Shashi's Blog, page 2

Tips on Writing Fiction – Workshop

Sharing my thoughts on “Writing Fiction” from the Second Story Mirror Creativity Workshop, which was organized in association with Story Mirror, Apparao Galleries and Aspiring Authors Group. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the famous Film Director / Producer as well as a fine Tamil Haiku writer N Lingusamy and popular romantic fiction Author Meera Shiva.









Author Meera Shiva, Me and Director Lingusamy

at the Story Mirror Creativity Workshop II





Why people write?



As the tight grip of Publishers, distributors and established & influential Author’s nexus loosened up on the Publishing Industry in the Kindle Age, the floodgates opened up for new authors and new writing styles. Every day, there are millions of books getting published through online platforms. But why this rush? No one is actually making money apart from a very miniscule number of online authors. So why people are writing all the time?





As I thought more about it, I realised that there are few other reasons beyond making money…





– To become known as Authors

– To be acknowledged as Intellectual

– To leave a legacy

But underlying all these perfectly valid reasons, the driving force is one’s own ego satisfaction…





But not every one is writing for their ego. Certain passionate and sincere writers, according to George Orwell, write for other reasons too, e.g.





1) Aesthetic enthusiasm

2) Historical impulse

3) Political purpose





But like all good things in life, to seriously write good fiction, you need to have this intense desire for self-immolation to illuminate the world around you. One can never be a writer in its true form, if you are in it just for the sake of money or fame…





WHAT IT TAKES…



One of the reasons I write, is to hear the silence of my reader, thinking…





However as Milan Kundera said once, “Any work of art has to have a purpose of its Existence”





So if you have an undying compulsion to write otherwise as Rilke said, you will die, then go ahead and write. But like all things, there are techniques and tools to become a good writer and there is a way of writing a good fiction…





THE PROUSTIAN WAY…



“There are two methods by which a person can acquire wisdom, painlessly via a teacher or painfully via life, and the painful variety is far superior.”  Marcel Proust





“The greatness of works of art has nothing to do with the apparent quality of their subject matter, and everything to do with the subsequent treatment of that matter.” Marcel Proust





Since most of us are not like the author like Proust, at least not yet, what do we do? Well the good news is that whoever has survived childhood and adolescence, has a story to tell. But the bad news is that writing is not a cakewalk or a stroll in the park. It requires discipline, a will to step out of our comfort zone.





MY WAY…



And over the period of my own journey towards writing my books – The Monk Key Series – first of the three part series is already published as “Songs of the Mist”, in which the Monk says to the protagonist Ashutosh, “Every one can bring meaning to one’s life by doing things with passion and love. Even the smallest of life rises up to its full potential with its devotion in doing what the universal design brings along your path. So if you seem to be going nowhere, Ashutosh do not blame living, blame yourself.”





But before I describe my way, here’s a Reality Check. If you are interested in writing something good that will stand the test of times, ask yourself these questions…







Konark @ Shashi 2010

 

1 – Are you passionate enough…?

Willingness to put in sweat, blood and toil day in and day out.





2 – Do you have necessary tools…?

If you need dictionary to write, please don’t. Should be adept in the language one is writing.





3 – Room of your own…?

As Virginia Woolf asked in her famous lecture at Oxford’s young women students, are you financially comfortable? You know most of us writers don’t make enough money to survive.





4 – Are you going in right direction…?

Are you writing what you love and passionate about or writing what you perceive to be the best selling genre.





5 – Are you in hurry…?

Are you looking for becoming overnight Internet sensation? If you are, there is no one who can guide you to become one. So stop reading stuff like this and pray for luck.





All good things life needs time and effort to manifest and sincere effort at that. So, unless you are a celebrity and have million followers on your own or through reflected glory of a celebrity friend, relative or lover, you need sustained effort and hard work over time to write something good.





MY 7-YEAR PLAN TO WRITE GOOD STUFF…

It is known that if you start today with zero knowledge on any subject and work diligently towards acquiring necessary tools, knowledge and technics, in 7 years time, you can become an expert in the desired field. So writing a great book is not impossible. You just need to focus on your goal and discipline to keep writing and honing your writing skills.





