Teen pens 21 books, eyes game devp

When Arnav Verma, a Class XII student at Nankana Sahib Public School (NSPS), Ludhiana, picked up his first English comic book in 2019, he never imagined it would lead him to become a published author. Today, he has 21 books to his credit on Kindle and continues to expand his literary portfolio.

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Arnav developed his passion for writing during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I used to spend a good amount of time reading comics and that inspired me to explore how to write my own,” he shares. His curiosity led him to online platforms like YouTube and AI tools, which helped him understand the basics of storytelling.

His journey into writing was unconventional. “It wasn’t a straight path—it was more like hop-hop,” he laughs. “I searched ChatGPT for vague ideas on writing a book, and soon, I was publishing one after another.” His dedication resulted in 13 books on Kindle and 11 on his own webstore, AVS Webstore.

Among his published works are The King’s Whisper, Room 131, The Mystery of the Murder of Mafia, Superheroes Are Not Always Dressed and The 30 Days Journaling Challenge. His books have gained traction, earning him a monthly royalty of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000.

Beyond writing, Arnav has also ventured into filmmaking. He edited and directed a six-minute documentary, The Harvest of Hope, which won second prize at the Global Youth Festival in Chandigarh in December 2024.

With a passion for sketching and digital exploration, Arnav aspires to become a game developer. “I want to pursue CSE Game Development at Niagara College, USA,” he says. His immediate plan? “After cracking my XII boards, I will release my individual game on Steam and consoles.”

With all praise for Arnav, NSPS Principal Harmeet Kaur Wariach said, “In an age where many students are drifting away from books, it is heartening to see Arnav embrace reading and writing with such passion. His journey from a reader to a published author is truly inspiring and I hope it encourages more students to explore the world of literature.”

Arnav’s journey from a voracious reader to a prolific writer is a testament to how curiosity and dedication can shape a creative future.