After countless nights of revisions and endless editing, Ananya Biradar, sophomore, turns her passion for writing into self-publishing her own poetry novel.
Biradar’s debut poetry novel, “My Little Epiphanies: The Building Down by Main Street” is a work of poetic fiction that dwells into the intricate, messy essence of being human through four characters.
Biradar began writing poetry in March 2024, when she first moved to the U.S.
“In India, we have very stressful exams called Board Exams, and I moved after I took my Boards,” Biradar said. “I didn’t want to join school towards the end of the semester, so I had a lot of free time, which allowed me to write again.”
St. Louis County Daniel Boone Library.
Hard covers cost $23 and paperbacks $15 (Media by Kate Jesperson)
She started reading after her exams, which inspired her ideas while writing her novel.
“I write because I want people to read what I am trying to say. I want people to connect with me,” Biradar said. “But I feel like these days, publishing houses try to earn money off of authors rather than actually supporting the authors. I didn’t really like the idea of that, so I decided to self publish.”
Biradar found herself struggling with editing on her own, but she was determined to publish her book.
“In a bookstore, there are hundreds of books to choose from, most of which have gone through multiple rounds of professional editing,” Biradar said. “And then there’s me, the book that’s done by the 16 year old. I’ve got no agent, no editor. I’ve done it all by myself. It was intimidating at first, but keeping my goal in mind really helped me through the process.”
Biradar’s friend, Tvisha Singh, sophomore, has read some of her poems.
“I really liked them because they were meaningful and relatable,” Singh said.
Singh and Biradar have been friends since last year, and Singh expressed her feelings toward Biradar.
“Ananya is a hard working, open and genuine person, and I’m so proud to see how far she’s come,” Singh said.
Rob Durham, language arts teacher, helped Biradar in her writing process.
Durham is in the process of publishing his seventh book, and said it’s better she is starting this early in her life.
“A lot of students think they will write their own book, but never get past the first draft,” Durham said. “My biggest advice to any student looking to publish their first novel is to finish the first draft.”
