Authors should build their teams, even if it includes friends & family

Hello! 👋

Welcome to She Got You!, where I share my conversations with women professionals.

Today’s conversation is with Namrata, a writer, literary consultant, and founder of Keemiya Creatives and The Bookbot Theory.

Books and publishing were the top two things we discussed in this chat, but getting to know a different side of Namrata—her early career, choices, and the clarity with which she operates—gave me so many takeaways.

And so will you as you read this conversation. 👇

Sunaina: Please tell me about yourself.

Namrata: I'm a literary consultant and the founder of Keemiya Creatives. I founded it in 2018 to offer a suite of literary services, including editors, book publicists, and publishers. I'm a finance graduate specialising in finance and accountancy, and I worked as an investment banker for a decade before becoming a full-time freelancer in 2014.

Sunaina: What made you move from investment banking to publishing?

Namrata: I found my love for writing during my 10-year investment banking career. Sure, I loved what I did at the job—client servicing, operations, interacting with new people, numbers, etc. I still love numbers; number crunching and analysing stocks excite me.

But books have always been special, and I owe it to my mom, who made me start reading quite early. I was four when I began to read. I have been a member of a library since I was a teenager. When they needed book reviewers, I started writing for them. Eventually, I started a blog and reviewed books. I realised a certain joy comes with this, which I didn't experience in the day job. It's a different form of joy.

My health deteriorated at the job because, you know, a corporate job comes with its share of stress and pressure. I felt this was the right time for me to take a break. Of course, a stable job, income, and an SMS alert notifying a salary deposit feel great, but I wanted to do something my heart wanted.

But it was a planned move, and I say this without romanticising it. I had four editing projects when I quit, ensuring my bills were handled for the next four months. I planned everything so nothing came as a shock; I recovered, rested, and took it slow but had the money coming in because the bills don't stop even if you do. For four years, I tried doing it independently and understanding the business. I took a lot of courses because being passionate about something is different, and knowing it as a business is a different ballgame altogether. So, I learned a lot and floated Keemiya in 2018.

Sunaina: But were you not scared to make that move?

Namrata: Honestly, I wasn't! I always like to plan things to the T, even when I plan a Plan B. I ensured all my EMIs were pre-closed and had no outstanding debts. I was in my 30s and owned a house with no financial burdens like rent. I had invested in a solid insurance policy that covered my medical expenses. I had done a lot of planning to be in a position where I could take risks and explore new opportunities without financial stress. Even today, when someone asks for advice, I say, "Please ensure you have funds set aside for unexpected expenses and emergencies and that you have at least three months' worth of bills saved up."

Freelancing can be very uncertain. Even now, after ten years, there is still unpredictability. If people think things will improve after ten or twelve years, they won't; they will remain the same.

Sunaina: Got it! How did your family or boss react when you announced this?

Namrata: When I quit, I don’t think I realised I'd get into full-time literary consulting. People around me assumed it was a stop-gap arrangement during my recovery. I come from a family of doctors and engineers, and the fact that I did commerce in the first place or went for a private job was strange to them. I guess I was always the odd one out!

But once you’re 25 or 28, people suggest you slow down and consider settling down, like marriage, prioritising your health, and reassessing your career. That way, they were happy to see me taking a break from a demanding job with long hours, as it was clear that the job was exhausting and not working out. I had a friend, a blogger, who made a similar choice three years ago. When I told him I was contemplating relinquishing the corporate world, he wrote a detailed email explaining how he planned the finances.

He said, "When I decided to quit, my wife had a steady income, I had no outstanding debts, and my brother promised to take care of our mother." After a year or two, his independent journey took off, and he began to earn well. However, what stood out to me was an email from him that remains special. He shared comprehensive information and offered to help me with any numbers or discussions. The last line of his message was, "I'm available on WhatsApp or by phone if you want to discuss this further. I can assist with the numbers if you'd like. I don't know how good you are with them, but I'm happy to help."

While his support reassured me, it also showed me that while risk is involved, there are always options to move back if needed. The fundamentals don't change, and I can always find another job if necessary. So, I was confident to take that leap of faith!

Sunaina: That's great! So you're also a published writer. Tell me more about that.

Namrata: I began writing at a young age and started blogging when it was still nascent. My short stories and blog posts gained popularity, and several stories were published in various anthologies.

Blogging offered a significant platform that no formal writing course could offer. We had regular readers who provided feedback and enjoyed the freedom to experiment with different genres. Today, with traditional publishing, authors often face uncertainty about whether their work will be picked by a publisher or liked by readers. For instance, if my first book was romance, would readers still follow me if I wrote a sci-fi novel? Blogging allowed us to explore various genres without concerns, giving us a liberating sense of creative freedom.

Perhaps I didn't realise then, but I learned a lot by reading blogs. I experimented with 100-word flash fiction, learned to write haiku, and crafted romance stories, dialogues and characters. During that period, authors like Preeti Shenoy, who was relatively new and had one book out, engaged with our blogs. Receiving feedback from published authors and those familiar with the broader aspects of the writing world was invaluable. I cherish those formative years as they were crucial to my writing journey.

I still maintain a close-knit circle of blogger friends, and we are all now published authors. We continue to support and encourage each other.

Some say they read very little or have never written before and are starting with their first book. I wonder whether they're ready to start with a full-length book. I still feel I'm not fully ready to write a book myself. Every writer goes through a journey, starting with stories, poems, or articles that push you to develop your style. This process is essential for growth, and I believe I have evolved significantly through my journey.

Sunaina: What made you start The Bookbot Theory, and what does it do?

