Interview with Ghata Singhal

Today I Interview Ghata Singhal , One who writes for the love of writing , like all of our quality bloggers , lets know a bit of her through this wonderful interview

1.Can you tell us a little about yourself? Your blog, and your aspirations and your hobbies!!

I am the laziest person ever. Procrastination is my second name. I spend almost 50 hrs. a week at office, and the rest of the time I try and manage my home and spend some quality time with my husband. Every time I post something on my blog, it is just the sheer love of writing that pushes a lazy and time stretched bum like me to do it.

Other than blogging, I love to read, travel to new destinations and watch movies.
My aspirations in life? To be a published author, to be able to do something for the underprivileged and to be a good human being.

2. How you first got involved in with blogging, are you an imaginative person?

Oh yeah. I imagine a lot if things and any action/event around me triggers a chain reaction in my mind. And there’s just no stopping me then!

I used to write articles even when I didn’t have a blog. But then friends who read them suggested that I should make them public. The feedback ever since has been so great that I just wonder why I didn’t start earlier J

3. What do you find most challenging about blogging about your topic?

Most bloggers I know (very much like yours truly!) are highly opinionated people. We write because we have an opinion about everything. But sometimes, I am so neutral on some topics that I just don’t know how to conclude it. But then, thinking and imagination does it for me!

4. Tell me about some of the people you have met while working on your blog?

I have met so many wonderful people in more than 2 years of blogging that it is hard to put down a list.  But I will definitely take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for just being what they are. I have learnt so much from them, their blogs and their personal lives.

5. How would (someone) describe your blogging style?

Ha! That’s easy. Everybody says I am highly cynical and satirical. I have even been awarded “The most satirical blogger award” by a very dear friend/blogger Kalyan.

6. What do you do when you are not working on your blog?

I am almost always thinking about the next post! Or Reading! Or in office! I sometimes really wish if blogging was all I could do, and I would do it so much better ;-)

7 .Where do you see yourself blogging wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?

Frankly speaking, I have absolutely no idea. With the increasing responsibilities at office and home, it could go either way. But I really wish I am able to continue blogging for the next 5 years. And if I am still blogging then, I wish to be winning more awards and rewards ;-)

8. What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging business?

A lot of friends on Facebook read my blog. So Facebook-ing really helps bring more readers to the blog. And Indi has also helped make a lot of friends through various contests. Having my  blog’s Facebook page has helped me extend my readership.

9. How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.

Oh. Just the everyday things. The newspaper is full of news about the state of politics, nation, women abuse, child abuse, natural calamities and what not. There is no dearth of topics to write about. And then there is our own life, our own relationships that we take inspiration from. I mostly struggle with the abundance of topics and sometimes can’t decide which topic to take up.

10. What’s your strategy with your blog in general?

Nothing at all. I write when I feel like. When I don’t have anything to say, I don’t. 

11. Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?

Ohh, just be yourself. Blog is such a personal thing that you can’t really impersonate here for a long time. Just be yourself. Like every person is unique, so is their writing and presentation style.

12. What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?

Content. Hands down. Everything else just follows.

13. What’s the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?

I think Awesome content is the answer again. As I said, I am a voracious reader. Apart from books, I also read a LOT of blogs. But it is always the content of the blog that compels me to visit them again and again. Even if the content is not unique per say, the writing style is. And an original style always pulls in genuine readers.

14. A lot of people are interested in blogging for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?

I can hardly answer that because I am myself not making any money out of it. May be you can give me some ideas there. ;-)

15. What motivates you most in life?

Hard work, Genuineness, Philanthropy, and a positive attitude that can try and get the impossible!

16. What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?

There was no strategy. I started out for the love of writing. With time, I discovered there was a parallel universe (like Indiblogger and BlogAdda) which was full of bloggers. I became a part of that too and made friends. Checked out their blogs and in turn created a visibility for my own too.

17 What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?

Nothing really has been challenging enough to be mentioned.

18. Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?

My favorites are Babyhood chronicles, You and I and The (in)famous silence and all....

The first one is my favorite because it’s been written out of sheer love for my darling baby nephew. The second one is a favorite because I never thought I could put into words how and why I Love my husband so much. Finally I did and it came out beautifully.

The last one is just a hearty take on the silent treatment meted out to guys, and somehow it always makes me laugh!

19. Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?

I really enjoy reading GB, IHM, The Blue Bride, And that’s the Way I see it and Woman and a Quarter.

All of them are superb and awesome ladies in their own right. You got to read them to believe them. Totally honest, in your face and honest opinions!

20. What is the story behind the name of the blog.

Oh, I wanted something unique for the blog. And then I thought why not use my name. I have had some very unique experiences because of my different name. You can read them here.

21. your connection with Indiblogger and the experience ?
It has been just amazing. Communicating and making new friends, attending incredible blogger meets and wining some great prizes in the contests.

22.Which genre do you feel gets the raw deal?

I think everyone loves to hate the politicians of the country, but I haven’t really seen people commenting/writing political posts with as much zest or with as much statistics.

23.Which one plugin would you suggest all bloggers to have?

The FB, Google+, twitter share widget ;-)

24.Five adjectives that describe you.

Emotional, Confused, Procrastinator, Witty, Sarcastic

25.What book would you say has made the biggest impact  good or bad on you?

Gone with the wind (by Margaret Mitchell), and Shantaram (by Gregory David Roberts) for their sheer magnanimity and realism portrayed.

26.Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments ??

Not really. Unless and until people don’t get personal, I don’t think there is any need to be feel agitated. I state my point and leave it at that. I really don’t see a point in hammering my way through it.

27.Do you plan to write a book , as every bloggers dream it is ?

Absolutely. Infact, this blog was kind of a test run before I wrote my book :-P ;-) And I feel so elated when some very dear bloggers and friends ask me, when I am releasing my first book.

28.Are you a judgmental person , Do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral ?

I think everyone is judgmental at some level of consciousness. As much as I try and not want to be, it would be wrong to say that I am not. But if it makes any difference, I don’t want to be ;-)

As far as taking sides is concerned, I always try to be true to my own self and take sides depending on my self-beliefs and not depending on who the people on the opposite sides are. And if there is something that I have no idea about, I would most definitely try to be neutral about it. I don’t like taking sides without making myself a strong case!

29. Your collaboration with other bloggers , are you much into social networking , tell us everything about it ?
Somehow, I haven’t done any guest posts till date. Remember what I said about being a procrastinator? So no blogger collaborations per say.

But yeah, I am very much into social networking (FB, twitter), regularly attend blogger meets and have made a lot of friends too.

30.What genre attracts you the most and which genre you avoid ?

I am an emotional person. I love to blog on love, hate, emotions, marriage, and relationships in general.

31.Your Views on Contests and increasing plagiarism ?

Contests are a great way to write on topics that we generally don’t write on. You lose nothing, and even stand a chance of winning great prizes. I  won an amazing Amazon Kindle for an Indi contest last year. You can read my entry here.

And as far as plagiarism is concerned, I don’t really know why people do that knowingly. I mean, people write because they have the flair for it, and they have an opinion and they want to showcase it. I really don’t know why people want to pretend to write like somebody else. I think people should just generally introspect and choose individuality over interesting-but-copied material.

32.Words for me and my blog .?

You are doing a great job – blogging, authoring, interviewing fellow bloggers and referring people for jobs all over the country. Phew! That’s some profile. Just keep doing the great job that you are doing and I am sure you will reach the pinnacles of success in life.

Signing off. Thank you so much for having me here. J