For many decades I knew the story I was going to share. But only in 1987, while meditating on the banks of holy river Ganges in Rishikesh, I got inspired enough to share my stories of heart break and pain and the resulting spiritual journeys and assimilated thoughts.





However, as soon as I actively started writing in 2010, I realised that writing and publishing a book is a difficult task. Then my training as an engineering professional, kicked in. I knew that to solve any problem the first step is to know what the problem is. And yes, getting your book published at that time was a big problem. I remember talking to one of the author in Hindu Literary Festival in Chennai and asking him, how to get a book published and he gave me the perfect answer… ‘Write the damn book’.





HOW TO WRITE THE DAMN BOOK?





Even in today’s connected and equally chaotic world, good writing is not about being restless or quarantined. Aspiring Authors just have to work on every aspect of creative process to produce good results and on every aspect of connectivity to reach out to the right readers…





To write a good book and publish it, one has to work on these 3 aspects – Simultaneously

1 – Inner Awareness

Mark Twain said once, “Adam was the only man who, when he said a good thing, knew that nobody had said it before.” So we all have every word of the story all around us, within our inner-self but as I have quoted Proust earlier, we need to treat those stories with our own unique awareness. And that comes from actively working on it.





– Walks

– Deep Observation

– Meditation

– Wonder





2 – Conscious Mind

We should write in a language, where we don’t need a dictionary. So if you are writing, you need to have the right tools. Practice the language; write something you are passionate about. I started writing my public blog in 2010 with start of my book writing and it gave me a firm footing to test my language and see if I am on the right path.





I wrote daily, whatever way the story came into my words… by 2014 I have had written 500,000 words – the first book started with 125K words first draft and published ‘Songs of the Mist’ has 76K words. Suffer if you didn’t write some day as Hemmingway used to.

Read and read a lot. There is no substitute to it. I cannot sleep if I don’t read a book. In this year’s Good Read Challenge, I have committed to read 50 books and have completed reading more than 100 books as of now.





Look within your self, find pieces of characters – we have all the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of our self within, don’t judge, write about them, develop them. It is also an exercise of catharsis.





Whenever an idea, thought or character appears, write it down. Watch people around you, think about their life and their thoughts, go to stations, movies and park, observe and write.





Travel, travel wherever and whenever you can. Preferably take the train or bus, if time permits and walk or trek around the place. Carry a pen, small notebook and a camera. For decades, I have been travelling to Himalayas, Spiritual places, Monasteries, temples, rivers and sea side within country and abroad. Write about it somewhere as I have been sharing at my blog as spiritual travels.





3 – Practical reality

When I started thinking about publishing my book, I looked around and felt that the most of the published authors are not so great. I felt that I am unique and the moment I finish my book, the publishers will be queuing up to sign off a deal. Well it does not happen. Even though each one of us are unique, but is it something that people are looking forward to embrace. I have had seen many author’s book die a silent death as it did not reach out the right readers. So have a plan and yes in this Internet world of connectivity, where millions of other authors are trying to catch the proverbial short attention span of Netizens, you do need to reach out and market your book like crazy, as long as it is not intrusive and irrelevant. Here are the things that I did.







My communities on Google Plus

– Even before I started writing my book, went public online. I created a blog and wrote about creativity, Spirituality, Writing and designs, which went on to become the No 1 Spiritual Blog of India within 4 years, as selected by credible aggregators of Indian Blogging community for the last three years.

– Joined FB, Twitter, Google Plus. Interacted within relevant communities like Good Reads, Quora, Book clubs etc.



– Created groups like Haiku (one of the best communities on Haiku at Google Plus where more than 1000 poets write their Haiku), Aspiring Author’s Group, Shadow Dancing with Mind, How to publish etc.

– Joined off-line book clubs, writing groups and networked with like-minded people in literary festivals across the country.











With Timeri N Murari

Over the years, I realised that it’s me who has to reach out to the right audience and readers for my books not the other way around. Marketing is not about being intrusive; it’s all about being interactive, proactive and helpful to the readers and the audience.





Finally, I would like to say one thing that the world needs its authors, who are the mirror to the society we all are living in. We are there to host, to heal our readers within the pages of what we write. 



