A note to my 10-year-old self

Look at you, gently smiling as you read your first Enid Blyton book, Five Get into a Fix, and getting a clear vision that one day, you too will write stories and publish books. Well, I’m here to tell you that you are finally an author now. I just held the advance copy of my, your, our first fiction novel, If Then Else, and I had to write to you right away. I’m elated, overjoyed, running out of superlatives and can’t stop beaming from ear to ear.

It took a while to get here, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I got here. Eventually. You kept having ideas and starting books but couldn’t complete them. When I realised half a lifetime had passed by and your dream was fading, I shook myself and published Mia finds a home on Amazon. It was a real-life story of how I got my first meow baby Mia home and was gorgeously illustrated by Piyali as a bedtime story for my daughter, Tarana. You’d love it as you always did like kittens. It’s free on Kindle Unlimited now.

Then I met my brilliant literary agent, Suhail Mathur from The Book Bakers, and the path to becoming an author for the rest of my life became clear. I co-authored my father, Lt. Col. V.S. Ranganathan’s autobiography, Burma to Bangalore, and it was published by Locksley Hall Publishing. An exciting time for the whole family. My father had these wonderfully funny, inspirational, nostalgic stories and I wrote them in a way that you could understand too. My sister, Priya compiled a lifetime of pictures and wrote several stories in it. Do read them when you get a chance.

I got the germ of an idea for If Then Else a couple of decades ago. It was simmering at the back of my head, and when I got laid off, I started writing it. But I got a job a few months later and shelved it. I kept reviving it during writing breaks, and then there was a long pause when Tarana came into my life. When I looked at it again, I felt like rewriting everything! And so, it went on in fits and starts over the years, a pet project to work on during snatched hours. Very challenging to write a whole novel that way. I don’t recommend it. However, I took the time to learn about all aspects of crafting a novel, culminating in a writing and mentorship program at Anita’s Attic, curated by Anita Nair, the well-known novelist. And when the novel was complete, Suhail got it placed with Vishwakarma Publishers.

Remember how shy you were? Probably this was just how it should be – this long journey was required to help you build your confidence as a writer. This is it. In a few weeks, If Then Else will be officially released and launched into the world. I hope many people want to read it and that will encourage you to write more.

Here are the Aha’s along the way that may help other 10, 20, 30, any year olds as they follow their dreams:

1. Follow your dreams but be flexible about changing the shape of it: I was fixated on publishing a book. Perhaps I should have been more open to getting shorter works published along the way – poems, short stories, articles, and the many avenues for content in the digital world.
2. Figure out what you can do to help your dream come true: It may be honing a craft, learning a skill, or getting the required tools. Keep working on it. It’s not going to appear magically without effort.
3. Build your “Dream-makers” network: Get in touch with people who will help you realise your dream. It could be your family giving you space and time, friends who cheer you on, a career that gives you stability or mentors who inspire and share knowledge.
4. Stick-to-itiveness: My writing journey is a story in stubborn persistence if nothing else. Don’t give up on your dreams, your ambitions, your desires. You have one life and only you can make it as fulfilling as possible.
5. Take a leap of faith: Sure, there may be others who reached their goals before you, or have done a lot more with their life or are more successful etc. etc. Never mind. Your path is your own and comparing with others is a no-win game. Be bold, brave, and have confidence in yourself to do what you want to do. Remember Maria’s song in Sound of Music? Scream, “ I have confidence in me…”  and go forth and conquer the world!
6. Savour each moment: I was guilty of always living in the future, of a time when things will be perfect, till I realised that this time, this moment has a lot going for it and I need to enjoy it. Have fun and don’t be so serious, lah. Read P G Wodehouse or watch a comedy show for an instant pick-me-up. Listen to music, watch the clouds, eat your Mom’s yummy food, know what gives you happiness and indulge in it.
7. Be grateful: For everyone and everything, the good and the bad, as that has got you to the point where you are today. In that spirit, I am so thankful for my wonderful family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances, The Book Bakers and it’s supportive author community, Vishwakarma Publishers for believing in the story, and to a lifetime of experiences from where I can draw observations for my writing.

So, child, your moment in the spotlight is coming soon. In a few short weeks, If Then Else will be released. I hope your future readers follow you on https://linktr.ee/Sandhya.ranganathan. I look forward to interacting with all of them soon! I’ll let you go back to reading the five find-outers and dog.