Today, we are delighted to introduce another wonderful writer, wigglysubu, the winner of the Inkitt's Short Story Competition 2019, who we invited to the ContemporaryLit profile for a chat. She is a wonderful person to talk to and we're sure that you'll find her approach to writing very inspirational, if not relatable! Thank you, wigglysubu, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions about yourself and your writing life. 

ContemporaryLit: Let's begin with getting to know you. Can you tell us something about yourself? Introduce yourself to our followers.

WIGGLYSUBU: Hi, I'm Subalakshmi (as you can tell from my name, I'm Indian) and my nickname is subu which is too childish for a soon-to-be twenty year old. I'm majoring in English Literature and figuring out how on earth will my major help me get rich. I love to read, write and make others feel loved, so you can feel free to drop me a message any time! 

ContemporaryLit: What prompted you to become a writer? And why did you choose contemporary literature and its subgenres?

WIGGLYSUBU: I always had many ideas in my head and I was embarrassed to talk about them with someone else since I didn't wish to bore or make anyone run away. I found writing to be a great medium through which I could express my ideas and find a supportive community of like-minded people. Contemporary literature makes us feel that in spite of the harsh reality around us with new issues cropping up each day, there exists joy and laughter with it. We're not alone in our struggles and no matter how different our cultures are, we're all experiencing the same range of emotions and trying to be better individuals. Contemporary literature is honest, relatable and has a profound impact on the readers.

ContemporaryLit: How do you find inspiration for your stories?

WIGGLYSUBU: I think I get inspired by some scenes or elements used in movies/tv shows/ other books. When I love something, I can never get enough of it and to put an end to my unhealthy obsession, I create stories that I would prefer to read too xD

ContemporaryLit: Please, share some of your writing habits. How do you fit writing time into your day? What tricks do you use to organize your writing life?

WIGGLYSUBU: I think consistent updates comes from the mindset- how passionate we are about that story and how we perceive writing which is why when we release a new book, the initial chapters are pumped out quickly in excitement and scrutinize each read we get xD I perceive writing as a leisure activity, one that stimulates my mind and relieves me of stress like binge watching some show on Netflix. When we think of writing as some chore that needs to be completed asap, that's when we have lost our passion for that particular story. Also, we need to keep writing even if its rubbish because it becomes SO hard to come back to writing after a long interval.

ContemporaryLit: Nice way to look at it, it's absolutely true!! Tell us about your experience writing on Wattpad? What are your favorite things about sharing your work on this platform?

WIGGLYSUBU: The favourite things about not only sharing my works here, but also reading are firstly, the comments haha. People here are hilarious and sometimes I enjoy reading comments more than the books. Also, when readers share their experiences of reading my books and telling me that they felt something – be it happiness or sadness, I know that I have done an alright job. It motivates me to become a better writer and I'm super grateful ❤

ContemporaryLit: The community is so good, we agree with you. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

WIGGLYSUBU: Hobbies these days have been reduced to Netflix, Instagram haha. So when I'm not writing/reading or doing college and other work, it's just those things. I enjoy cooking and baking too but I'm no Masterchef xD 

ContemporaryLit: What bit of advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?

WIGGLYSUBU: DON'T QUIT. This is the most clichéd advice I could ever give but finish that story. Rush the plot, finish it somehow even if you have a better idea for another story in your head or else you'll be stuck in a loophole of unfinished stories. Incomplete stories will make you feel incomplete. And don't succumb to comparison. Different types of art exists and two and more pieces of art can be beautiful at the same time. It's okay if your story isn't as great as some Jane Austen novel, your story will be great as something written by you. Celebrate differences in your writing styles because when you don't compare, you will not imitate. The final product will be a fresh, unique story that will stand out and make you proud.

ContemporaryLit: This is a beautiful advice, surely, this will be helpful to many of our followers!   Can you tell us what you're working on now?  What can your readers look forward to reading?

WIGGLYSUBU: I'm currently working on 'Under The Mango Trees' which is about two girls in love and this is set in Mumbai. This is my first Indian novel and I was always putting off writing a story so close to home because of multiple reasons. But now that I'm writing it and seeing how it's turning out exactly like I had planned, I'm glad! Readers can expect an authentic portrayal of teens living in Mumbai, the culture, multi-layered characters and simply an enjoyable story which celebrates differences!

ContemporaryLit: Sounds exciting, we cannot wait to read it! Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers?

WIGGLYSUBU: Ah just take care everyone, allow yourselves to grow and hope I haven't bored you xD

ContemporaryLit: Thank you so much for your time, wigglysubu, and especially for your wonderful answers. It's been a pleasure talking to you!

WIGGLYSUBU: Thank you so much for interviewing me!