As my friend, philosopher and guide – a famous author from Chennai Timeri N Murari said in one of my Story Mirror Creativity workshop, “Write for yourself first, without any thoughts of future result” echoing the famous Bhagwat Gita Verse 47 from Chapter 2






Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,



Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani







You have the right to work only but never to its fruits.

Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.



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The Language has the Power to Change You…

As I started speaking in public forums, after my first book Songs of the Mist’s publication, I realise how hard it is to speak from the podium. I never had a problem talking to my team members across office table and in annual meetings, where the gathering used to be large as well, but you were quite sure that you will be received well as after all they are colleagues. But believe me, talking to people who have just come to listen to you, leaving their far more important work at home or office. They do expect you to give them something to think, make it worth their while as you come up on stage…. 









Haiku Workshop in Delhi University






I have had heard many public speakers, politicians, business and religious leaders speaking from stage and some of them impressed me. Over a period of time, I realised that most of the speakers were there for a purpose. They had something to talk about, to share, to make people understand where they are coming from. Behind each great performance there was a purpose, a thought or an idea that needed to be conveyed to the audience and it took me some time to realise that the reason, I published the book for, is essentially my purpose to talk about, share with young generation. And that’s when I started speaking without the accompanying hesitation that comes with public speaking. Now I had a reason to get my message across.









Chief Guest Address at Tata’s High Range School in Munnar






The Message: The Language alone will change you…
As I was finishing my book, I had dwelled deeper within our ancient scriptures, specially Bhagwat Gita, as its essence ‘Karma Yoga’ was the underlying flow of the lives my protagonists like Ashutosh, Ayan, Anishka etc. More and more people, specially youngsters I talked to more I realised that they are not reading these books. In our childhood, Amar Chitra Katha, Pancha Tantra, Chanda Mama, Stories of Mahabharata, Ramayana, Jatak Katha’s were the stable diet of growing up. Now with the advent of smart phone, What’s App groups, Texting, Memes etc. these stories were taking a back seat and reading was becoming confined to small little screens of smart phones. 









Click here to read an excerpt






So I wrote a love story, where through all the heart break and pain. The Deccan Chronicle headlined when talking about my book as “Bitter Pill with Sugar Coating”, which is exactly how I shared the essence of Bhagwat Gita for the young generation. And I continue to talk to the young generation about the need to go back to our ancient Heritage and culture and read those amazing work of arts and literature as I believe that even if the deep thought process hidden behind seemingly obscure ancient language does not make any sense to them at this stage of life, the language alone has the power to make a difference in their lives. So I keep talking about it in almost all my workshops, presentation and lectures. 






Writing Workshop at High Range School – Munnar






Slowly I started conducting workshops in Chennai, Delhi University as well as in schools like Tata’s High Range school in Munnar Kerala. With just one purpose, to inspire young generation to reach out to these books, Bible, Koran or Bhagwat Gita and get benefitted from it.



But over the period of almost a year after my book was published, I have realised another important aspect of language… 



It changes you as well…
The brain is like, to give you a mordern example, is CPU of the human form. And it works on two operating software – The Logic and the Language. So for me, writing and its essence, the language has the power to slowly work on ‘within’ and make you perform better. The more you practice, the more perfectly the software works. For me, it creates an awareness as in meditation.  I keep telling my audience, students that Haiku writing has become a kind of Mantra Chanting practice for me over the years. 







As I keep working on inspiring some aspiring authors in these school and colleges, I am learning as well. The young generation provides me with the spark that is essential to keep my ageing mind to break free from the shackles of time as well. Seeing those young, enthusiastic and confident youngsters, interacting with them opens up grey folds of my brain and look at the world differently. As I cajole and push them across to write good works of fiction which will stand the test of times, I am pushing my limits too. Each day, I have a blank sheet of paper that needs my reverence and respects in well formed thoughts and ideas and new awareness. As I grapple with words in my mind, the blank spaces needs and demands the most precise and aesthetically formed words following each other in a sentence, concise paragraphs and fully fleshed out characters in the most realistic back ground and that my friend is a meditation. It has changed me over the year and I am sure it will change you as well. 









