Handwriting a Novel with Rahul Bhattacharya

Rahul discusses his decision to handwrite the first draft of his novel using 2B pencils and yellow legal pads to eliminate digital distractions, drawing inspiration from Toni Morrison's writing habits. He explains how the Indian railway system served as a metaphor for the country's diversity and complexity, with his protagonist Charu working in the personnel department handling grievances across the railway network. Rahul shares his writing career journey from mathematics and cricket journalism to novel writing, noting that his journalism background helped develop his understanding of pacing and character development. We also find out about his typical writing routine, which has evolved from late-night sessions to morning writing, and his current project that remains in early development stages.Get a copy of the Railsong now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersonline.substack.com/subscribe