Sriram Karri may be a two-book-old author but says he knew he was carved to be a storyteller even as a child. At an age when children learn to read, Sriram started writing poems and short stories and by 10, he started penning his first book too! After ‘The Spiritual Supermarket’ which Sriram says “was a tough book to read but still continues to sell and get occasional words of appreciation by some rare readers”, the author is all set to take readers through India’s history between Emergency to Godhra with his recently-launched ‘Autobiography of a Mad Nation’.
Journey as a writer
I began writing short stories and poems when I was six; and started writing my first book when I was around ten. But having finished the first book, against extreme odds, before being 12 years meant I always knew I would write. My first real work of sorts entitled, The Unread Diary’, in 1997 never got published. Then I wrote two more books in the next few years -- ‘One Good Shot’, and a non-fiction called ‘The Spiritual Supermarket’, which became my first published work and was longlisted for the Crossword Award alongside the likes of President Kalam, P Chidambaram, VS Naipaul, Ramachandra Guha and Rajmohan Gandhi; and the eventual winner William Dalrymple.
Idea behind
‘Autobiography...’
It was coming together of many things. A random statement that I made ‘I was born in a mentally retarded country’ – triggered it. The title sprung naturally from the line. To create a theme strong enough to create a novel worthy of intelligent readers, I brought another statement – choosing between betraying my friend or my nation, God, give me strength to betray my country. This became the theme.
The plot had to do two things – more than a plot, I had to create a literary device – wherein, the book would be a racy murder mystery and political serial deaths and an investigation too.
The connection
I believe I have stories to tell which are very important – for me to tell, and for you to read or listen. My stories are unlike anything you will hear from most others; there is pride and originality on a grand scale here.
Development of idea
The idea is not to stretch a 5,000 word idea into a novel – but to write and edit it down to around 3,000 words. A novel must have a powerful theme, a theme-plot integration point, and great characters. The core must be so strong, that readers wish you had written more, or request you to do a sequel.
Incorporating your experiences
I never do that as this would be defeating the entire point – which is to create and tell a story that never was. The lie of the novel is too sacred to be tampered with truth, or the real. My imagination must always dominate my life’s reality when it comes to writing fiction – that is a law.
Choosing genre
It almost chooses itself. I believe in what Oscar Wilde says – there is only good or bad writing. All my effort is to ensure I detect and kill all my bad writing, and pass only the good for the eyes of another person.
Critique & compliment
The toughest criticism came from someone who said that my book was like a Bollywood screenplay, racy and all, but not a novel. Compliment – no, let me wait for more to come.
Challenges
Hardest part of writing is to start writing. The first lines. The name or title. But once you start, you just dance on the keyboard.