SHARYN BAJERAI
- Guest Author -
G'day folks,
Welcome to an interview conducted with an enthusiastic Australian author.
Welcome, Sharyn ...
- TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
As
a young girl I’ve always had a love for books. It wasn’t until later in life I
decided to have a go at writing my first children’s book. I felt encouraged to continuing
writing after entering competitions many years later and receiving awards for
my children’s short stories.
- WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
Even
before my kids could talk, I was reading to them. Then one day, I decided it
can’t be that hard to write a story for young children. Looking back at the
first story I wrote twenty years ago, I now realise I have come a long way. It isn’t
as easy as it looks to capture the imagination of young children and write
something they can get excited about reading.
- DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
My
inspiration for my stories usually come from a news article I’ve read, an
advertisement on TV or just one sentence that someone has said to me. The key
is to write it down straight away as not to forget it. The ideas take shape and
I think the idea might just be ridiculous enough to intrigue children. I
typically start with one line and shoot from the hip from there.
- WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
My
favourite part to a story is adding a twist at the end. It will create the
surprise factor and I like to think it will get a good response from the
children. After all, those were the stories my children and I enjoyed when I
read to them.
- WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
By
far the most difficult thing about being a writer is when to know if the story
is complete or good enough for others to read. If I am not happy with the
story, it can take months to tweak the idea and get it just right.
- WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
Before
I entered into the fantasy world of children’s stories I was a Bank Clerk and
full time mum. It was becoming a parent to four children and reading to them
that pushed me to think writing for them and other children could be something
I’d enjoy.
- WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
My
greatest achievement is being published! I have had two manuscripts published
in the NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre, School Magazine.
- WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
After
getting my first e-book “An Elephant living in the house and other pet stories”
for young readers, I am excited to get my second collection up and I am in the
process of compiling it.
- WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
The
genre that I choose to write are books for children- mostly picture and early
readers. I have also written a few junior novels.
- DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
My
three tips for new writers are simple: Read! Practice, practice and practice, and
never give up.
- DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
Every
writer would get writer’s block in some form. Sure, I experience it too, but
there is always tomorrow.
- DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
I
don’t have a favourite corner or room but one thing is for sure, if the place
is quiet and I’ve got my laptop, then I can get lost in my writing for hours.
- WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
Every
few months I find a new exciting author on the shelves of my library, and if I
like a book of theirs, I keep with their books for a while. I don’t really have
a favourite author, I just enjoy reading a book that tells a great story.
- WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
I
used to belong to a writing group before it folded. One session we all wrote
down what we thought of each other and our writing on paper and passed it on. Some
of the comments were very touching. I still keep those pieces of paper to help
keep my spirits up when I am trying to get a story just right.
- OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
In
my spare time I like to indulge in reading a new book, travelling, walking in
nature and spending time with my family.
- DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Before
publication, I send my manuscripts to Sally Odgers for critiquing and a final
edit. I think I’m addicted to her comments, they really helped me.
- WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?
Across
the world, world leaders seem not care about the little people, it has all
become a race to make money and become powerful. It would be great to see them
stop wasting money and put it into projects that benefit mankind.
- DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
I
did not portray myself in any of my stories, but I feel like some of my
characters are based on my children and people I know. Some of my ideas came
from some of the things my children use to do or say when they were younger. My
eldest son enjoyed the water so much that I wrote a story about a boy who could
breathe under water.
- DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
I’ve
never considered quitting writing, it is something I started out of passion and
I never thought of publishing back then. To me it doesn’t matter if you are
never published. I once did a story and added pictures from ‘clip art’ (because
I can’t draw to save my life) and my daughter’s teacher added questions and
made it into class books. I never got paid for it but I thoroughly enjoyed
seeing the children benefit from my writing.
- WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
My
favourite piece of writing would have to be my story “Lee” which is about a boy
who finds a stray greyhound and needs to find a way to keep him. I sat down one
afternoon and wrote the story from beginning to end. It was a story just itching
to be written.
- HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?
The
most fulfilling part to being a writer than makes me think “Yes I’ve done it”
is to type the words “The End” at the end of a story. I would see it as a
success not to leave a story unfinished.
- WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
Apart
from travelling the world, I wish I had the artistic skills to illustrate my
own books.
- ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
My
son-in-law encouraged me to put some stories together and helped me to
self-publish the collection as an e-book. Without his help it never would have
happened.
- WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
Everybody
should have the opportunity to read.
- ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
I
think your photo’s are amazing Clancy! They capture the moment.
FACEBOOK FACTS
Clancy's Comment: There ya go, folks. Another Aussie author is up and running. Well done, Sharyn.
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