🤩“See other authors’ success not as a reason to feel envious, but as proof that you can do it too.“
Author Q&A with Swati Hegde and a new program that works with your reality—not against it👏🏼
Boola Bos is located in Toronto and Minneapolis which are on the traditional territories of many Anishinaabe, Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Dakota nations. These lands, both ceded and unceded, continue to be contested.
We acknowledge the historical and ongoing genocide, oppression, and exploitation of Inuit, First Nations, and Métis communities, cultures, and languages across what is now known as Turtle Island or North America.
As writers, we recognize the power of language and place names and commit to using our words thoughtfully to honor the many people who have cared for this land long before European colonial expansion.
We commit to operating Boola Bos in ways that support the dismantling of systems of injustice and which cause no further harm to the land, people, and cultures of our shared home.
💌💖 Author Q&A with Swati Hegde: “Your future readers are waiting—don’t let writer’s block win.” ✨📖
We sat down with Swati Hegde, author of Match Me If You Can, to chat about her journey from aspiring writer to published author. She spills her secrets on finding motivation amidst rejection, conquering writer’s block with creativity, and why every aspiring author needs an “author hype file.” 📝💪
Whether you’re a querying author or dreaming of writing your first novel, Swati’s insights will leave you inspired to keep going—even on the toughest days.
SWATI HEGDE is a Desi romance author, fiction writing coach, and self-proclaimed coffee shop enthusiast who brings Indian voices to the forefront of contemporary romance. Hailing from Bangalore, India, Swati’s novels feature fierce heroines, sweet-as-honey heroes, and heartwarming happily-ever-afters. Her debut novel, Match Me If You Can, a friends-to-lovers story, has captivated readers, while her upcoming Can’t Help Faking in Love, a fake-dating romance, is eagerly anticipated. Swati also empowers writers through her online course, Self-Editing School, where she teaches fiction authors how to refine their manuscripts with confidence. When she’s not writing, Swati can be found at karaoke nights or enjoying a hot mug of tea in her favorite café.
BOOLA BOS: Writing a debut novel and navigating the querying process can be incredibly challenging. Can you share some strategies or practices you used to build resilience and stay motivated throughout the journey of Match Me If You Can? What helped you push through the difficult moments?
SWATI HEGDE: Oh gosh, writing a book is a challenge in itself, but querying is a whole other ball game! What really helped me was figuring out why I’m doing this whole publishing thing. If I were just in it for money or fame (lol), I don’t think I would have been able to keep going despite so much rejection. I reminded myself time and again that I was writing because I had a billion stories to tell, and not writing was equivalent to not breathing for me. I was also trying to get published for every Desi/South Asian reader who wanted to feel seen in romance novels, and every BIPOC writer living outside the US who was afraid their stories would be too “unrelatable” to Western audiences. Having different kinds of motivation is an absolute must when you’re setting off on this chaotic publishing journey!
BB: Writer’s block is a common hurdle for many authors. If you've experienced it, what techniques helped you to overcome it?
SH: A lot of writing coaches will tell you that writer’s block is BS and it doesn’t exist. I disagree—writer’s block is very real, and the first thing you need to do to overcome it is understand what’s at the core of it. Is it a craft issue? Are you struggling because you haven’t plotted the story enough and now you don’t know how to proceed with the next scene, or you’ve plotted so much that you feel stuck and constrained by your outline? If yes, then let yourself write a random scene that has no relation to your outline and get back into the groove of your plot and characters. On the flipside, it could also be a mindset issue. Maybe you’re subconsciously afraid of finishing the book because finishing it means you’ll have to query it, which means—you guessed it—rejection. Or you feel imposter syndrome, because who are you to write an entire manuscript? If this is the case for you, sit with these difficult feelings. Journal it out. And remind yourself of those different motivations I talked about earlier. Take a break if needed, but get back to writing. Don’t let writer’s block win when your future readers are eagerly waiting to discover you and call you their favorite author!
BB: Rejections are, unfortunately, a very regular part of the publishing process. What advice would you give to writers to help them stay positive and resilient in the face of rejection?
SH: Like you said, rejection is inevitable in the publishing process—whether you’re a querying author trying to sign with an agent, or a bestselling author who got ghosted by Reese’s Book Club. When it comes to rejection, I have a few tips.
First, create an author hype file, where you paste in every little compliment you’ve ever gotten on your writing, whether that’s from your high school English teacher, a critique partner, or a literary agent who liked some parts of your book but ultimately had to pass. Look at this document whenever you doubt yourself.
Next, make a list of querying milestones and reward yourself for checking off each one, whether it’s with a book-buying spree or a spa day. Sent your first query? Got your first form rejection? An agent requested your full? An agent passed on your full? You badass human, you wrote a whole book and shared it with someone who isn’t your mom! Be SO proud!