At Delhi College of Arts & Commerce






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Writing and Poetry Workshop at Tata’s High Range School

Tata’s High Range School in its pristine surrounding

Honoured to be part of 32nd Annual Function of Tata’s High Range School in Munnar – Kerala as one of the Chief Guest. The good thing is that I get to interact with the young aspiring authors from Senior Classes about Creative Writing and Poetry (Haiku), in the days (20-22nd Oct) I am going to spend in Kerala’s most serene mountains and Tata’s beautiful tea gardens.

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Workshops on Haiku and Writing Fiction

It was a great privilege to be part of the First Story Mirror Youth Creativity Conclave at Delhi University. I loved the enthusiasm of the young generation towards learning in my workshops on “Writing” and “Haiku”. I was thrilled to the see quality of performance Poetry which I happened to judge.

From the Workshops on Haiku and Writing at DCAC and Hansraj College, Delhi University

Congratulations for such a grand event, Team Story Mirror and College Ambassadors. You all deserve a huge round of applause.

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From Book Cover Design Competition at Delhi University

In the book cover design competition Story Mirror Youth Creativity Conclave  at Delhi University, I found some of the students picked up my book “Songs of the Mist” brief to paint since it’s being published in Hindi as “Tushar Geet” by the Delhi based publisher Story Mirror, who were organising the conclave…

Some of the Book Cover Design for Tushar Geet

Thank you Rahul Gupta, Bhawan Kadyaan and Bhaskar Pratik for such lovely effort…

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The Language of our scripture will change you – At Odyssey Book Launch

This is from my book “Songs of the Mist” launch by Odyssey Chennai, where I am talking about the purpose of my book is to get young generation to go back to our heritage and culture. Find the beauty of its language and underlying deeper thoughts…

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Sanskrit Syllables are enough to give you energy – “Songs of the Mist” Book Launch

At “Songs of the Mist” launch, famous Rap Singer / spiritualist “Blaaze’ and Sh. Keshav Ji – Hindu Cartoonist and foremost Krishna Bhakt, discuss how the ancient Shlokas and scriptures affect our selves and provide a great source of energy and peace as well as the way to live…

“When you just listen to it (Shlokas etc), …the sanskrit syllables are enough to get you positive energy, without knowing anything about it. … it can only bring peace in a world like this”. – Blaaze

“Our Purana’s (Ancient Vedic Scriptures etc.) give you how to deal with life, how to deal with situations and predicaments, as they have already analyzed and laid it out on platter so that you don’t have to think.” – Keshav ji

Ancient scripture give you ways and means to deal with life…

It was a wonderful discussion with such creative souls, underlin my thrust for younger generation to reach out into the depth of knowledge our ancient culture and heritage carried within… My book “Songs of the Mist” is one such attempt to reach out to the young generation as its underlying theme is the essence of Bhagwat Gita…

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Odyssey Book Launch

“Songs of the Mist” book launch and Tushar Geet – Hindi translation of my book to be published by Story Mirror was organised by Odyssey Book store, Chennai on 24th July.

Some images from the Odyssey Book Launch

It was a wonderful discussion with creative people like Blaaze – Famous Rap Artist and Keshav – The famous Hindu News Paper Cartoonist. As the purpose of my book is to reach out to younger generation and inspire them to read the wonderful treasure trove of our ancient knowledge carried with our Indian culture and heritage, the discussion with the guests was engrossing.

Some of the speakers at the launch

BlaaZe, who performed a beautiful rendition of Shymala Dandakkam at the launch, underlined my thoughts with his talk.

“When you just listen to it (Shlokas etc), …the sanskrit syllables are enough to get you positive energy, without knowing anything about it. … it can only bring peace in a world like this”. – Blaaze

Keshav advised the young generation that there is much more to our Vedic culture, citing his own experience as an artist, who paints Krishna on daily basis and shares to the world. It has to be experienced personally to understand the intricacies and the beauty in it.

“The Language alone will change you” – Shashi

As far as I am concerned, the purpose of my book “Songs of the Mist” is to get young generation to go back to our heritage and culture. Find the beauty of its language and underlying deeper thoughts… if that is hard to do, read the Sanskrit Text as the beauty of the language itself will change you…

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Book Launch at Odyssey 24th July, 6.30PM Sunday – Join in by one click..

Songs of the Mist Book Launch at Odyssey

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Odyssey Chennai Book Launch – 24th July, 6.30 PM Adyar

You are invited, it will be my honour to meet you there.

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