We recently connected with Yashna Malhotra and have shared our conversation below.
Yashna , so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
It’s something I am still working through. I don’t know if I have completely overcome it. Some days are better than the others, but I think the key is to trust yourself more and just write from the heart – everything else is just noise.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an award-winning screenwriter, a BAFTA Newcomers fellow, and a graduate of the MFA program in Screenwriting from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. I’ve also been a Sloan grant recipient, and was a finalist for the Sloan Grand Jury Prize awarded by the Museum of the Moving Image.
I write character-driven dramas and dramedies – both features and series – about South Asians, for a global audience. I currently have multiple projects – features and series – in different stages of development for theatrical release, as well as for global streaming platforms.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To be a good writer, I think one needs to have unconditional empathy. Discipline is another big one – sitting at your desk and writing no matter what – is also very important. Cutting out the noise where distractions of any kind are so abundant is hard, but necessary. And of course, being in the state of mind of constantly learning. Facing the blank page is incredibly hard, no matter how many scripts you’ve written in the past. You always start again at zero, and it’s always scary. But accepting this fact, and adopting the mindset of being a lifelong student is always helpful.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
It’s pretty common to feel overwhelmed by the industry. I think the key is in accepting the fact that not much is in your control as a writer. You literally only have control over the blank page in front of you. It’s both limiting but also deeply empowering.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yashnamalhotra.com
- Instagram: @yashna_24
Image Credits
Image credit for studio image: onein8billionstudios