And finally, see other authors’ success not as a reason to feel envious, but as proof that you can do it too. Let their stories motivate you. Yes, it IS possible to be picked up from the slush pile. Yes, it IS possible to get a 6-figure book deal as a debut. Yes, it IS possible to find readers who absolutely love your writing, even if your book doesn’t hit the bestseller list.
"Rejection is inevitable in the publishing process—whether you’re a querying author trying to sign with an agent, or a bestselling author who got ghosted by Reese’s Book Club… See other authors’ success not as a reason to feel envious, but as proof that you can do it too."
—Swati Hegde, in conversation with Boola Bos
BB: Feeling empowered is crucial for any writer’s success. How do you maintain a sense of empowerment and confidence in your writing and career?
SH: First, keep in mind that you’ll never feel empowered and confident every minute of your journey! We’re only human, after all. But if you want to build an overall empowered mindset… honestly, the most important thing is to detach. Detach from this idea we writers tend to have that a rejection of our writing is a rejection of us. It’s not. You are worthy and capable of getting a book deal no matter how many agents pass on your work—whether it’s with your first manuscript or the 6th (like me!).
Next, find a community of fellow writers who will be your hype people on days you don’t feel empowered, and do the same for them. You can find a strong writing community on social media, especially Instagram and Threads, and if you write romance, Facebook groups are a great place too. Build organic, authentic connections and stick around for these authors on their good and bad days. They’ll do the same for you.
And finally, like I said earlier, remind yourself every single day of your achievements, no matter how small they may be. If you finished your first draft, you’ve accomplished more than 97% of aspiring authors ever will. If you’re querying, that’s SO brave of you to share your work. If you got a rejection from an agent, you shot your shot, which most people will never dare to do. Read this list of achievements daily, too. Focus on the positives, as hard as I know that can be, and give yourself grace on days when you feel down in the dumps. It’s okay to not be okay!
BB: Balancing the demands of writing with personal well-being can be tough. What strategies do you use to maintain a healthy mindset and avoid burnout? How do you ensure that your mental health remains a priority while pursuing your writing goals?
SH: The first strategy is to unlearn this idea that “you have to write every day to be a REAL writer.” That’s not feasible or realistic for most of us, myself included. Definitely build a consistent writing routine, whether that looks like writing 2,000 words a week or writing for 20 mins every alternate day. Remember that your mental health, mindset, and physical health are more important than your writing career—no matter what.
If you struggle with self-care or resting, like I do, schedule it into your calendar the way you’d schedule a work appointment. 15 minutes of reading for pleasure every night before bed, or taking a hot bath every weekend, or even cuddling with your pet or partner in the early morning can work wonders in helping you unwind and let go of the anxieties that are part of the publishing process.
Get comfortable with your body and learn to read the signs of burnout before it’s too late. Are you feeling tired even after a good night’s sleep? Does the thought of writing your book fill you up with dread? Are you irritable and annoyed throughout the day, maybe even sad for no reason? These are all early signs of burnout for me, personally. Getting out of burnout burns me out even more, so if possible, figure out what your early signs of burnout are, and make rest a priority as soon as you start to notice it. Don’t wait for it to get so bad you can’t function.
Also, if you have the means, invest in a good therapist. Venting to my therapist about publishing anxiety and frustrations twice a month has been SO cathartic.
Swati Hegde is the author of Match Me If You Can and Can’t Help Faking in Love (February 11, 2025), both Desi romance novels published by Penguin Random House. As a fiction writing coach, she helps authors improve their craft, polish their manuscripts, and build a rejection-proof mindset. You can find Swati on Instagram, Twitter, or her website.
Purchasing books through Bookshop.org supports authors, indie bookstores, and small businesses. Win-win-win!
🚨Introducing Writer’s Clinic: Your Manuscript’s New BFF✍️✨
Stuck in manuscript limbo? We’re here to assess, diagnose, and treat what’s holding you back.
Your manuscript isn’t stuck because you’re not working hard enough—it’s stuck because the system isn’t working for you. Let’s change that.
Think of yourself as an elite athlete in the world of writing—brimming with talent, grit, and drive. So why aren’t you hitting your peak?
Spoiler alert: it’s not you, it’s the system.
Enter the Writer’s Clinic, an on-demand training that works with your reality—not against it. We’re here to assess what’s holding you back, diagnose the roadblocks, and set up a sustainable, actionable system to help you finally finish your manuscript and start querying literary agents.
Ready to perform at your highest level? Let’s get you there!
Writer’s Clinic goes live at the end of January and registration opens next Wednesday, January 22.
We’ll be publishing posts about Writer’s Clinic in the coming weeks. If you’d prefer not to receive these updates but want to stay on the Boola Bos mailing list (we totally get it!), you can opt out of Writer’s Clinic posts here.
Loved this interview. So much encouragement!