Writing on not blogging

Blogging, like love, has its phases. In the beginning you're raring to go, a little dewy-eyed, and can't talk about anything else. Then routine kicks in and before you know it, you're seeking some variety. Not always in terms of a new person or blog, mind you. But well, something..um..different.

There are some bloggers, the most successful sort, by the way, who can blog on come winter shine, illness, disaster, holidays, births, deaths....they have attained nirvana, and remain unchanged, steadfastly blogging though it all. Even if it is a line, a quote, something someone else wants them to post for publicity.

I am of the other sort. I belong to the clique of bloggers who started with a great deal of enthusiasm, but have let life take over with its vagaries and incidents, pushing their blogging to the back seat.

My blogs are definitely on the back-burner at the moment.

But on the other hand, I'm not unhappy with my achievements in real life, the writing-related ones at least.

For one, I've been writing something or the other every day.

Also, I've been successfully meeting up with a bunch of writing friends now, for a month. We started on the 18th of November, meeting once a week, and we've had some pretty good sessions. Lots of free writing, the inevitable chatting, sipping and munching, and one critique session. All pretty flexible and cheerful. And productive.

I have two short stories in an upcoming Singaporean anthology, called "Love & Lust in Singapore", one of which has been published in QLRS before, and the other would see the light of day for the first time.

British council invited me to write a few flash pieces to set off their awesome website "The City of Shared Stories," and I'm not entirely unhappy with my pieces. The pieces could use a little work, sure, but I crunched them out on a pretty tight deadline ;)

In fact, I recommend that everyone who has experienced KL should put up their take, now that the site is open to the public. A few people have done it today, and it is quite fun reading all the pieces. A great avenue of creative expression....

And, I'm looking forward to another round of British Council Workshops from 12th to 24th January. Sarah Butler is coming back!

All in all, not a bad way to end the year, writing-wise. I haven't written as much as I should have, but I've stuck at it.

So, here's to the holiday season, and let's hope the next year holds good things in store for all of us! Amen.

Sphere: Related Content

Writing and loneliness

For most writers, writing is a solitary pursuit.

As Thomas Mann famously put it,

“A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”

This makes it difficult for a serious writer to be a sociable creature all the time. Writers tend to close themselves a lot, because they have crazy characters dancing around in their head, sometimes they aren't sure if their protagonist should kill to live or live to kill...decisions, choices. All the time. Because, a writer's job, just like a housewife's, is never done. Some writers wake up in the middle of the night or get late for an appointment because they MUST scribble down that solution, that line, that idea, before it disappears. (I'm one of those.)

The only real sharing of this aspect of their lives is when they meet a like-minded group. And then there are a few lucky people whose family helps them chase their dream, instead of trying to stamp all over it. Writing is a rather useless dream, after all, from the practical, commercial point-of-view. And as writers keep insisting, somebody has to do the impractical, un-commercial things. This is what keeps us human, as a race. These things we do that address the soul.

I'm lucky I'm left alone most of the day, to do with my time as I wish. Write when, how, on what, where--all for me to decide. Luxury, compared to some of my friends who are full-time mothers, office workers, and still produce a book a year. They struggle to find that alone time, when they can write on their own.

Despite having ample alone time, it might be hard to write. But I've found that if I've something to say, it is important to persist, and sometimes write as if no one would ever read it. As the bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver puts it:

Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer.

Sphere: Related Content

Writing on my Group Blog

I haven't written on my group blog for a while, but now I feel I can re-start my weekly posts.

Today's post is "Why Are You Writing This Novel?"

I find it an important topic. The reason why a novel is written can determine how it resonates with its readers.

In the post, I more or less argue for passion in writing, but I do acknowledge that reason has its role.

The editorial hat is the hat of reason. But then, even an editor can't work with dead words.

I like how Gibran describes reason and passion. I really think it applies just as well to writing fiction, as to life:

"...reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes."

Sphere: Related Content

Submit Your Work at One Story

Short stories do not have a market, that is what the publishing world tells you. One Story tells you a different story.

I found out about One Story while trawling the net, and must say it is quite a gem. This literary magazine publishes one story by a particular author, and never publishes the same author again---because they want to cover as many new voices in the short story genre as possible. Here's what they say about themselves:

One Story is a non-profit literary magazine that features one great short story mailed to subscribers every three weeks. Our mission is to save the short story by publishing in a friendly format that allows readers to experience each story as a stand-alone work of art and a simple form of entertainment. One Story is designed to fit into your purse or pocket, and into your life.

Because we like a challenge we will publish each writer one time only. This prevents us from relying on a stable of writers and helps us find new and exciting voices. Between September and June, all writers can submit their work.

Since launching in 2002 we have grown to have over 5000 subscribers. Many of the stories we have published have won awards, and many One Story writers have gone on to publish their first (or third, or tenth) books. But what keeps us going is the community we have created. Please join us: subscribe, come to an event, or chat on our blog.

The founder of One Story, Hannah Tinti says in an interview:

If you look at the numbers from publishing companies, it’s nearly always true: short story collections sell less than novels. But that doesn’t mean that people don’t read short stories, because that number doesn’t take into account individual short stories published in magazines and online and being read in schools. In just a few years we’ve grown to 7,000 subscribers at One Story, and I think that shows people are eager for short fiction. I also believe, with the advancement of technology, short stories will get an even bigger jump, once people begin to read on their cell phones and other portable devices.

So there is hope for the short story after all. This looks like a good place to submit your work, so I'd encourage all avid short story writers to try their luck here!

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Visit my website: Amloki.com

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sphere: Related Content

Writing on Teaching Yourself to Write

Time and again, I've written about written about 'writing' on this blog, so much so that people have asked me if I'm a writing coach.

That is one career path towards which I have below zero interest, mostly stemming from the unspoken yet amply felt statement, "Those who can't write, teach."

Not true, I know, quite a few good writers are teachers.

But still, the only person I'll ever teach is myself, and I have a lot to learn. I have recently been inspired by writers who have taught themselves to write, and though I'm very open to mentoring, I think self-teaching can have its own intrinsic worth, when it comes to writing.

On another note, recently found an interesting article by the author of the memoir that inspired the movie "An Education." She makes a lot of sense, this author, about writing from memory.

I think that is one thing yours truly needs to teach herself: to take notes so that she would have something to fall back on, when her memory fails her.

Sphere: Related Content