Namrata: Keemiya encompasses all aspects of the writing process, including writing, editing, proofreading, ghostwriting, and mentoring. To stay updated with industry trends, I've been exploring various topics and considering new avenues, such as audiobooks. It's essential to keep up, even through casual conversations, because publishing is an evolving industry.

I noticed a significant shift in marketing over the past five years. Authors must handle their marketing, regardless of their publisher. On researching, I understood there weren’t many forums addressing this issue. When I joined a publishing course, I aimed to better understand why certain strategies failed. I was familiar with the challenges from a writer's perspective but needed insight into the publishing side. Every story has two sides, and I wanted to understand the publisher's viewpoint to complete the picture. The course provided comprehensive insights into various aspects of publishing, including e-books, children's books, and audiobooks.

My main project was a paper on the challenges of book marketing in India, which involved interviewing nearly 500 people. These interviews included libraries, bookshops, independent booksellers, authors, indie authors, self-published authors, and traditional authors. This research led to the creation of The Bookbot Theory. My objective is to help authors understand how to market their books effectively. Authors must grasp these marketing strategies, not just if they choose to handle it themselves, but also to avoid being misled by unethical practices. I've observed many misleading claims and inflated numbers in the industry, which are unethical and exploitative.

Similarly, my goal with Keemiya was to bring transparency to publishing, and I aim to achieve the same with Bookbot by promoting transparency in book marketing. During consultations, I prioritise openness and honesty—even if you decide not to work with me, I want you to be informed about the proper practices and avoid being taken advantage of.

The podcast empowers authors with practical, actionable advice. It's free; you can learn how to market your book independently, and I cover simple, manageable tasks, such as five things you can do on Instagram or LinkedIn. These are straightforward, easy-to-implement strategies that you can apply right away. Similarly, the Keemiya blog provides easy-to-follow takeaways to help you understand and manage book marketing effectively.

The core idea is to emphasise the importance of marketing and encourage authors to take control of their promotional activities.

Sunaina: Do you also host others on the podcast?

Namrata: Yes, I also feature a variety of experts—we've had booksellers, PR professionals, and self-published authors whose books have become bestsellers. These guests share their insights on different aspects of book marketing. For example, we've had an author branding specialist explain the importance of building a personal brand as an author. We hosted a literary festival director, who discussed how participating in such festivals can benefit authors and if it's worth considering. While I offer tips and tricks in solo episodes, the interviews with industry professionals provide diverse perspectives and valuable advice.

Sunaina: Grapevine has it that those with a large online following have it easier to publish! What are your thoughts?

Namrata: Recently, Swati Daftuar wrote an article about influencer publishing that received mixed reactions. While many agreed that influencer publishing is big right now, others—particularly those who value traditional quality writing—questioned its merit.

The article highlights that while influencer-published books might gain initial traction, they often lose momentum by the time the second book is out. This happens because the audience consumes most of the content online before the book launch. For instance, the article mentions Ankur Warikoo, whose book sales initially performed well but eventually declined. This decline occurs because, over time, the content becomes repetitive, failing to engage genuine readers. Ankur admitted in the article that his target audience consists of people who rarely read books, so he focused on creating quick, digestible content.

Let’s talk about the broader picture of publishing. 👇

I always advise authors to build a team, even if it includes friends and family. You don't have to hire professionals; a support system within your network can often be just as effective.

For example, Stuti, a travel writer, successfully self-published her book with the help of her family. Each family member took on a specific role to manage dispatches, handle orders, and oversee social media. An internal support system such as this carries much weight, you know?

The reality is that writing today has become a business in its own right. To grow this business, authors need a team to manage various aspects such as writing, social media, and marketing. As solopreneurs, we face many challenges, and multitasking across these different areas can be overwhelming. That’s why building a support network is essential. Plus, the internet provides many resources, and it’s not about having secret knowledge or advanced techniques. If you can’t afford to hire experts, find help from those around you because handling everything independently will likely hinder your writing and overall progress.

While unfortunate, it's the reality of today's digital landscape. Social media platforms play a significant role, and I had a humorous interaction with an author about this. She asked if I could help her gain a massive following, saying she'd seen female writers with a significant following and impressive traction. While I agreed to help, I also said, "What happens if you gain 2 million followers, but your book doesn't sell? And if a platform like TikTok or Instagram were banned overnight, all your invested efforts could vanish." Gaining followers doesn't guarantee book sales; even if you achieve many followers, the accurate measure of success is whether those followers translate into book sales.

Several popular accounts with millions of followers might not see significant book sales. My modest following of 8.3K is still meaningful, and the key takeaway is that having a large number of followers doesn't necessarily equate to success in sales. This understanding offers hope and emphasises the importance of a balanced approach to marketing beyond just chasing numbers on a single platform.

But back to your question: yes, social media has become so important, and some of the most prominent writers are creating content online.

Sunaina: True! They are building a parasocial relationship with their audience, right?

Namrata: Indeed! Look at Durjoy Datta and how much effort he puts into creating content. Or even Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni; she is such a known name but talks about her book launches, outfits she plans to wear and diverse random things because she wants to make us feel involved, right? The platforms have become like that.

Sunaina: Right! So, you also worked with The Himalayan Writing Retreat. What led you there, and can you share some stories?

TO BE CONTINUED…

Psst..to read what Namrata says about The Himalayan Writing Retreat, watch out for the second part.

In the second part, we also discuss ageism, diversity in publishing, and the age of translations. I’ll be back with it in a week. In the meantime, share this with your writer friends or those looking for some Monday motivation!

Follow Namrata on LinkedIn and discover more about Keemiya here. See you! 👋