Welcome to the newest post in Writing While Healing, a series where I speak with indie authors who’ve found light through writing during their darkest times.
Today, I’m honored to feature Ananya, author and a mental health advocate. You can learn more about Ananya here.
Please introduce yourself!
Hello! I'm Ananya from India, and a very proud citizen. I started out as a reader, back when I was 9/10 years old and eventually began writing my own stories, having been inspired by the ones I read,, especially the Enid Blyton books.
Please tell us a little about yourself and the kind of stories you write.
I tend to write stories that may seem happy and pleasant, but eventually turn quite dark. I have new adult epic fantasy books published at the moment, but during my Wattpad days, I'd also written many contemporary romances, thrillers, and school serieses, too. They'll be published in the upcoming years.
Please share a bit about your mental health journey, as much as you are comfortable with :)
I was emotionally and verbally bullied back at school by a couple of boys for three years, before I finally had the courage to tell the Vice Principal about them. After that, it took me five years to completely recover from that trauma. I was always a sensitive person and I guess those years of bullying made me a thicker skinned person. But when I was going through it all, it was hard. Reading books brought a sense of peace to me and writing eventually started the process of healing. It took five years, but I was finally out of it, by the time I finished my graduation.
How has your mental health influenced your writing process or creativity?
The fact that all my books inherently begin as pleasant and then turn dark is something that has been a form of expressing my own emotions. On the outside, I looked happy and prosperous, but deep down, I was broken and in pieces, just waiting to see the light again. I did, eventually, after about fifteen books and a few poems.
Do you find writing to be healing, challenging, or a bit of both?
Writing is more healing to me than challenging. I only find it challenging when I'm stuck trying to unpack my emotions and/or express them.
Has your experience with mental health shaped the themes or characters in your stories?
Elmeida Yuri was largely based on me. She starts off as a fairly innocent chatai, but she gradually develops a kind of street smartness that ends up shocking the world. Well, that's me.
Are there any writing routines, boundaries, or self-care habits that help you stay grounded?
Dreaming of being my fictional characters have helped me stay the healing path
What advice would you give to other writers who have similar struggles as you?
Only one thing- "The only way to overcome fear is to challenge it." Face your fears and they're the shortest way to get rid of them and pursue a happier life.
Have you ever taken breaks from writing to focus on your mental health?
No, I didn't have to. Writing was focussing on mental health for me, and it's NOT writing that made me go a little crazy. Every day that I didn't write a thing was a day I went a little crazy. I didn't allow it to go very far, thankfully.
What’s something you wish more people understood about being a writer with mental health struggles?
Every person has internal struggles, whether they choose to tell them or not. Just give them a break. Don't always beat them up.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers?
Reading and writing are like breathing to me. Can we live without breathing? No. Similarly, I cannot live without either reading or writing everyday. And music in the background always helped enhance the experience.
Where can readers connect with you and your work? (Socials, website, books, etc.)
Threads- v_ananya_author
Twitter- v_ananya_
My book samples and links are available on my website.
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Thank you for reading!
Bookish Musings sustains on your support. If you like the interview and would like to tip me, you can do it here!
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