Interview Series with Romila: The One With Many Hats

If there’s one person in the Indian literary scene who embodies the phrase “wearing many hats,” it’s Romila. She’s been writing since her teenage years, blogging since 2004, published multiple books, founded Unicorn Magazine, and built platforms for artists to be heard. Author, poet, blogger, editor, teacher, magazine founder – Romila is a creative powerhouse who continues to inspire with her versatility and discipline.

In this exclusive interview for my blog, we dive into her beginnings, her creative process, her daily discipline, and even some fun quirks that make her writing world so unique.

Part 1: Beginnings & Identity (The Who)

Q: You’ve been described as someone who wears “many hats” – author, poet, blogger, editor, teacher, and magazine founder. Which of these hats feels most natural, and which challenges you the most?
A: To me, the hat that feels most natural is being a writer or an author. Writing is where I started, and it’s the space where I feel I don’t have to wear a mask or pretend to be someone else. Words come to me like old friends, sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, but always present. Storytelling or poetry feels like breathing; it doesn’t demand permission, it just flows.

Being a teacher is the most challenging hat I wear. I love sharing knowledge, but teaching isn’t just about what you know, it’s about how you translate that into someone else’s understanding. It needs a lot of patience, structure, and the ability to repeat yourself many times without losing enthusiasm. For someone like me, who thrives in spontaneity and creativity, that can be a stretch. But then again, every hat I wear adds to who I am, and even the most challenging ones teach me something new about myself.

Q: Writing since a teenager, blogging since 2004, publishing multiple books, and running Unicorn. How do you stay creatively fuelled without burning out?
A: Creativity is part of my daily rhythm, like the morning chai/coffee. What keeps me fueled is variety, I shift between writing, editing, reading, and running Unicorn, so no single thing ever feels like a burden. I also take a pause like a nap, a walk, a Netflix binge, or even being silent refills me. Burnout sneaks in only when I push too hard with creating a lot of work, so I’ve learned to slow down especially after June 2025. I remind myself that ideas aren’t a race, they’ll always be there in my mind.

Q: Looking back, which “version” of Romila are you most proud of?
A: The version of me I’m most proud of is the girl who became Head Girl in school, way back 1997. She was young, smart and still figuring herself out, but she carried responsibility on her shoulders with confidence. That role taught me discipline, leadership, diplomacy, and even the tricky art of handling politics. I learned how to judge people wisely, spread happiness, and make people feel seen and valued. It also showed me how to balance authority with kindness. Looking back, I know that version of me laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since, and I’ll always be grateful to her.

Part 2: The Creative Process (The How)

Q: Micro-poetry and long-form essays are poles apart. How do you switch gears between brevity and expansiveness in your writing?
A: Switching between micro-poetry and long-form essays is as easy as changing filters on instagram while clicking a picture. With micro-poetry, I zoom in sharply, every word must carry weight, emotion, and imagery in the smallest space. It’s about distilling a moment. Essays, on the other hand, let me zoom out, wander, and explore layers of thought with detail and depth. I enjoy both because they balance each other: poetry teaches me precision, while essays remind me of the joy of expansiveness. The trick is knowing when the idea wants to whisper in haiku or stretch out into a full conversation on paper.

Q: As a self-published author what was the biggest myth about publishing you shattered through your own journey?
A: When I published my debut book way back in 2016 on Amazon, I honestly had no idea what to expect. It was self-published, and I thought it might quietly sit there, unnoticed. Instead, it turned into a success, I remember selling a good number of copies, which completely surprised me – this is not a sugarcoated statement. That moment shattered the myth that self-publishing isn’t “real” publishing. For the last 5 years, I’ve been with an international traditional publishing house, and the biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: whether published or self-published, what truly matters is the story, the effort, and the connection it makes with readers.

Q: Many writers struggle with the blank page. What’s your ritual or mindset when nothing seems to flow?
A: I must say I’m blessed that I’ve never really suffered from writer’s block. Ideas come to me faster than I can put them down, and right now I actually have around 15–20 topics waiting for me to write about. My mindset is simple: I treat writing as a habit, not a burden. If words don’t flow easily, I switch gears like read something, watch a show, take a walk, or just jot random thoughts until they click. For me, the page is never “blank,” it’s just waiting. Creativity always shows up when you give it space, patience, and a little curiosity.

Part 3: Daily Discipline & Resilience (The Why)

Q: Your daily routine – coffee, traffic noise, midnight writing has been highlighted before. How has this environment shaped the rhythm of your words?
A: My daily routine is basically coffee, traffic, and midnight madness, and somehow that cocktail fuels my writing. Coffee is my co-writer, though it never does the editing. The Hyderabad traffic noise – my unwanted background music, like a never-ending remix of honks and rumbles. Some days it feels like the horns are giving me writing prompts. And then there’s midnight writing because apparently, my brain thinks it’s an owl. While everyone else is asleep, I’m writing like it’s a secret mission. So yes, chaos, caffeine, and car horns are welcome to my creative process.

Q: What role does resilience play in your career, and can you share one moment when resilience kept you moving forward?
A: Resilience has been the backbone of my career, it kept me moving even when things got really unfair. I still remember working as a feature writer for a company in 2008 that simply never paid me. I tried every possible way to get my payment, but till date, I’ve never received a rupee. It was frustrating and honestly disheartening, but instead of letting that break me, I used it as a lesson. I realized my words still had value, even if they didn’t honor it. That resilience pushed me to create my own platforms where my work is respected.

