Sujatha - Interview

Online Voice:
"1. How did an ordinary man spring as a promising writer ‘Sujatha’?

There are so many things makes a writer. I guess, maybe some kind of loneliness, being away from your parents, some kind of interest in tamil, My Sreerangam background all these could have been contributing factors. So you can not really say, this day is when, I became a writer. I guess,one evolves spontaneously as a writer.

2. What would you think as could have been the contributing factors in your development into a writer?

I would say my interest in tamil is the major factor. My brother was very good in tamil poetry, which provoked my interest too. I had very good tamil teachers in school and college. One significant factor is that during my University level, there was a non-detail short story collection from the British writers. I had an excellent teacher who sort of created an interest in the craft of creative stories. I would consider these as mojor contributing factors.

3. Is it that you started your writing career only after your tertiary graduationl?

Yes. After only I got my job, I really began/developed as a serious writer.

4. At what age did you first publish your work?

At the age of twenty seven, my first piece was published in Kumudam magazine. It was a short story.

5. What is your schedule for an ordinary day?

It depends on the day. If it is a holiday, I wake up late……..One thing is that I read late at night….I have two offices….So I spend two hours in each office. Depending on the deadlines of my articles, I concentrate and finish my columns. It is quiet flexible.

6. When you say, you read a lot, Is there a shift in your type of reading?

Now days, I read a lot in the online. I am quiet focused. Things which interests me is shifting. I don’t read much of fictions these days.

7. There is a spontaneous flow in your writing that is distinct from the other writers? How is it possible?

I think the main reason for that is I read a lot both in Tamil and English. When you read, you feel like writing like that. My classical reading and others help me in my writing. There are so many good writers, who possess a good style of writing. I guess vocabulary is also important in good writing. I have introduction to both ancient and modern litreatures. So, I feel it is easy to explain the Sangam age literature words in simple words. My Sreerangam back ground also helps me a lot.

8. Can you give a single potent message for upcoming writers?

My single message would be, “Key to good writing is good reading”.

9. Who is a successful person in your view?

The one who is true to himself is a successful person in my view. One should be kind in their words. Why use hard and bitter words and hurt others, when there are so many simple and good words around? So, one should be careful in not hurting others.

10. What is your advice to the aspiring writers?

They will have to be honest and truthful. Most important quality for a writer is that, he should look at things beyond his liking and disliking. There should not be any room for his good and bad. I would advice them to read a lot. Any kind of reading be it is, will give them a message and it can reflect their writing in one way or another. "