Petals!

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 ...

Time flies by and we barely realize how it has sped past us! Some weeks catapult into months and before we know it, a New Year is just around the corner. I mean, why isn't there a pause button to savor some of the best moments in your life so that the day can stand still at least for a fleeting second? Have you ever wanted that pause button?  At my end, this has been quite a challenging roller-coaster year. So busy that by the end of the day I simply can't find the energy to work on my manuscript that remains half-written. Are you a struggling writer? The challenge of writing a book is that you feel pulled by a hundred forces around you. A growing child who needs your loving attention.  A family that needs you to be there.  A life that is lived, from hour to hour, day to day, going beyond the words one is crafting in the silence of the mind. Still when the words have to bleed onto paper, I begin to feel helpless. I am unable to find the energy to sit down and write...