In this interview, we talked with Farishta Anjirbag, one of our star writers here at GenZ Writes. Scroll down to learn more about Farishta and advice she has for aspiring writers. Introduce yourself. Who are you? What are your hobbies? Interests? Hi, my name is Farishta Anjirbag. I’m a 19-year-old college student in Mumbai, India, with plans to major in English Literature. For the most part, I’m just trying to make my way through the general uncertainty of being 19. I’m a huge fan of appreciating the everyday, and so spend most of my free time drawing and writing about the small things around me, or just looking out of my window to some good music. What are your favorite topics to write about for GenZ Writes? I can’t say I have any favourite topics, but I usually try to write about issues from my own society that have been playing on my mind for a while. I think our generation is increasingly being exposed to a plethora of information and issues from the world over. My experience with media consumption has shown me that it’s really easy to get swept away by other people’s opinions online. So, at the moment, my main interest is in getting my readers and myself to really think about and question our beliefs before making them their own. Why do you enjoy writing? Why did you choose to write for GenZ Writes? Writing helps me understand myself and the world a little better. Moreover, the writing process is something I find to be extremely challenging. It pushes me to expand my thinking and look at the same things – whether it’s a sentence construction, a worldview, or an abstract idea – in many different ways. It’s only when I write that I can really make my ideas and opinions unique to myself. I chose to write for GenZ Writes because, through my work, I wanted to draw attention to the issues that matter to me. I’ve always believed writing and literature to be agents of social change, with the power to make an impact in people’s lives, however small it may be. When a friend told me about GenZ Writes, it seemed like the perfect platform to explore this kind of work, and find some semblance of a voice as a writer. What is your biggest wish for the future? Biggest worry? My biggest wish is to gain clarity on how I can engage my interests and creative a positive impact on my surroundings in the future. My biggest worry, well, haha – I’m worried about things ranging from personal failure and mediocrity, to climate change and the abysmal social climate for women and minorities in my country. Each of them takes turns occupying my mind. Best piece of advice to aspiring writers? To always pursue authenticity. As I mentioned earlier, it’s really easy to get carried away by what’s popular in our peer and reference groups, but when we write about things we don’t relate to, it simply does not make for good writing. It took me a long time to realize this. Authentic writing is real expression, it’s what people want to read, and it’s the only thing you can stake your claim to. Challenge yourself to form ideas that are your own, rather than just repeating the dogma that makes up most of our thought. Write what you know, and if you’re writing about something you don’t know well, find ways to relate to it.
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