Minal Hajratwala's Blog, page 3
May 15, 2014
#ReadWomen2014: Poetry witnessing historical trauma
Interview with a Birangona
2. Where did the Pakistani military take you, and were there others there?
Past the apothecary shop, shut
down, burned flat. My heart
seized, I told it to hush. They saw
its shape and weight and wanted
it too. Past the red mosque
where I first learned to touch
my forehead low, to utter
the wet words blown from
my mouth again and again. Past
the school draped with banners
imploring Free Our Language,
a rope steady around my throat
as they pushed me toward the dark
room, the silence clotted thick
with a rotten smell, dense like pear
blossoms, long strands of jute
braided fast around our wrists.
Yes, there were others there.
I met this poet, Tarfia Faizullah, when she was a Fulbrighter embarking on her research among the Birongana — women who suffered from the mass rapes during the brutal 1971 war which split Bangladesh from Pakistan. The poems informed by that research form the body of this book, interspersed with poems from the point of view of the interviewer—a necessary and insightful intervention. The result is a stunning collection that won a first book award and honors the survivors’ stories with beauty 
and restraint, never melodrama. Tarfia exercises skillful restraint, allowing the images to do most of the work, so that — as in the poem above — when the women’s actual words do come in, they land with tragic power.
Title: Seam by Tarfia Faizullah.
Recommended for: Poetry lovers and other humans interested in stories of resilience. Writers whose material includes deep trauma, whether historical or personal or both. Nonfiction writers interested in structures that open up the narrative, creating a structure with emotional logic rather than a strictly linear or chronological telling.
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Hey, what’s #ReadWomen2014?
In response to lots of disheartening statistics about the gender gap in literary publishing, zillions of people are posting their favorite women writers on Twitter. I love getting so many great recommendations of what to read, so I’m joining the fun! You don’t have to have a Twitter account to browse what people are posting at the “year-long celebration of women’s writing.”
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Want a writing breakthrough—fast? The amazing Writing from the Chakras workshop starts May 31! Click here to find out more and reserve your spot.
May 13, 2014
#ReadWomen2014: From milkmaid to rebel poet
“Ann Yearsley (1756–1806) wrote as ‘Lactilla’ because she was a milkmaid. … Taken up as a working-class prodigy by Hannah More (whose table provided scraps for her pigs), she went from poverty to overnight literary stardom, her first book attracting over a thousand subscribers including seven duchesses, sixteen countesses, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Horace Walpole, and most of the bluestockings. Her poems challenge military aggression, identify with the oppressed, and advocate rebellion.”
I love it—a milkmaid writing poetry that outsells all the elite writers of her time, knocks the socks off countesses (do countesses wear socks?), AND speaks truth to power! She looks pretty sly too, right?
One of Yearsley’s long poems tells the agonizing story of a slave burned by his master, in which she calls “shame, shame/Upon the followers of Jesus!” who perpetrate or stand by and watch the horrific act. She lived in the slave port of Bristol, which made it even more risky to be so outspoken. She fought with her patron over the money coming in from her book sales, and after the first book, she kept full control of her literary career, publishing two more books of poems, a play, and a novel, and eventually opening a library.
It’s just one of the many gems in this hefty, impressive book:
Title: Poetry of Witness: The Tradition in English 1500-2001 (ed. Carolyn Forché and Duncan Wu).
Recommended for: Aspiring rebel writers in need of inspiring role models. Poets who want to examine how formal poetry can hold anti-establishment ideas. Anyone who wants to see the past five centuries through the eyes of English-language poets. Teachers of American and British history and literature; you could get a whole year’s worth of lessons from this anthology, I think, since it covers all of the major wars and civil unrests, and includes the classics (Milton, Whitman, Dickinson) alongside lesser known treasures.
Why: Gorgeous poems that provide insight and passion at key historical moments. Great context that makes the poems easy to approach. Well-curated selections from poets whose work I never would have known otherwise.
—
Hey, what’s #ReadWomen2014?
