His love of writing has seen him write three books. This same love also saw him take a nearly three-year break from financial services to work as a professional ghostwriter. Avnish currently resides in New Delhi, where he has struck a happy balance between the world of financial services, and his life as an author.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. Aside from writing, I also try to squeeze in some time to compose music. I have some basic recording equipment at home, and enjoy writing songs and composing melodies on my guitar.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. My next book will be a tale of dictatorial/fascist powers taking over the world, and the escape of certain characters in order to regroup, train, and fight back. It’ll be spread over three novellas, released together as constituent parts of one book.
Since it usually takes me a little over two years to release a book, I believe a feasible target for me would be about mid-2026.
Q.3 What inspired you to write 3x3: Tales Uncommonly Told and delve into the world of short stories?
A. I enjoy writing short stories. They allow you to tell a tale or narrate a fictional incident succinctly, without being burdened by the need to develop elaborate backstories. That being said, a couple of stories in 3X3: Tales Uncommonly Told are considerably longer than conventional short stories (they fall more in the novella category).
As far as inspiration is concerned, it’s very hard to answer that question. I’d toyed with a couple of ideas for a few years until finally, I felt I had developed them enough to turn them into full-fledged stories.
One of the stories, though - Picture Imperfect - was something I was very keen to write in a particular style, as I wanted it to represent my take on the direction in which our society is currently moving. In a way, you could say that ‘society’ was the inspiration for that particular tale.
Q.4 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite?
A. I’ve written three books up till now - Six Lines in the Sand: Tales of Awakening, Dreamtamer and Other Short Stories, and 3X3: Tales Uncommonly Told. It’s impossible for me to pick my favourite.
Q.4 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite?
A. I’ve written three books up till now - Six Lines in the Sand: Tales of Awakening, Dreamtamer and Other Short Stories, and 3X3: Tales Uncommonly Told. It’s impossible for me to pick my favourite.
I love Six Lines because it was my first book - very raw, very unstructured, but possibly reflective of the most unfiltered version of me as a writer.
I love Dreamtamer because it was a tremendously rewarding experience to write, edit and publish (this was my first book available to read in print/physical form).
And 3X3 captures some of my most thought-provoking writing yet - in fact, the stories in 3X3 made me sit down and think (about storyboarding, writing style and character development) more than anything I’ve ever written before.
Q.5 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Perspective. Hands down, the answer to this is perspective. Sometimes, as a male writer, the best I can do (especially in moments of substantial poignancy) is imagine what a female character would feel or think in that situation.
Q.5 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Perspective. Hands down, the answer to this is perspective. Sometimes, as a male writer, the best I can do (especially in moments of substantial poignancy) is imagine what a female character would feel or think in that situation.
Fortunately, I am blessed to have some very strong women in my life, and I make sure to have them read my manuscripts to give me an honest critique of my interpretation of the female psyche in my stories. Obviously, there is no one-psyche-fits-all solution, but having multiple pairs of female eyes critique my work helps me develop a balanced perspective.
Q.6 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. Oh, this is something I spend the least amount of time deciding. I know that some writers labour over this, but for me, the plot and the personalities are all-important.
I think this tendency of mine comes from my (admittedly limited) experience in music composition. In music, you focus on the melody, and the lyrics describe feelings and sentiments. Names in songs are extremely rare, and I believe this quirk of lyrical composition spills into my writing.
Q.7 How do you handle writer’s block or creative challenges when they arise?
A. The only solution I’ve found to writer’s block is to walk away from my manuscript for a while. For me, I read, play the guitar, socialise, and travel a little (if possible).
Q.6 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. Oh, this is something I spend the least amount of time deciding. I know that some writers labour over this, but for me, the plot and the personalities are all-important.
I think this tendency of mine comes from my (admittedly limited) experience in music composition. In music, you focus on the melody, and the lyrics describe feelings and sentiments. Names in songs are extremely rare, and I believe this quirk of lyrical composition spills into my writing.
Q.7 How do you handle writer’s block or creative challenges when they arise?
A. The only solution I’ve found to writer’s block is to walk away from my manuscript for a while. For me, I read, play the guitar, socialise, and travel a little (if possible).
Writer’s block, to me, is my mind telling me that it needs a break - either to recharge, so that it can tackle the story with renewed vigour at a later time…or to explore whether it even likes the story in the first place. Obsessing about writer’s block is a bit like struggling in quicksand - the more you fret about it, the quicker it pulls you in.
