Neha Srivastava, Editor in Chief of SheSight Magazine shares the pivotal moments of her life. Her memoir narrates and explains how she nurtured emotionally and intellectually. Her stories blossomed and evolved over time and gained new insights. Read her story of resilience and growth emerging from experiences.
In six words (Six-Word Memoir) how would you condense your writing journey? What revelations have you unearthed about yourself along the way?
“Narratives Blossomed, and So Did I.”- that’s my memoir!
After 17 years in IT and ITES, I started writing as a hobby blogger and ghostwriter, eventually taking on paid gigs. My interest in current affairs led me to apply for a reporter role, but instead, I was offered the Editor-in-Chief role at SheSight Global, a women’s success magazine.
Leading up to this, I wrote on diverse topics, but what truly clicked for me was using the power of media to amplify women’s narratives, which often don’t get the coverage they deserve. Writing on various topics, I found my calling in, for highlighting women’s stories.
Moving from IT-L&D to media taught me to be flexible and stay true to my mission. I’ve seen how good content can connect with people, amplify women’s voices, and drive positive change. This experience has shown me how media can shape communities.
From studying zoology to mastering the art of content writing, how did this unique transition unfold?
I’ve always been curious about the living world, and so I chose to major in Zoology. While I loved learning about animals and their behaviors, I realized I had a passion for storytelling and connecting with people through words.
A key moment was writing an article about saving dolphins for a marine conservation campaign. The positive feedback showed me how powerful words can be in raising awareness and inspiring action. This reignited my passion for writing. After 17 years as a corporate trainer, I decided to dive back into writing. It’s been a unique journey, but every step has taught me something valuable and brought me to where I am today.
What stark differences do you observe between crafting web content and developing educational curricula? What guiding principles help you direct and differentiate these two realms?
Crafting web content and developing educational curricula are quite different. Web content grabs attention quickly and delivers information concisely, like a light conversation. Creating educational curricula is more structured, building a comprehensive learning journey step-by-step.
For web content, I aim to be clear, engaging, and relatable, focusing on what the audience wants to know. For educational curricula, I strive to be thorough, organized, and supportive, ensuring the content is well-structured and easy to follow.
As an Editor-in-Chief, which interview, or feature article stands out as the most memorable?
We recently featured Celia Sandhya Daniel, a successful corporate leader and member of the LGBTQ+ community. Respected for her professional skills, Celia shared the challenges she faced with her new identity and how she continues to fight for inclusivity in the corporate world. What stood out in the interview was how clearly and effectively she communicated. I can confidently say that her success in her profession is largely due to her excellent business communication skills.
As a Voice and Accent Trainer, what key tips and strategies do you offer to minimize MTI (Mother Tongue Influence)?
Work on your MTI in this sequence: sounds, words, and sentences. Understand that the foundation of any language is its sounds. Notice the differences between the sounds in your target language and your first language, and practice articulating these new sounds with the right guidance. Once you get the sounds right, use them in words, paying attention to where the stress falls. After mastering the stress patterns, start using these words in sentences.
Next, focus on your grammar, intonation, and rate of speech. The ideal rate of speech is crucial, as speaking too quickly or too slowly can affect clarity. Next, work on gaining fluency through practice. Avoid literal translations and no doubt Reading and listening help to a great extent.
I recall a trainee from India struggling with “zh” (/ʒ/) and “z” (/z/) sounds due to Mother Tongue Influence (MTI). This affected his customer-facing role and speech clarity leading to mispronunciations like “meazure” instead of “measure.” We worked on these specific sounds and incorporated the corrected sounds into words and sentences. Regular practice, including reading aloud and listening to native speakers, boosted his confidence and reduced MTI.
Comparing your teaching strategies as an ESL trainer at the University of Cincinnati to those used in India, what were the key differences? How did you adapt your approach to each environment?
I worked as a substitute instructor at the University of Cincinnati, which came with its own challenges. I faced challenges like limited time and diverse learners, requiring quick adaptation and flexibility in teaching methods.
In India, addressing pronunciation issues due to Mother Tongue Influence (MTI) was the focus. To handle the challenges strategies included were customizing lessons, engaging group discussions, incorporating culturally relevant materials, providing timely feedback, and prioritizing key objectives to support multicultural learners' language development. These strategies helped me support these multicultural learners’ language development effectively.
Looking ahead, what changes do you foresee in the world of web content creation? How should aspiring writers and creators prepare themselves from the outset to stay ahead in this evolving field?
Web content creation is evolving.
Let me share with you some trends and tips that aspiring writers can gain from:
AI tools will help with everything from generating ideas to optimizing content. Learn how to use these tools to make your work easier and better.
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels are super popular. Get good at making short, engaging videos.
People love content that feels real and personal. Focus on creating genuine, relatable content.
Virtual and augmented reality will offer new ways to engage audiences. Explore these technologies to create immersive experiences.
With privacy changes, collecting your own data will be important. Understand data privacy rules and learn how to gather and use data ethically.
To stay ahead, you should keep up with the latest trends and technologies. Learn new skills like video editing, SEO, and data analytics. Connect with other creators for insights and opportunities. Try new formats to discover what works best for your audience.
By staying flexible and always improving, you’ll do great in web content creation.
Neha Srivastava, with over 20 years of experience, specializes in web content creation, including blogs, articles, and L&D curriculum. Skilled in facilitating virtual and in-person business communication training, she brings her expertise in content writing and talent development.
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