Sudeshna Shome Ghosh, editor, at Anita’s Attic

Very often unpublished writers imagine a situation where the editor of a large publishing house reputed to offer million dollar advances to unknown names would fling open the door of his cabin to the writer hovering outside with a 350 page manuscript typed in single space and say: “I don’t want to know why you’re here. Just come in, and sit down. Here, this is my favourite chair. Is it sufficiently close to the AC ? Take off your shoes, please — no, let me help you; my secretary will wash your feet. We were just about to have a biriyani; won’t you join us? How about a glass of tender coconut water? Eat, drink your fill; make a few long distance calls. Then tell me, when you’re ready, who your parents are and where you come from and the reason that brings you here. And then I am going to take this day off and read every word you have written.”

The truth is something else. And it was to talk about the reality of the editorial process and how the publishing industry functions that I thought it best to invite one of my editors Sudeshna Shome Ghosh with whom I worked on three of my children’s books to talk to the writers at Anita’s Attic.

Needless to say the session was informative, fun and nipped in the bud many delusions of what awaits a writer :).

Thank you Sudeshna for saying it as it is without dampening dreams.