Authors are creative jewels in the World – Ashreeta Mohanty

Indeed, authors are creative jewels of the world, as they play a crucial role in shaping cultures, expanding knowledge, and enriching human experiences through their literary works. To explore the importance and significance of authors, let’s know their opinion from them directly.

1. What led you to become an author, and what motivates you to continue writing?

Ans: My irresistible, abundant love for literature and the English language led me to become an author and that has been my only and constant motivation.

2. How do you believe authors contribute to the enrichment of society and culture?

Ans: The power of words can spark a meaning, reform a nation and create movements while being completely eternal. This makes literature relevant in modern society and will continue to do so in years to come.

3. In what ways do authors help readers gain insights into different perspectives, cultures, and periods?

Ans: Time travel historical fiction is one of the best genres or examples. Books based on ancient history help you understand different periods and the cultural value system which exists before us.

4. Authors often tackle important social and political issues through their works. Can you share an example of a book or author that had a significant impact on society?

Ans: The names which are immediately striking to my mind are R.K. Narayan, Shashi Tharoor and Arundhati Roy some of the best contemporary Indian writers.

5. Literature can serve as a time capsule, preserving the essence of historical periods. How do authors contribute to our understanding of history through their writings?

Ans: The relationship between history and literature is unique. One is the collection and the other is the reflection of happenings. Literature enables a person to step back in time to have an understanding of our ancient eras.

6. Authors have the power to ignite emotions and empathy in readers. How does storytelling facilitate this emotional connection?

Ans: Storytelling is putting yourself in someone’s shoes. A good Storyteller enhances honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity within its readers.

7. Do you think authors have a responsibility to address contemporary societal challenges and promote positive change through their writing?

Ans: Of course, yes. Writers play a huge part in cultural and social development.

8. The literary canon is constantly evolving. How do authors challenge existing norms and contribute to the evolution of literature?

Ans: Literary landscape of the present day is so complex and multifaceted that it is almost impossible to distill it into a single period in the history of literary evolution. According to me now we should focus more on cross-cultural issues.

9. How does literature transcend borders and languages, fostering global connections and understanding?

Ans: As they say, “Literature is a documentation of life seen, known and recorded artistically”. Writers give a clear direction to society and society provides raw material to the artist and its basic philosophy, to which an imaginative touch is added by the artist. Literature reflects cultural norms and values and beliefs. Literature endeavors to transcend geographical constraints. Literature is global. It allows a person to connect to the real world.

10. Some authors have faced censorship and opposition due to their controversial works. What are your thoughts on the importance of defending creative freedom?

Ans: See, creative freedom is crucial. If we will not think outside the box, take risks, and innovate, it will become monotonous and eventually will not resonate with our audience. As authors, we should enjoy this liberty. When we start thinking about what others will think, we will not be able to do justice to our writings. Everybody has different opinions and I respect that. But it’s a never-ending process of learning. In this journey, we will face challenges and that will make our craft stronger.

11. How does reading and engaging with literary works enhance cognitive abilities, critical thinking, and empathy among readers?

Ans: Critical thinking is a fundamental skill for both language and literacy success. They grow together and nurture each other’s success. Through reading, we can develop cognitive abilities such as building empathy and curiosity and strengthening analytic and evaluating skills.

12. Apart from entertainment, how do authors provide valuable life lessons and wisdom through their stories and characters?

Ans: Many of the books I’ve read over the years have made me see myself differently. Whether we know the individual or not, hearing their story evokes feelings within us.

13. Authors often use symbolism and metaphors to convey deeper meanings. Can you share an example of a book where symbolism played a significant role?

Ans: Arun Joshi and Anita Desai are some of the Indian authors who used symbolism in their respective Novels.

14. How does literature serve as a medium for documenting cultural heritage and preserving indigenous knowledge?

Ans: Literature has a big influence on cultural and societal development. It has the power to reflect and mold a society’s attitudes, values, and beliefs. Literature frequently questions our presumptions and beliefs, forcing us to critically consider the world around us. This can aid in fostering empathy and understanding for people and can also increase our tolerance and acceptance of them.

15. In what ways has technology and the digital age impacted the work of authors, readership, and the dissemination of literature?

Ans: In this digital age, more than human readers authors are appealing the search engines. Everything has become so objective and data-driven, depending vastly on numbers. At the same time, I do agree that the digitization of literature acts as a great leveler. Now information is easily accessible. No doubt online materials were fine for picking up specific elements, but for engaging in substantial work, print books were preferred.

16. Can you discuss the influence of classic literary works on contemporary authors and their writing styles?

Ans: The world of contemporary literature is always changing. Now the term “modern classic” gets thrown around a lot. So yes, classic literature is the base and it will always have its influence on contemporary writing. In my point of view, literary classifications are arbitrary.

17. What role do authors play in shaping the imagination and creativity of future generations

Ans: Every art form symbolizes creativity. Literature makes you optimistic, widen your thoughts, and broadens your vision. As authors, we have the power to represent people’s voices through our writings. Relatability comes from meeting more and more people in real life.

18. How do you see the future of authors and literature in an ever-changing world?

Ans: Relevance is the key. Every author has a different style of writing. But we need to be relevant and keep evolving. That balance should be visible in our writings to reach a larger audience. This is what I feel.

19. Have you experienced any memorable encounters with readers whose lives were deeply impacted by your work?

Ans: Yes, during my initial days of writing (when I used to blog), I received many positive feedbacks which boost my morale and pushed me to continue my writing journey. While starting a new journey we all seek validation. Aren’t we..! I am grateful that I have encountered many such wonderful people who encouraged me and I could make a little impact in their life as well.

20. Lastly, what message or advice would you like to share with aspiring authors and avid readers who value the significance of literature?

Ans: Read all you can of other writers. We learn how to write through reading. Start writing and keep writing, no matter what.