Petals!

The best writers get their story ideas from crazy, unexpected places. If you don't believe me, read Stephen King's book 'On Writing.' You may also want to read my previous posts on ' How to transform a blank page into a chrysalis, a work of art ' and  ' What do you want from your writing? '  So, what's still holding you back from exploring fabulous story ideas?  Maybe the thought that there's nothing left to learn in a world where everything is written about already?  This reminds me of an apt quote from Avvaiyar, " What we've learned is like a handful of earth, what we are yet to learn is like the whole world. " Profound, isn't it? If you are still on the lookout for story ideas, Barry has an answer for you and yup, it tucks in a dash of magic. Here you go: Imagine you have a magic blender. And you carry it with you all day as you go about your life. And stuff falls into it: Sounds, names, words, smells, peo...

For years, as a writer, I have been lost in a jungle of my own making – thoughts that juggled a hundred ideas but took me nowhere, among other things.  In January 2014, I told myself firmly, “That won’t do. You will sit down and write.” The moment I became firm, I began to write. Not at the pace that I want to. Still, I can honestly say that a majority of the stumbling blocks have been overcome. Then I read this thought provoking post by Jane Friedman who argues that one must answer this question to grow as a writer: “Do you know what you want from your writing?” Jane Friedman cites broad and general examples that enthusiastic writers tend to cite. “Fame,” “Livelihood” and “I want to be heard” are among them. I began to feel dejected. These are not my reasons. Does that make a non-serious writer? Maybe I should just write instead of getting into a philosophical rut about why I want to write in the first place. But let me not jump the gun. We are talking about THE ...

Recently, my seven year old son told me “Amma, why do you call yourself a writer when you never write?” I asked him ‘Why do you think that I am not a writer?’ He said, “I never see you write, Amma.” After this dialogue with my son, I have increasingly thought about my secretiveness in the writing process. For instance, I cannot write in a public place. I cannot bring myself to bleed on paper with a hundred people or their voices hovering around me. I need to be completely alone to write, to unwind and to bleed on paper. I have wondered if this secretiveness has done me any good and whether there was something not ‘normal’ about my writing process.  The seven year old’s question stemmed from curiosity and I began to contemplate seriously on my writing process and thought of sharing it with you, dear reader. Perhaps you can help me gain clarity on my writing process. Or perhaps you can simply listen and be with me now at this moment. Writing:  The early years make a ...