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'If at first you don't succeed...'
What do you do if you really want to do something, but there are loads of obstacles in the way? Are you going to keep on trying, however hard and whatever it takes? Or aren’t you that bovvered?
‘...be creative...’
Preethi Nair is a novelist and has her own company, Kiss the Frog that takes storytelling and creativity into the workplace.
Following a degree in European Union Studies with French and Spanish and a Masters degree in International Relations, she began work as a Management Consultant. This wasn’t her dream. Preethi wanted to be a writer, so why settle for a job that’s second best? Why not go for it. She decided to write her first book, Gypsy Masala. Yeah, just sit at your desk, write a great novel and you’ll have publishers knocking on your door? Hmm, right. It’s not that easy. Preethi got rejected by every publisher. Oh no.
Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she bounced straight back. Preethi set up her own publishing and PR company and pretended to be marketing-whizz, Pru Menon (an entirely made up person!). Pru (that’s Preethi to you and me) hyped up her novel to get it into the book charts and then signed a three-book deal with HarperCollins.
‘It’s all about imagination,’ says Preethi. ‘You have to love what you do and find a creative way to get there.’ Preethi is certainly a determined woman and whilst being resilient paid off at the beginning of her career, it’s a skill she feels is important in her day-to-day life. These talents and qualities are why she won the Asian Woman of Achievement Award and is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.
And she doesn’t plan on stopping there. Preethi currently writes for BBC Radio 4 and broadsheet newspapers... and her book, 100 Shades of White, has been adapted for telly by the BBC!
Still fancy yourself as a budding writer? It’s a hard slog but it’s worth it, and Preethi’s even given some tips on her website.
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