Meet Aanvi Krishna | Self-Published Author
We had the good fortune of connecting with Aanvi Krishna and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Aanvi, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Everyone’s life is vastly different; comparison will get you nowhere. While I agree with the fact that comparison can destroy creativity, self-esteem, and do more harm than good, sometimes, without comparison, we get stuck in an endless loop within our own mind. I think it’s important that each and every person has their clear and personal goal in mind, and it’s also important that everyone acknowledges that each and every person has a different way of achieving what they want to. However, sometimes, comparing ourselves to other people can actually be vastly beneficial. When we get stuck in a rut or what feels like an unproductive, low energy cycle, sometimes looking towards others methods and achievements can act as a form of inspiration or motivation, giving us ideas of how to improve ourselves and better work towards goals and interests we all have. I believe that yes, though it is harmful to a certain extent, it is okay to sometimes look towards others for positive inspiration, not negative comparison.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My writing has always been my saving grace. It’s been my passion since I was little, and to sound as ironically humble as possible, it was easy to tell I was good at it from the start. Everyone says to write what you know, because that’s when it starts to get easier to write, easier to create. But, I don’t really think that’s true. For me, my writing is not exactly an escape, but an entirely different life I can live, an entirely different world I can create. Each and every character in my book, I spent hours creating, from the meaning of their names, to their identities, to their characteristics, and finally their relationships with each other. Writing is a way that I can create something I can truly call my own and no one else’s, because no matter what, the idea, the characters, and the world comes purely from me. When it comes to how I actually published my work, it certainly wasn’t easy. I was an incoming senior in high school at the time, and college applications along with school, work, and extracurriculars were proving to be stressful enough. But when I finished The Immortals, I knew I couldn’t just let it sit unmoving in my laptop. No matter what, it had to go somewhere, it had to be in another form, read by other minds, held by other hands. So, no. Sadly, I had to give up a lot of opportunities due to the costs of the ruthless publishing world, and finally settled on self publishing, which wasn’t the easiest decision to make. It meant all of the publicity would be up to me, but it also meant I would get to keep all my creative rights. It took months, but in October of 2021, I finally shared my first completed novel with the world, and I couldn’t be prouder of it. I want the public to know that though there are some books of mine in the future they may not like, there will be something for everyone. I want to create and keep creating, and the beauty of art is that there are never limitations. For as long as I can type, I can create something for everyone, straight from my heart, and for the minds and enjoyment of others.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Everything’s bigger in Texas; at least, that’s what everyone hears. And though it’s true that the portion sizes in restaurants here are hard to comprehend, I’ve found in my time living here that it’s the small ones that surprise you. Any restaurant that sounds like it’s family owned, or just a run-of-the-mill cafe hands down always has the best food. Small bakeries and boutiques with little publicity tend to have the best options. The area where I live may not have the best nightlife, but any places in Downtown Dallas tend to have amazing nightlife, whether you’re just looking for a view to look at, looking for something to learn or explore, or just find some good eats. The lakes nearby prove to be a wonderful Fourth of July celebration spot for anyone, and host intricate firework shows, as well as hot air balloon and lantern festivals throughout the year.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Obviously, my first shoutout would go towards my parents. They’ve nurtured and encouraged my writing passion since I was little; I still remember my mom buying me my very first journal, and the very first story I wrote and illustrated in it. Without the backing of my parents in so many ways, this book and passion for writing overall would not have blossomed, let alone become what it is today. I cannot thank them enough for everything they have sacrificed to give my sister and I everything we have asked for, and they are the reason that my creative ideas are able to take root in the world today.
Instagram: aanvikrishna26
Linkedin: Aanvi Krishna
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