Inside the Future of Indian Publishing: Craft, Creativity & Community with Tara Khandelwal | The Literature Lounge

AVAILABLE ON

About This Podcast

In this episode of The Literature Lounge Podcast, Mohua Chinappa is in conversation with Tara Khandelwal — editor, podcaster, and founder of Bound, a thriving platform nurturing India’s creative talent. Having worked on over 700 books across genres, Tara opens up about the invisible labour behind editing, the delicate balance between structure and creativity, and what it means to be a creative companion to authors. She also shares her insights on building literary communities, mentoring writers, and helping emerging voices find their footing in the creative space.

Why This Episode Matters:
Behind every compelling book is a web of craft, collaboration, and community. Tara’s journey offers a rare look at the future of Indian publishing from shaping stories with emotional depth to creating ecosystems that support writers beyond the page. This conversation is for anyone curious about the forces shaping how stories are built, shared, and sustained in today’s fast-changing creative landscape.

Key Takeaways:

How editing is as much about listening as it is about language.
How Tara nurtures authors’ voices while protecting their vision.
Insights into building Bound and fostering literary communities.
How technology is reshaping the way we write and publish.
How social media is influencing authorship and visibility.
The role literary festivals play in shaping conversations and careers.

Episode Timeline

0:00

: Introduction | Why books are timeless compared to social media

1:05

: Meet Tara | Editor, founder of Bound & mentor shaping India’s creative ecosystem

1:42

: Storytelling & Editing | Crafting powerful stories and taking drafts from good to great

7:45

: Tech & Creativity | ChatGPT, Grammarly & AI – friend or foe for writers?

10:57

: Building Bound | Creating opportunities for writers in a closed publishing industry

14:19

: Publishing & Authorship | Ghostwriting, influencers, and the future of longform writing

26:08

: The Future of Literature | Festivals, visibility, and advice for the next generation of authors

32:14

: Closing Thoughts | Gratitude and reflections

For any queries E-Mail: hello@themohuashow.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed by our guests are their own. We do not endorse and are not responsible for any views expressed by our guests on our Show and its associated platforms.