"The poem (see below) was actually a Facebook status update. I was based in New York before I moved to Oxford and I was in Staten Island for lunch one day. This inspired me to write the status. One of my Oxford colleagues commented, “And you claim not to write poetry”. So I didn’t think too much about it as I never consider myself to be a great poet in any way. When The Mays was advertised on the course website, looking for stories and poems, I simply decided to turn that into that Facebook status update into a poem. 

After my story was printed in The Mays, I was actually approached by another agent (having signed with Quercus in 2011). Then again, I would not have had the story published in The Mays had I not been to Oxford. So there are ways these little things add up. If you’re interested in writing, if you think of a story to tell, then write. There’s no substitute at all. You come across so many people who claim he or she wants to write these days but unless you sit down and write - and write seriously- the writing will never get done.

The thing is, you do not do a Masters in 'Creative Writing' to learn how to write. You should already know how to write before starting the course. It’s important for you to have a group of people who are constantly writing, constantly creating and are as serious about writing as you are. I get invited to colleges and schools and that’s the advice I give everybody. Blog if you have to. Submit to newspapers. Enter competitions. Submit your story to The Mays. Edit, edit, edit. Have a circle of friends who are also interested in writing. It’s very important that you write and, if you’re serious about it, sit down and learn how to write better." 

Prajwal's first books will be published by Quercus in December of this year. 

The Mays XX is accepting submissions until March 31; for more information go to mays.varsity.co.uk

Suburbia

I am heading to Staten Island

I will bring you flowers

And sameness. And melancholy

And children 

And whatever else they breed

In the suburbs. 

- Prajwal Parajuly

(originally published in The Mays XIX, available from mays.varsity.co.uk, £10)