Writing for a modern audience can be challenging and exciting at the same time. With rapidly changing times, authors need to keep up with evolving reader preferences and present their ideas in a way that resonates with their audience. With Blogchatter’s 7th edition of Writfest, we had a chat with Tanushree Podder, Riva Razdan, and Ayush Gupta, who are all accomplished authors and screenwriters. Tanushree, who has written 17 novels, talks about how the tone and pace of her writing vary depending on the genre she is working on. She says, “When I’m writing a thriller, it has got to be a different tone and pace, and when I’m writing about military matters, it is very different.”

Ayush, who wrote the political thriller, shares the inspiration behind his book, saying that it was shaped by his experiences in college and a fight he had with a friend.

Riva, who writes romantic feminist fiction, talks about the importance of representing independent and strong women as romantic heroes in literature and film. She says,

“I think it’s funny that it’s revolutionary to ask for female characters in novels and narrative fiction, or even in film. It should be the norm.”

Different Tones and Styles in Writing

Tanushree Podder, a well-known travel writer, and novelist, shares her experience of writing across different genres and adapting to various tones and styles. She emphasizes that writing a thriller requires a different pace and tone compared to writing about military matters or a subject like Ambapali, set in ancient India. She says that writing about a specific era requires extensive research to bring the setting to life and create an appropriate ambiance.

“To write a perfect story, she breathes and dreams of those times that are set in the book too.”

Incorporating Contemporary Issues into Writing

Ayush Gupta, author, and screenwriter, talks about how his novel, “My Name is Not Dave Das,” resonated with today’s politically active youngsters. He says that his experiences in college and a fight with a friend inspired him to write a politically charged retelling of the Devdas story. Gupta believes that incorporating contemporary issues into fiction is crucial to make a significant impact on readers.

“It’s very, very important in the times that we are living to have a little concern for the causes, you know because there is so much division and fragmentation within our society.”

Feminist Fiction for the Modern Reader

Riva Razdan, an author and screenwriter, writes feminist fiction that supports and encourages young Indian women. She believes that modern women, regardless of their ambition or love life, want equality and respect in their identity. She thinks that female characters should be feminists, and feminist ideas should be the norm in contemporary fiction.

“I actually think our generation stands on the shoulders of the previous generations. Like I think our mothers and grandmothers…fought for us, and that’s kind of the torch that we have to keep carrying.”

The Importance of Morality and Ideology in Fiction

Riva Razdan also talks about the importance of morality and ideology in fiction, even if it’s commercial. She believes that fiction without grounding ideology is often hollow and doesn’t resonate as strongly with readers. Ayush Gupta agrees, adding that while the primary job of fiction is to entertain, it’s also essential to incorporate subtle messages that address critical issues

The authors discuss the challenges of writing in different genres and time periods, the importance of giving a subtle message in their books, and the need to represent independent and strong women in romantic literature and film. They agree that fiction without morality or grounding ideology is often hollow and that it’s important to do it right and make people feel emotions.