Ratna Prabha- The Blogger With Unique Story Telling Skills

Posted by On November 07, 2025 0 Comment
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Ratna Prabha- The Blogger With Unique Story Telling Skills

What initially inspired you to launch your blog Stories Made Simple — was there a defining moment when you realised you needed a “voice” online?

The defining moment came sometime in October 2019 when I thought I must begin to write for myself instead of ghostwriting, which I had been doing since 2016. I had participated in a few story and poem writing competitions in social media forums and received positive feedback from not only friends but also new readers. I thought I had the potential, and somehow, retelling stories from our puranas and itihasas was the first thought that struck me. I can’t remember why. But I knew that’s what I always wanted to do. 

My husband was my first reader, and he fell in love with my Ganesh’s birth story. I knew then I wasn’t looking back. It was my brother who gave me the idea of saving my stories on a blog, the first one of which I created on my own, using Google’s Blogger. The current website is designed and maintained by Artoonsinn Geek Room, CEO Mithru Rachamalla. 

Your blog covers mythological stories, poetry, flash-fiction and reviews. How do you choose which genre to write in on any given day?

Unfortunately, I’m not a very consistent writer. I don’t write every day, although I try very hard. I accumulate my thoughts in a folder I call Compost Heap (which I learnt from one of the Masterclasses of a famous author, can’t recall his name), and when I find a vague idea taking a sort of solid shape in my head, I sit down to write that on Google Docs. I write reviews only when a book or movie deeply moves me. So, my count on that is a little less than I’d like.

Stories from our puranas and itihasas keep running through my head. I have different folders under different themes, which I keep populating as and when the idea strikes.  I keep writing them often, jotting down little ideas that pop into my head as I research, which I expand on when I sit down to write. 

Flash fiction is, more often than not, a response to prompts from various competitions. And whether they win or not, if I like the story I created, I put it up on my blog. But, if you notice, my blog is primarily retellings of puranas and itihasas. 

When you retell ancient myths or puranas (like your piece on Krishna & Sudama) you often add your own interpretation. What drives your choice to recast them in a “modern lens”?

That’s such a thought-provoking question. It makes me dig deep into my heart for answers. Why do I do what you noticed? Because that’s precisely my motivation in retelling our puranic stories, turning them around to see something that I find appealing in the story, relevant to modern times. In fact, I seek timeless material and try to interpret it for today without losing the spirit of the original message and tales.

In Krishna and Sudama, for example, I added my own version of that little conversation with his wife, his struggles with poverty, while retaining his dignity. That he had eaten Krishna’s portion of the food packed by the guru’s wife during his school days is found in multiple folklore versions, and that is the reason for his years of poverty is also present in these versions. Any new information got through research. I try to present it in a form that can be understood today, a way of explaining karmic consequences, whether done willingly or otherwise. 

How much of your writing is driven by “what the story originally was” versus “what I want the reader to feel/learn”?

I have answered a part of this question in one of your previous questions. I rarely alter the story’s original spirit. There have been very few tales where I turned around the outcomes (different from the original outcome, but not the original spirit of the character). 

I believe it is important not to touch what has been passed down for centuries, even millennia. My belief is that if the stories have lasted for so long, there must be something powerful in them, and who am I to change it? However, the interpretation can change depending on the time when the stories are read and engaged with. 

The ‘feelings of the reader’ is the most important aspect of my retellings. The readers have to “feel” what I feel with my retellings. The motivations, the character arcs, why someone did what he or she did? Everything has to be felt deeply. Only then can I write. And therefore, I hope readers get it too. 

Your blog seems to engage a wide readership (from those very familiar with myth-stories to those new to them). How do you balance accessibility (for new readers) with depth (for long-time myth-lovers)?

