Award-winning author and Padma Shri awardee Amitav Ghosh said on Thursday that he has strong female characters in his books, as he has always been surrounded by "inspiring" women. The 58-year-old writer, who also has a PhD in social anthropology from Oxford University, said that in his head "there is no dividing line between history, fiction, journalism, anthropology etc..."
Listing writers in Bengali, English, Hindi, and Arabic as his inspirations, Ghosh said there were "too many" to name individually. When asked if he likes writing fiction or non-fiction, Ghosh said, "Fiction is more fulfilling and more demanding, so sometimes it's nice to have a change."
On the eve of the release of his third book in the Ibis trilogy, Flood of Fire, Ghosh shared some lessons he has learned as a writer on Twitter.
On what makes a writer:
@naomi0_0barton@PenguinIndia There certainly are moments of true inspiration - but they are very rare and you have tobe prepared for them.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On researching before writing:
@babumoshoy@PenguinIndia I find the research aspect really inspiring. Fact is often much stranger than fiction.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On his writing process:
@mindkhichdi@PenguinIndia Starting a book is always the hardest part; it takes me a very long time.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@Hamletization@PenguinIndia Thanks; I really enjoyed working on my blog. It was a wonderful diversion while I was writing the Trilogy.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@Dane630@PenguinIndia They've all been incredibly demanding, each in their own way.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On dealing with writer's block:
@TheReader_In@PenguinIndia I think blocks are often a sign of fatigue - the best way to deal with them is to take a break.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On his favourite writing spot:
@vaishnavisngh@PenguinIndia I find that I work best in my study in Goa.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On deleting sections:
@TheoLister@PenguinIndia I often omit long sections; as with film, there are 'out-takes' in writing too.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On finishing a book:
@Hamletization@PenguinIndia What I felt most of all on finishing 'Flood of Fire' was a profound sense of fulfilment.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@carolinenewbury@PenguinIndia These characters have been with me so long I don't feel that they are gone.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On receiving negative feedback:
@GauraviSaini@PenguinIndia Every writer gets negative feedback all the time. It comes with the territory.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On writer-editor relationships:
@GauraviSaini@PenguinIndia Never! No editor has ever asked and I wouldn't if they did,
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@GauraviSaini@PenguinIndia Of course editors often have interesting and useful suggestions.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On reading his previous work:
@Hamletization@PenguinIndia It often comes as a surprise!
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@Dikshant14@PenguinIndia The last one is always the favourite!
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@sudhapillai@PenguinIndia Hardly ever; I like to keep myself busy with the next book.
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
On being a reader to be a writer:
@imbbecile@PenguinIndia The most invigorating thing of all is to read a good book!
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
@Dane630@PenguinIndia Reading - that's the key to writing!
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 28, 2015
Watch Ghosh speak about the background to his Ibis trilogy below.
Contact HuffPost India