In this episode of The Write Mind, Professor Eli Ryder talks with fiction writer and essayist Asha Thanki, author of A Thousand Times Before, about the writing life. Their conversation explores Thanki’s path to becoming a writer, balancing creative work with a day job, developing a sustainable writing practice, the role of speculative fiction in her work, and the importance of artistic community. Thanki also reflects on revision, publishing, creative growth, and why there is no single “right” way to build a life as a writer.
Chapters
- (00:00:04) - Introduction and Welcome
- (00:01:54) - Superpower Icebreaker Question
- (00:04:16) - Discovering the Desire to Write
- (00:07:02) - Mentors and Finding a Path Back to Writing
- (00:10:05) - Balancing a Day Job and Creative Writing
- (00:13:05) - Writing Software and Tools (Scrivener)
- (00:14:24) - Daily Writing Practice and Routines
- (00:16:50) - Music and Getting Into the Writing Headspace
- (00:18:37) - What Inspires and Excites the Writing Process
- (00:21:12) - Speculative Elements and Human Nature
- (00:24:20) - Writing Community and Creative Friendships
- (00:29:17) - Current Reading List
- (00:30:52) - Wishes About the Publishing Industry
- (00:33:45) - Advice for New Writers
- (00:36:47) - Audience Q&A: Unconventional Writing Practices
- (00:40:08) - Audience Q&A: Writer's Block
- (00:42:53) - Audience Q&A: Day Job's Effect on Writing
- (00:46:14) - Audience Q&A: Voice and Change Over Time
- (00:48:54) - Audience Q&A: Current Events and Voice
- (00:50:24) - Surprise Appearance and Diagramming Process
- (00:54:47) - Audience Q&A: Autofiction and Personal Life in Fiction
- (01:00:58) - Closing and Thanks