Absolutely. I write because I love the stories and the lessons they teach. Knowing them beforehand is not necessary at all. The easiest way I know to satisfy both kinds of readers is to keep it simple—the reason for the name of my website. Even complex characters and situations can be simplified by unravelling layers one story at a time (though I try to ensure all the layers are revealed to the best of my abilities) in ways that help new readers understand and appreciate them, as well as offer new insights to readers who are already familiar with these age-old tales. 

Could you walk us through your typical writing process — from idea → research → writing → editing → publishing?

First, the idea has to come. I keep jotting down these ideas as they come. It could come from watching a movie, a documentary, listening to a podcast, or just discussing with friends, family, and other people interested in these tales. Which means I already have a list of stories I want to tell. 

For example, I’m currently working on Arupadaiveedu, the Six Temples of Muruga spread across Tamil Nadu. First, I recall what I already know and make brief points. Then, I do my research on the internet as well as the books I have (I regularly use Vettam Mani’s The Puranic Encyclopedia), and keep adding new information that I get. 

For stories from the Mahabharat, I use P Lal’s translations and Bibek Debroy’s retellings. For the Ramayana, I don’t have physical books. I use the internet. 

When I believe that I have all the information needed to write an engaging story, I begin writing. Often, the first draft is a super mess. I start in one way, and by the time the final draft is done, there is hardly any resemblance to the first draft. However, there have been times when the first draft has been more or less the one I stuck with. A classic example is the story of Draupadi’s Humiliation, which I hardly edited—mostly stuck to the original.

On the other hand, The Birth of Karna and When Ganga Flowed as Bhagirathi, I believe I made at least 100 edits before I was satisfied. 

What are the biggest challenges you face as a blogger (time-management, visibility, reader-engagement, monetisation etc.) and how do you cope?

Procrastination is my biggest challenge. I wish I didn’t do it so much. Time management issues stem from this problem of mine. I’m trying to get better at it by using the Pomodoro technique and similar methods. But I wish I were better than I am. 

Of course, visibility, reader engagement, and monetisation are big challenges. But, considering my blog is relatively new, I’m currently focusing on building content. Then I need to work on the three important aspects mentioned in your question. I am doing a little bit to improve visibility. For example, I participate in blog hops like the Blogaberry and also sponsor a few weeks for increased visibility. 

How do you measure success for your blog? (E.g., reader comments, shares, personal satisfaction, income, something else?)

Personal satisfaction rates first for me. I started writing for myself. I believe the joy I get from writing is my salary. Whatever comes after that, such as people reading my stories, people liking my stories, leaving comments, etc., are bonuses. My expectations are very basic! 

Reader comments come next in my list of how I measure the success of my blog. If I get one comment that makes me think about my story in a new way, I know I’ve done my job as a storyteller. When the income and blog shares come in, that would definitely multiply my joy. 

Has your own worldview or creative approach changed over time? If so, what’s one major shift you’ve noticed in yourself as a writer?

Oh yes! I’ve become more fearless, I think. In the initial days of my writing, I would worry about what people thought of my writing. The words came because I wanted others to like my story. 

When I used to read others’ writings, and if I liked their writing, I wanted to write the same way. When I did that, I realised something seemed to hold me back, and my stories didn’t make me happy at all. Further, worrying about others’ opinions somehow prevented me from writing from my heart, which was counterproductive to writing good tales. It took me a while to understand this concept and accept my way of writing to be the best for me, and for the readers for whom my stories resonated. 

Today, I write stories that touch my heart. The words don’t come because I have to write. The words come because I want to tell a story from my heart —cliched as that might sound —that’s the most powerful lesson I’ve learnt on my writing journey.

Of course, the craft of good writing are also something I picked up on the way. What POV works when, when does foreshadowing make a difference and when it’s going overboard, the concept of Show-don’t-tell, and many, many more. I’m very conscious of these technical details when I write now, as compared to my initial days of writing. 

Your blog also includes book and movie reviews. How do these fit into your overall vision of “stories made simple”? Do you approach them differently from myth/fable writing?