Q.8 What is your writing routine like? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that help you write?
A. It’s hard to have a specific ritual in place when you have a demanding day job and are responsible for running your home as well. What works best for me is to chip away at my stories. Maybe a few hundred words on a particular day, and then a thousand on a lazy Sunday.
Q.8 What is your writing routine like? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that help you write?
A. It’s hard to have a specific ritual in place when you have a demanding day job and are responsible for running your home as well. What works best for me is to chip away at my stories. Maybe a few hundred words on a particular day, and then a thousand on a lazy Sunday.
Then, maybe nothing for an entire week, and then two thousand the following weekend. I try not to stress out about covering pages and chapters - I write because I love to, and there’s no point in ruining my relationship with writing just because of a target I’ve set for myself.
I would like to acknowledge here, though, that I’m very privileged in this regard, and that I’m aware there are many authors in the world labouring under stringent deadlines. My approach certainly won’t work for them.
Q.9 How do you develop the psychological tension in your stories? Do you have any techniques for building suspense?
A. I remove myself from the role of the author or narrator and place myself in my characters’ shoes. Then, I look through their eyes, feel what they’re feeling, hear what they’re hearing, and think what they’re thinking. This helps guide me towards what would make a situation tense or suspenseful. And once I have all the information I need, I put it down in words.
Q.10 How do you see your writing evolving in the coming years? Are there any new genres or themes you’d like to explore?
A. In the future, I’d like to maintain a healthy balance between short stories and full-length novels. And as far as genres are concerned, I’d like to try them all. Maybe not all of them will see the light of day, but I’m up for trying at least. After all, I won’t know what I’m good at and what I like until I try.
Q.11 What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
A. When I finish a good book, I sigh - from a) the satisfaction of having completed an engaging journey with the author; and b) a slight, hollow sadness, knowing that the journey’s over, and it’s time to return to everyday life. I would be honoured if that’s what my readers were to take away from my stories.
Q.12 How do you deal with feedback and criticism of your work?
A. I take it on the chin and try to learn from it. Of course, criticism hurts. But constructive criticism can provide you with a fresh perspective on your work and also allows you to gauge whether your readers are, on average, interpreting your stories the way you had envisioned. If you don’t listen to criticism, you won’t know what you’re doing wrong - and consequently, you won’t evolve as an author.
Q.13 If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?
A. Get your first writing project over the line. Whether it’s a short story, a novella, or a novel, make sure you complete it. Our lives are full of distractions, and it’s very easy to trick ourselves into justifying a constant switching of projects - which will eventually result in pages upon pages of content, but nothing concrete to show for it. Start your story, make a commitment to yourself to complete it, and see it through. It’ll teach you a lot about discipline and perseverance. And believe me when I say - those two attributes are absolutely crucial to being a writer.
Q.14 What are you currently reading, and how do you choose what to read next?
A. I’m currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, alongside a collection of science fiction short stories. As far as how I choose books is concerned, I pick up books in bookstores, and read their back covers, and the pages on the inside. And if I like the premise and the writing style, it becomes my next read. Of course, I also try out recommendations and try to read the whole body of work of my favourite authors.
Q.15 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
A. A little more than two years, when I’m balancing writing with the office and my responsibilities at home. You can add a further three to four months of editing post that.
Q.16 What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
A. That’s a long list! Some of the top things (in no particular order) would be playing the guitar (and composing songs), reading, socialising, playing on my gaming console, travelling and driving.
Q.17 If you could meet any fictional character from your books, who would it be and why?
A. It would definitely be the old man in my story, Dreamtamer (from the book Dreamtamer and Other Short Stories.) Not only does he know how to fly (which he could teach me), but I believe I could learn a lot about life from him as well.
Q.18 How important is it for you to balance darkness with hope in your writing?
A. That’s a very hard question for me to answer - probably the hardest in this entire interview. My conscious mind tells me it’s not important to me at all - and yet, when I look at how my books have turned out, I’ve always subconsciously provided balance…if not in each story, then across the stories in the book at least. I do touch upon dark themes for sure, but all three books of mine have ended with a story of growth and hope. Maybe that’s how I see life too…some darkness, but some hope as well.
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or works that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your stories?