Q: As someone who values time management, what does a “perfectly managed” day in your life look like?
A: A perfectly managed day for me begins with a good breakfast and a clear to-do list, followed by my much-needed coffee. As a corporate editor, my mornings are usually filled with deadlines, edits, and meetings, so I make it a point to block time carefully to stay on track. Afternoons are for deep, focused work with short breaks to recharge. During the day, I also catch up with friends, scroll Instagram, answer queries on Unicorn if any, manage its Instagram page, and sometimes participate in random contests or poetry challenges. Evenings are when I work on Unicorn, and by night, I step into my favorite role – writing for myself when the world finally quiets down. For me, a perfect day is all about balance, not chaos.

Part 4: Mentorship & Community (The Beyond)

Q: You’ve created a platform (By Artists for Artists) for others. What responsibility comes with curating and amplifying other creative voices?
A: It’s been 5 years that I created a platform for others – digitally and in print. It comes with a big sense of responsibility. It’s not just about sharing work, it’s about genuinely listening, supporting, and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard. I have to be fair, thoughtful, and intentional with every piece I feature, because I know that for many artists, this is a space that validates their efforts. At the same time, I try to foster community, not competition, making sure creativity thrives rather than gets judged. It’s challenging, but incredibly rewarding to see others shine through the platform I helped build.

Q: In a world of reels and instant content, how do you keep readers engaged with the slower, deeper act of reading poetry and books?
A: On Unicorn’s Instagram page, I organise weekly poetry challenges that invite participation and spark conversation. I also run giveaways in collaboration with published authors to make reading and writing feel fun and rewarding. It’s about creating little pockets of excitement around slow, thoughtful content, so people feel drawn in rather than rushed. By blending community, interaction, and a bit of playful competition, we make poetry and books feel alive and accessible, even in today’s fast-scrolling world.

Q: As both a teacher and a writer, what’s one thing students have taught you about communication that surprised you?
A: One thing students have taught me that genuinely surprised me is how much honesty and curiosity can elevate communication. As a teacher and writer, I thought I knew the “right” ways to express ideas, but students often phrase questions or observations in ways that are refreshingly direct and original. They remind me that clarity doesn’t need polish, and sometimes the simplest words carry the deepest impact.

Part 5: Quirks, Fun & Future (The Personal)

Q: If each of your tattoos represents a story, which one would you want to turn into a poem or short story?
A: The tattoo bearing my name, “Romila,” is simple, yet profoundly personal, a symbol of identity, journey, and self-expression. Those letters hold so much: childhood dreams, struggles, triumphs, and the person I’ve grown into today. Turning it into a poem would let me explore more than just the name itself as it would be a way to delve into the life, memories, and experiences that it carries with it.

Q: You’ve called yourself a social-media nut and fashion addict. Do these aspects of your personality find their way into your writing?
A: Absolutely they sneak into my writing more than people realize. Being a social-media nut keeps me tuned into trends, conversations, and the pulse of everyday life, which helps me write with relevance and relatability. My love for fashion seeps in through imagery, descriptions, and the small details that bring characters or scenes to life. They make my writings – vivid, playful, and contemporary. These passions add texture, they remind me that storytelling isn’t just about ideas, it’s about style, personality, and the little quirks that make life interesting.

Q: Finally, if a documentary were to be made on you titled “Wearing Many Hats,” what three chapters must absolutely be included?
A: First, “The Writer’s Journey” would cover my early years, my debut as an author, and how poetry and storytelling shaped who I am. Second, “Building Unicorn” would show the challenges and triumphs of creating a platform for artists, curating voices, and managing a magazine while balancing life and work. Third, “Life Beyond the Page” would explore my personal quirks, my love for fashion and food, and how all these seemingly small passions fuel creativity and keep me inspired every day.

⚡ Rapid Fire with Romila

• Coffee or chai? Coffee

• Midnight writing or early morning calm? Midnight writing

• Stationery you can’t live without? Pens

• One word to describe Hyderabad traffic in your writer-life. Madness

• Favorite emoji you overuse? ❤️

• Instagram reel you’d never skip watching? Anything which has got to do with stationery/bookstores

• A book you’d happily re-read every year. Animal Farm by George Orwell

• One author you’d love to have coffee with. Dan Brown/Ashwin Sanghi

• The last show you binge-watched. Mandala Murders

• If Unicorn had a mascot, what would it be? A unicorn itself but not the cliché glittery, rainbow one, but The Bookish Professor Unicorn or The Wanderlust Storyteller Unicorn

• Poetry in one word? Love

• A fashion item that instantly lifts your mood. Matt brown lipstick

• If your tattoos could talk, which one would be the sassiest? Oh, definitely the butterfly one

• Writing by hand or typing on a laptop? Writing by hand

• What’s on your current playlist while writing? Diljit Dosanjh, Ed Sheeran, Hindi 90s hits

• Favorite writing snack (besides coffee)? Rice cookies/Banana Bread

• If you could teleport anywhere right now – where? Paris

• A color that defines your personality. Pink

• The one app you check first thing in the morning. Instagram for weather predictions

• “Romila in three hashtags” – go! #socialbutterfly, #literarypowerhouse, #forevernovemberschild

Highlights from the interview

“Storytelling or poetry feels like breathing; it doesn’t demand permission, it just flows.”

“Ideas aren’t a race—they’ll always be there in my mind.”

“Whether published or self-published, what truly matters is the story, the effort, and the connection it makes with readers.”

“Clarity doesn’t need polish; sometimes the simplest words carry the deepest impact.”

“Chaos, caffeine, and car horns are welcome to my creative process.”

Romila is truly a writer who embodies resilience, curiosity, and versatility. Whether she’s writing micro-poetry, editing Unicorn Magazine, or mentoring young voices, she brings authenticity and passion into every role. This conversation is a reminder that creativity isn’t just about words – it’s about living with purpose, balancing many hats, and finding joy in each one.

You can connect with Romila through her magazine Unicorn or follow her literary adventures on Instagram.

Unicorn Magazine

Instagram