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Maya Rakesh

@whenindoubt_iwrite

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followers

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following

Ex-marketer, ex-cafe owner now writing contemporary romance & speculative fiction, sometimes a bit of both!
Rep: @julianalovesbooks | @fineprintlit

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New client alert! Welcome to the FinePrint agency @whenindoubt_iwrite ! I can't wait to share your second-chance romance (and incredible playlists) with the wider world. by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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2 months ago

I’ve pivoted careers before but this sort of reinvention is a first: Introducing my pen name! I chose it for the special significance it holds for me as a storyteller and a stubborn chaser of dreams! Looking forward to sharing more about my writing journey in the days to come. ❤️
P.S: Who knew writing an About Me post will be harder than writing a manuscript synopsis! #iykyk #aboutme #writerjourney #playlistaddict by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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2 months ago

Kinda chic to fiercely believe in the magic of books ❤️ #bookstores #lovestories #writingcommunity by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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2 months ago

Bidding summer goodbye in a few short weeks is gonna be hard, but I also love the transitional vibe of September! It's always been a month of reflection for me, and a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils, of course 😍 #iykyk #writinglife #writinggoals #pantser by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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a month ago

Random WIP things I “researched” while in London for three short days last month....Not sure how much will end up being used. 🤷‍♀️Except the commute trauma, DEFINITELY using that. All those memes about the London tube in the summer are true 🥵
Also felt it imperative to buy a tote bag ( and add to collection of eleventy billion tote bags at home) in order to truly get into FMC’s psyche. #wip #manuscriptresearch #londonthings by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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2 months ago

Late last month, I was checking word count on the WIP and instead got a little starry eyed 🤩 on the page count.
One hundred. It felt like a mini milestone for what had only been a loose idea, a distraction from the trenches a couple months ago!

On the heels of that high came a low, even if it was a temporary one: the dreaded writer’s block! Whether it was because I was traveling, jet lagged, overwhelmed by other life things, or the fact that the scene I was writing kept tripping me up, I’m not sure. But it felt like a solid, uncomfortable thing I couldn’t shake off for a week even while I kept halfheartedly line editing and pushing words around.

Yesterday, I wrote 1100 fresh words in one sitting! The tactic that helped me break through is not ideal…I skipped ahead to write a scene that belongs at least 50 pages later in the narrative, but it had been swirling in my mind for weeks. Whether or not it will still work by the time I get to that stage in the story is a future problem, for now I’m relieved it helped me forge ahead!

Anyone else writes their first draft out of order? I have done this before with my prior manuscript too. Luckily, first drafts are forgiving! ❤️

#writingislife #writersblock #speculativefiction by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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2 months ago

WIP things😍 @cece_lyra_agent’s Starting it Right workshop can’t happen soon enough for this pantsing writer!
What other signs am I missing? #writingcraft #learnwithcece by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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4 months ago

After a little pep talk from my coffee mug, I finally submitted my WIP’s opening pages for @cece_lyra_agent’s Starting it Right workshop in July.
Let’s go! #learnwithcece #speculativefiction by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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4 months ago

Belated August read post
I read this gorgeous debut by @lavanya.lakshmi.writes while soaking up the last bits of summer before back-to-school chaos, and the parallels between the title and my mood were rather poetic: summer is about to leave too, but it will come back next year ❤️
Run, don’t walk to your favorite indie bookstore if you:
- Watched the Bollywood movie DDLJ as a kid and fell hopelessly in love with Shahrukh Khan
- Have no idea what DDLJ is ( ask an Indian friend!)) but want to experience the crazy, joyful production that is an Indian wedding from the comfort of your bed or couch (or wherever/however you prefer to read)
- Are craving dual POV love stories. This has all the hijinks of a rom com masterfully layered with book club fiction elements that will tug at your heartstrings
- Love stories about family, grief, and resilience
- Are looking for your next book boyfriend
#multiculturalromance by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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a month ago

July has been INTENSE. While working on my WIP is temporarily on hold, I’m plugging away at writing-adjacent things like reading with an eye on craft. Opening chapters hit different when you evaluate them with @cece_lyra_agent’s checklist from the Starting it Right workshop! Added bonus: this lovely book by @mhairimcf makes me chuckle every couple sentences! #learnwithCece #contemporaryromance by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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3 months ago

August was a productive reading and writing month (despite the summer FOMO to do all the things!) I read four books, three of which are in genres I write, but I’m making a more focused effort now to read outside my genres again and return to my “I want it all” roots as a reader. Having owned and run a cafe for five years, I knew from the cover and title alone that this grounded fantasy by @zaramarielle will be special! I really enjoyed the peek into Scottish lore, the masterful blending of two very different timelines, and the unique multi-POV story that kept me turning the pages! There is also a super fun Easter egg for querying writers 😜 #fortheloveofreading #groundedfantasy #multipovbooks by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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a month ago

Yet another poignant, beautifully written book from @rebecca_serle! This one left me shook for days with the impossible but oh so intriguing question at its heart! ❤️ by @whenindoubt_iwrite

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5 months ago