A. I think I’ve been most influenced by Hemingway and Asimov. They were absolute masters of their genres, and I’ve learnt a lot about storylines and writing styles from their literature.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far?
A. Hard work, but extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Looking forward to a lifetime of it.
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/avnishburman/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/avnish-burman-choudhury-8b073b53/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/avnishburmanchoudhury/
X - https://x.com/ChoudhuryBurman
Website - https://authoravnish.com/
I would like to acknowledge here, though, that I’m very privileged in this regard, and that I’m aware there are many authors in the world labouring under stringent deadlines. My approach certainly won’t work for them.
Q.9 How do you develop the psychological tension in your stories? Do you have any techniques for building suspense?
A. I remove myself from the role of the author or narrator and place myself in my characters’ shoes. Then, I look through their eyes, feel what they’re feeling, hear what they’re hearing, and think what they’re thinking. This helps guide me towards what would make a situation tense or suspenseful. And once I have all the information I need, I put it down in words.
Q.10 How do you see your writing evolving in the coming years? Are there any new genres or themes you’d like to explore?
A. In the future, I’d like to maintain a healthy balance between short stories and full-length novels. And as far as genres are concerned, I’d like to try them all. Maybe not all of them will see the light of day, but I’m up for trying at least. After all, I won’t know what I’m good at and what I like until I try.
Q.11 What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
A. When I finish a good book, I sigh - from a) the satisfaction of having completed an engaging journey with the author; and b) a slight, hollow sadness, knowing that the journey’s over, and it’s time to return to everyday life. I would be honoured if that’s what my readers were to take away from my stories.
Q.12 How do you deal with feedback and criticism of your work?
A. I take it on the chin and try to learn from it. Of course, criticism hurts. But constructive criticism can provide you with a fresh perspective on your work and also allows you to gauge whether your readers are, on average, interpreting your stories the way you had envisioned. If you don’t listen to criticism, you won’t know what you’re doing wrong - and consequently, you won’t evolve as an author.
Q.13 If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?
A. Get your first writing project over the line. Whether it’s a short story, a novella, or a novel, make sure you complete it. Our lives are full of distractions, and it’s very easy to trick ourselves into justifying a constant switching of projects - which will eventually result in pages upon pages of content, but nothing concrete to show for it. Start your story, make a commitment to yourself to complete it, and see it through. It’ll teach you a lot about discipline and perseverance. And believe me when I say - those two attributes are absolutely crucial to being a writer.
Q.14 What are you currently reading, and how do you choose what to read next?
A. I’m currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, alongside a collection of science fiction short stories. As far as how I choose books is concerned, I pick up books in bookstores, and read their back covers, and the pages on the inside. And if I like the premise and the writing style, it becomes my next read. Of course, I also try out recommendations and try to read the whole body of work of my favourite authors.
Q.15 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
A. A little more than two years, when I’m balancing writing with the office and my responsibilities at home. You can add a further three to four months of editing post that.
Q.16 What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
A. That’s a long list! Some of the top things (in no particular order) would be playing the guitar (and composing songs), reading, socialising, playing on my gaming console, travelling and driving.
Q.17 If you could meet any fictional character from your books, who would it be and why?
A. It would definitely be the old man in my story, Dreamtamer (from the book Dreamtamer and Other Short Stories.) Not only does he know how to fly (which he could teach me), but I believe I could learn a lot about life from him as well.
Q.18 How important is it for you to balance darkness with hope in your writing?
A. That’s a very hard question for me to answer - probably the hardest in this entire interview. My conscious mind tells me it’s not important to me at all - and yet, when I look at how my books have turned out, I’ve always subconsciously provided balance…if not in each story, then across the stories in the book at least. I do touch upon dark themes for sure, but all three books of mine have ended with a story of growth and hope. Maybe that’s how I see life too…some darkness, but some hope as well.
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or works that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your stories?
A. I think I’ve been most influenced by Hemingway and Asimov. They were absolute masters of their genres, and I’ve learnt a lot about storylines and writing styles from their literature.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far?
A. Hard work, but extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Looking forward to a lifetime of it.
Share your social account links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/avnishburman/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/avnish-burman-choudhury-8b073b53/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/avnishburmanchoudhury/
X - https://x.com/ChoudhuryBurman
Website - https://authoravnish.com/
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