To kick off our Inkitt Icons Interview Series for 2019, we spoke to published author Raathi_Chota, who lives in Perth and writes captivating thrillers. She chatted to us about the subjectivity of characterisation and her Inkitt inspirations.
Hi Raathi, we hope you’re enjoying 2019 so far! We’d love to know more about your ideal writing set up. Where do you like to write?
It mostly depends on the scene I’m writing, I don’t know why but the atmosphere itself needs to fit the situation. That’s why you can either find me in bed with snacks to keep me company, or at my desk with a strong cup of coffee.
It’s always good to mix it up. What is your creative process like? Do you just start writing and let the words flow, or do you come up with a plan beforehand?
To be honest, at first, I just wrote whatever came to mind. But when I began to get readers, I actually put some thought into the books I wrote. Now, I make sure I plan before I write, and then make final changes after I write the scene or chapter.
So you began as a spontaneous creator and progressed into a planner, cool! Do you prefer creating heroes or villains?
That’s a tricky question for me because it depends on your perspective whether a character is a hero or a villain. I’d say I prefer creating heroes because you can write their strengths and weaknesses to show that they’re not perfect.
That’s an interesting take on characterisation; in order to create realistic characters, it’s certainly important to sculpt them from a multitude of angles and perceive them through different perspectives. Has Inkitt inspired you, and if so, how?
Yes, because it made me realize that I don’t need to have privilege in order to achieve what I want in life and do what I love. All I need is a pen and paper, and of course a laptop to upload…
It’s amazing to hear that. We always strive to make writing and reading as accessible as possible. What has been the most important aspect of Inkitt for you?
Being able to expand my writing platform and create more opportunities for my readers to connect and grow with me.
Awesome. Now, as an active writer, we’re guessing you read a lot too – who is your favourite Inkitt author?
I’ve been liking Islandkari’s stories lately and I hope to read more of her work in the future!
We’re sure she’ll be pleased to hear it. And to finish off, who is your character crush?
Rhys Lindstrom from The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman!
Nice! Thank you so much for speaking to us and Happy New Year!
