Wednesday 16 November 2016

Interview with Teen Blogger Avantika


Can you tell us a little about yourself , your blog(s)/website(s),and your aspirations and your hobbies?
My name is Avantika Singhal. Yes, my last name does receive some unneeded attention and I thrive on it. I am 19. I write poetry and short stories. My blog name is ‘timidandvivid/Avantika Singhal. I added my real name later so that I could establish my own identity. I started my blog when I was in 9th grade and today, it has precisely 335 followers.
My hobbies include reading, writing and listening to unconventional music. I also have the audacity and will-power to watch Hollywood movies all day!
I aspire to not only be a celebrated writer and poetess one day but also a person who is easily approachable. I am desirous of being helpful to people in dire need of advice of any kind!

How you first got involved in with blogging/writing, are you an imaginative person?
You know, I HAD to get my work out there on the internet, for the world to see and speculate. That is how the blog came to be. I am overly imaginative. Sometimes, I have so much poetry floating in my head arbitrarily that I am almost breathless when it reaches the paper.

What do you find most challenging about blogging/writing about your topic?
It is incredibly difficult to engage your readers. You could be writing about the world’s most fascinating destination in the world and the material could be elaborate and rich with humor but will your readers make it till the end? The art of writing sensibly and not going off topic is very necessary.

Tell me about some of the people you have met while working on your blog?
One young man from France, I think? His blog extolled my work and it made me very happy. Another person from Delhi who appreciates my thoughts! Other than that, I keep commenting on other peoples’ works and it is very satisfying.

How would (someone) describe your blogging/writing style?
Simple. Beautiful. Flowery.

What do you do when you are not working on your blog?
I have taken a gap year. Thus, I am doing a multitude of activities. I am learning American Sign Language. I am sketching. I am then drooling over Hugh Jackman. Then, I am crying after reading Hardy’s ‘Mayor Of Casterbridge’.

Where do you see yourself blogging/writing wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?
In 6 months, maybe I will be bestowed with a total of 500 members on my blog.
5 years down the road, I see myself as a well know blogger who people know, recognize and want to have a cup of coffee with and talk surly politicians.

What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging/writing business?
Twitter is oh so helpful. You just need to comprehend what will catch the eye of the people and how to use Hashtags and stuff.

How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.
As a writer, I know that the urgency to blog is almost intrinsic. I look around, write about what catches my eye. I read news and if Kurdish rebels are up to something or if Anthony Weiner sexts again, I will write about it. Staying up to date with world’s happenings helps.

What’s your strategy with your blog in general?
Consistency is so important. Don’t abandon your blog if you see no likes or comments in the starting.

Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?
Your blog will not become a household name or a familiar name, for that matter, overnight. Be patient with your blog and be loyal to the aesthetic of writing.

What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?
SEO Titles are more important that you’d realize. So, that first. Coherent and witty content, then. Readers are so imperative too. After all, they make or break you.

What’s the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?
A myriad of literary masterpieces. A poem on your own life. A travelogue. A realization about the society and its non permeable nature. Anything that moves a reader is a gift from the blogger.

A lot of people are interested in blogging/writing for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging/writing? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?
I have no idea! The last thing I want to do is earn money  on the behalf of my blog. Although, the idea is not half bad. However, I am in it so that I can share my words with variegated audiences. That’s all.

What motivates you most in life?
When I am appreciated for what I have written.

What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?
This is a novel and probably sinister idea but I have started attaching pictures of myself with every blog post that I make. If it is a poignant post, then I attach a sad picture of mine. If it is a happy post, I attach a picture of me rejoicing. It helps my readers connect to me on a more real level.

What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?
I hit an impasse at the beginning of 2015. No one was reading my blog. It was a tough time. Thankfully, I kept posting content and could resurrect it gradually.

Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?
All my posts are a mixture of what I love and what I hate about them. My most favorite right now is a poem called ‘Renovatio’. It received a lot of praise for its thoughts in my summer school at Oxford University. Least favorite would be a brief article I wrote about how children are taking their parents for granted. I still stand by that but it was poorly written. It was my first blog post!

Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?
Harnidh Kaur ANYDAY!

Rahul : She is my fav too , Here is her interview

What is the story behind the name of the blog?
I am very timid in real life, Shy, reticent and quiet. But my mind is a gully of words and dreams. This is why I am vivid. This is how I become TimidAndVivid.

Your connection with any Blogger Network like Indi blogger or Writeupcafe or any other and the experience?
No. I will look these two up and connect now!

Which genre do you feel gets the raw deal?
Poetry? No one wants to read it. Some people think of it as trash or a waste of money, time and efforts. I want to stab such people.

Five adjectives that describe you.
Resourceful. Vibrant. Polite. Compassionate. Silly.

What book would you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?
‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker. That book altered me in more ways than one.

Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments??
I am ashamed in telling you that negative comments down my spirits by a very large magnitude. I try to control the irrational anger, tho.

Do you plan to write a book, as every bloggers dream it is?
Hell yes. It will be called ‘The Black Dream Of the White Girl’.

Rahul : Wow , the title looks so great

Are you a judgmental person, do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral?
I am not judgmental. I like listening to both the parties and make a pragmatic decision afterwards on who is right and who is not.

Your collaboration with other bloggers, are you much into social networking, tell us everything about it?
I am more of a one man army. So collaboration is seldom. I don’t mind it, tho. If you approach me with a crazy and creative idea, I would be more than happy to unite forces.
What genre attracts you the most and which genre you avoid?
I would never avoid anything. I gravitate towards poetry a lot. I am stubborn about it.

Your Views on Contests and increasing plagiarism?
Contests are interesting on WordPress. I don’t think my work has every been plagiarized. But if it was…well, you don’t want to know what the consequences would be. Plagiarism is a crime no matter what.

On winning the Award/s , Are they Really necessary.
Glimmering awards or certificates written with calligraphy are not what I am after. I seek genuine appreciation and the time for people to tell me that my words impacted them.
I have been nominated for The Lovely Blog Award and that is a big deal for me.

So what’s Next in your list?
Watching Anime. Finishing Kerouac’s ‘On The Road’ and trying to go to bed before 5:00 AM.

Words for your readers and why they should follow you?
I love you all! Thank you for hanging around for so long. You should follow me because I spread positivity like James Bond spreads terror in his adversaries. It’s true. Follow me so that I can recommend magnificent movies and songs to you too!