. I think one should read all the successful writers in the genre of choice. My favorite authors include Indra Sinha, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Roald dahl, James Hadley chase, Milan Kundera etc.  

Could you tell us about your writing based future plans?

I want to write all my life. Now i am focusing on more believable stories. Like the current book that I am writing is based on khap panchayat set in rural Haryana, the state I belong to. I want to write more direct fiction on topics that make immediate sense to people.

What would be your advice to artistic souls?

Believe in your capabilities, work hard; love whatever you do, and never give up.  

If you want to connect with Kulpreet Yadav, please get in touch with us and we will pass on the information to him. Email us at d@okiedoks.com or cs@okiedoks.com, if required.