Great question —it’s something I’ve asked myself, too. And that’s perhaps why reviews and poems aren’t updated on my blog as much as mythology, puranas, and itihasas. Also, I think I’ve already answered this question partially in one of your earlier questions. 

Reviews of books and movies happen only when I’m deeply impacted by them. The reason I like reading books and watching movies with the intention of reviewing is that it’s when you focus on the craft as much as the substance, which is a way of learning for me. But I don’t write reviews if my mind is not blown by the content. But, recently, I’ve started to focus on reviews too, and I make an effort to write more reviews, even if my mind is now blown!

How do you engage with reader feedback — do you let it shape future posts, or do you maintain a clear “home-path” independent of what readers want?

Until now, I’ve not received reader feedback which is different from what I write. It’s mostly a request for an extension of a character I’ve spoken about, which aligns with my writing. Recently, a couple of readers have come back to me asking me to write stories about Indian festivals. Now, that’s something I might work on in the near future. But by and large, as of now, my “home-path” as you so wonderfully call it is what I follow!

Given the huge amount of digital content today, how do you try to make your voice or stories stand out? What’s your unique author signature?

To be very honest, I don’t think I have a unique author signature. In fact, originality in storytelling is a myth, I guess. That song featuring Amitabh Bachchan, “Main Pal do Pal ka shaayar hoon”, comes to mind for this. There have been brilliant storytellers before me (and every other storyteller in this world), and there will be many more after me. I just take joy in the current opportunity of sharing a few stories from my heart. 

But I like to believe one thing about my writing: that when I write stories from our puranas and itihasas, I don’t take a good-bad subjective stance toward any of the characters. I don’t put characters up on a pedestal or treat them with disdain. I try to find a “grey” area that human beings so easily fall into. The objectivity of these well-known characters is what I believe I try to do differently from other writers. 

Looking ahead: what’s next for you and Stories Made Simple? Are you thinking of expanding (e.g., e-book, podcast, collaboration, workshop) or experimenting with new formats/genres?

You’re making me talk about my deepest desires. Collaborations and podcasts, definitely in my line of future projects. Book, only if I have something awesomely good. I am working on the bare bones of an idea that came to me about six months ago, sparked by a writing competition prompt. Maybe, fingers crossed, that could turn out into a book in the future. 

Also, I’m looking into moving into Greek and Roman myths. In fact, my love for myths started with Oedipus Wrecks, when an English teacher at my school told us the story while we were discussing one of Shakespeare’s plays. I’ve read Greek and Roman quite a lot then. So, I hope to dig deep into that and retell those stories with a twist. 

For aspiring bloggers/writers who admire your work: what is the one habit or mindset you feel has contributed most to your growth?

Read, read, and read, and read with the intention to learn. Absorb as much as you can from the world around. It has so much to offer. But remember to take only what works for you. Also, objectivity to all that is happening in the world, things you agree with, things you don’t agree with, everything, I believe, is the key to understanding yourself and your views on it. Self-discovery and self-awareness are two critical elements of better writing, at least for me. 

Again, cliched as it may sound, write and/or create content that you enjoy doing, not because it’s trending or some other “external” reason. 

Finally, if you were to advise your younger-self (when you first started writing/blogging) something you wish you had known then — what would it be?

I started blogging quite late in life, so as of now I don’t have anything to say. Maybe five years down the line, I might have more to say. 

Before we end this session- Few words about Indiacafe24.com in your perspective.

Indiacafe24 is nothing short of extensive! It’s very well organised despite the great variety of content. I actually feel a tinge of envy when I see how you seamlessly combine so many genres of content and yet keep them connected. Whether it’s travel, interviews, book reviews, food, or any of the other several topics you blog about, they are different yet connected to you, Samata, the author, the owner, the narrator, the storyteller. Remember that question you asked me about how I fit my blog and its different layers into one vision? Well, I think I have to learn that from you! 

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