I started writing in 2013. Over the years, I've written 1000+ answers, a decent amount of pieces here on Medium. Edited traditionally published books more than I can count on my fingers. Part of an active writing community since 2017. Got a few stories published in literary journals and print anthologies.

Learnt the ropes of story writing. Learnt about character arcs, highs and lows, script writing techniques, Syd Field Paradigm, rewriting, beta reads, incorporating feedback.

After all this practice, I released a novella last year. It's only 7000 words on the face of it. But the weaving of a complex, layered story - be it only a thousand words - takes experience and sweat. For every piece I write that gets published, at least ten remain in my Dropbox.

When I look at my novella, I know I couldn't have written those 700 words sans the thousands of hours I spent honing my craft.

Writing a book is like waging a war. Preparation and strategy is everything.