Ask the Author: Ritu Kaushal
Answered Questions (3)
Ritu Kaushal
Every writer is not the same. Obviously!
If you are someone who dreams of being a writer, then think about exactly who you resonate with in terms of writing, writing process and creative philosophy. Then, do what they do and forget all other advice (there's a lot of conflicting advice out there).
For example, Elizabeth Gilbert says that "Your Book is Not Your Baby" which means that Writing the Book Creates You as an artist. It changes you. You are the clay that's shaped. Gilbert has a Youtube interview in which she drops a book on the floor, and tells the interviewer something like: "See, nothing happened." The book is NOT a baby. It won't hurt if you write it wrong. So, don't get frightened by the process of writing a book. It's not THAT serious.
Reminding myself of this has helped me in my own creative journey. Sometimes, it HAS felt like my baby. I have given it so much of my energy. But remembering what Elizabeth Gilbert says has helped me hold the creative process just a little more lightly. That has been very helpful in this journey with my first book. The Empath's Journey has made me stronger as a person. It's been like a flow of energy that has come through me and changed me.
If you want to be a writer, if you dream about it and keep on asking yourself, again and again, "Am I an artist? Am I really a creative?," I want to say to you that if you have asked this question a thousand times (like I did earlier in my life), then the answer is: Yes, You Are.
Just the fact that you've asked this question so many times might be a clue. And for those who are definitely sure, for them, start thinking about what kind of a writer you are and who your role models are. And then, work very hard!
P.S. If I remember correctly, Elizabeth Gilbert's interview was with Marie Forleo.
If you are someone who dreams of being a writer, then think about exactly who you resonate with in terms of writing, writing process and creative philosophy. Then, do what they do and forget all other advice (there's a lot of conflicting advice out there).
For example, Elizabeth Gilbert says that "Your Book is Not Your Baby" which means that Writing the Book Creates You as an artist. It changes you. You are the clay that's shaped. Gilbert has a Youtube interview in which she drops a book on the floor, and tells the interviewer something like: "See, nothing happened." The book is NOT a baby. It won't hurt if you write it wrong. So, don't get frightened by the process of writing a book. It's not THAT serious.
Reminding myself of this has helped me in my own creative journey. Sometimes, it HAS felt like my baby. I have given it so much of my energy. But remembering what Elizabeth Gilbert says has helped me hold the creative process just a little more lightly. That has been very helpful in this journey with my first book. The Empath's Journey has made me stronger as a person. It's been like a flow of energy that has come through me and changed me.
If you want to be a writer, if you dream about it and keep on asking yourself, again and again, "Am I an artist? Am I really a creative?," I want to say to you that if you have asked this question a thousand times (like I did earlier in my life), then the answer is: Yes, You Are.
Just the fact that you've asked this question so many times might be a clue. And for those who are definitely sure, for them, start thinking about what kind of a writer you are and who your role models are. And then, work very hard!
P.S. If I remember correctly, Elizabeth Gilbert's interview was with Marie Forleo.
Ritu Kaushal
I think writer's block is a big term that you have to unpack for yourself. It's a generalized term but the reasons why you stop writing can be manifold.
Sometimes, writer's block is about fear. Not all of us have been encouraged to express our voice, and if expressing your voice has caused you to "feel pain " in some way in the past, maybe by having something you said dismissed, discounted, or ridiculed, then saying your truth (to whatever degree) will bring up fear for you. It has definitely been one of my "blocks." Then, we have to learn to hold ourselves with compassion.
Sometimes, writer's block is just about not knowing exactly what to do next. I especially felt this while writing my first book. The thing is, when you are writing your first book, you are not "just writing the book," you are also "teaching yourself to write a book." So, you are learning the skills to do draft after draft, discard some of the material you might have started with, make the joins between chapters, and so on. It's a technical process as well as a process of faith and surrender, and the first time you do it, you don't have a map for it. You are learning about yourself and your creativity at each and every point.
One thing I have learned is to do something else when I feel blocked. Sometimes, "blocked" is just exhausted. Art is what I have turned to while writing The Empath's Journey. When I have emptied out all the words I have or pulled too much from one aspect of myself, then moving to the world of images and replenishing my well, as Julia Cameron says, has helped me immensely. But you have to let yourself do this and trust that the words will come back (which I sometimes didn't do). Whenever I did do this, the whole writing process felt much smoother.
Sometimes, writer's block is about fear. Not all of us have been encouraged to express our voice, and if expressing your voice has caused you to "feel pain " in some way in the past, maybe by having something you said dismissed, discounted, or ridiculed, then saying your truth (to whatever degree) will bring up fear for you. It has definitely been one of my "blocks." Then, we have to learn to hold ourselves with compassion.
Sometimes, writer's block is just about not knowing exactly what to do next. I especially felt this while writing my first book. The thing is, when you are writing your first book, you are not "just writing the book," you are also "teaching yourself to write a book." So, you are learning the skills to do draft after draft, discard some of the material you might have started with, make the joins between chapters, and so on. It's a technical process as well as a process of faith and surrender, and the first time you do it, you don't have a map for it. You are learning about yourself and your creativity at each and every point.
One thing I have learned is to do something else when I feel blocked. Sometimes, "blocked" is just exhausted. Art is what I have turned to while writing The Empath's Journey. When I have emptied out all the words I have or pulled too much from one aspect of myself, then moving to the world of images and replenishing my well, as Julia Cameron says, has helped me immensely. But you have to let yourself do this and trust that the words will come back (which I sometimes didn't do). Whenever I did do this, the whole writing process felt much smoother.
Ritu Kaushal
It combines my many different loves into one thing. I love stories. Always have and always will. I love learning new things, exploring new topics. I love research. And of course, I love words themselves.
Writing my first book was mostly hard work, but there were also those few precious moments when everything just flowed. When that happens, it feels like you are touched by something bigger than you.
Writing my first book was mostly hard work, but there were also those few precious moments when everything just flowed. When that happens, it feels like you are touched by something bigger than you.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more