The Reading Habit Has Grown: Writer

Is reading books on the rise or on the decline a) across the globe b) in India?
Yes, I do think the reading habit has grown across the globe in the recent years, esp. post-international awards, and the Internet. People may have switched to different genres and avenues. For instance, in India, more youngsters are reading -- and they’re reading more pulp.

Also, perhaps people are reading more online (e-books are gaining popularity esp. in the West), but they’re reading.

As a publisher, what do you look at while judging a manuscript? What makes a deal happen?
A good story -- interest, appeal, writing style, etc. A lot of factors go into actual deal-making. Both the author and the publisher have to be happy with what matters to them most. That usually includes royalty, pace, schedules, quality, rapport and several other things.

What questions must budding writers ask themselves before committing themselves to the profession of a writer?
Serious writers should ask themselves:
.  Do I have fresh, new ideas that I can develop into great stories?
.  Do I have the knowledge and skills, i.e., a good command on language and grammar?
.  Do I have enough patience? Can I do eight drafts of my novel over a period of two years if required?
.  Do I have enough to sustain myself if I take to full-time writing?
.  Am I hardworking enough? Can I put in the effort/research my novel needs?
As Mohsin Hamid (Pakistani author of Moth Smoke and The Reluctant Fundamentalist) puts it, ‘writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint’.

What are the royalty structures that Indians writing in English can expect?
Anything from 4.5% to 10% (usually), but it may vary.

How do you see the publishing industry evolving in the next ten years?
As I mentioned, it’s very difficult to say anything right now. However, if all goes well, we could come up with some brilliant writing across genres, and create a much ‘wider’ writing culture in India.