In response to lots of disheartening statistics about the gender gap in literary publishing, zillions of people are posting their favorite women writers on Twitter. I love getting so many great recommendations of what to read, so I’m joining the fun! You don’t have to have a Twitter account to browse what people are posting at the “year-long celebration of women’s writing.”
—
Want a writing breakthrough—fast? The amazing Writing from the Chakras workshop starts May 31! Click here to find out more and reserve your spot.
February 24, 2014
AWP for introverts
‘Twas the night before AWP, when all through the land,
The writers were fretting, “This is so out of hand!
The schedule is packed, but my suitcase is not;
My elevator pitch is postmodern and fraught;
My couchsurf is booked, but I’m ready to balk—
For what will I wear, and to whom will I talk?”
If you’re an introvert attending the massive writers’ convention in Seattle this week, check out my survival tips over at The Writer magazine’s website. The Introvert’s Toolkit has tips on easing off the pressure, being a weirdo, and knowing when to stay away.
Doing a panel or a reading at AWP? You’re welcome to post your own panels and readings in the comments below.
(Where’ll I be? I’m skipping the convention this year, but following it on Twitter. Every alternate year of AWP is about enough for me!)
What’s in your toolkit as an introvert, especially if you’re going it alone this year?
My tiara does the talking.
FREE: 10-Minute Writing Exercises for Muscles of Steel!
Join my e-list for writers only to get a PDF of 40 powerful writing exercises. Email minal {at} minalhajratwala {dot} com with “I Want Muscles!” in the subject line.
The post AWP for introverts appeared first on Minal Hajratwala.
February 23, 2014
AWP for Introverts
‘Twas the night before AWP, when all through the land,
The writers were fretting, “This is so out of hand!
The schedule is packed, but my suitcase is not;
My elevator pitch is postmodern and fraught;
My couchsurf is booked, but I’m ready to balk—
For what will I wear, and to whom will I talk?”
If you’re an introvert attending the massive writers’ convention in Seattle this week, check out my survival tips over at The Writer magazine’s website. The Introvert’s Toolkit has tips on easing off the pressure, being a weirdo, and knowing when to stay away.
Doing a panel or a reading at AWP? You’re welcome to post your own panels and readings in the comments below.
(Where’ll I be? I’m skipping the convention this year, but following it on Twitter. Every alternate year of AWP is about enough for me!)
What’s in your toolkit as an introvert, especially if you’re going it alone this year?
My tiara does the talking.
December 2, 2013
A New Year’s Gift for Your Writer
31 days of inspiration
direct to your inbox
*
By popular demand:
Writing from the Chakras, made easy!
*
Jumpstart the new year with this special, e-course edition of Writing from the Chakras — the body-based writing system that leads to fast, energized, breakthrough writing.
The perfect gift for the writer in your life — or inside you.
For the first time ever, you can get the popular Writing from the Chakras magic direct to your inbox. This easy e-course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to jaded — and all genres of writing. No workshopping, no wracking your brains to figure out what to write for a whole month — at a fantastic, budget-friendly price.
Scroll down to see how other writers have seen their work leap forward with Writing from the Chakras.
Set aside 15-30 minutes a day, and BOOM! Your New Year’s resolution? Done!
To sign up, just click here:
Deadline: Midnight, Friday, December 27, 2013
(Sorry, no late enrollment for this one — the unicorns need time to set up the technology and deliver your daily chakra-juice to you on schedule!)
How it works
Starting Wednesday, Jan. 1, you’ll receive a daily written AND visual prompt to get you started.
Twice each week, you’ll also receive a downloadable mp3 audio meditation focusing on a particular chakra.
Each day, when you’re ready (don’t peek!!), open the email. Read or listen to the day’s prompt, and GO.
Need a bit of love? Send your brand-new shiny writing back by email, and I’ll send you quick kudos and adoration within 24 hours—as often as you want, even every single day!
And wait, there’s more! (Heh.)
Personal mentoring: Enroll in the e-course and get a private coaching session with me, during or immediately afterward, for just $99 (2/3 of the normal price!). Sign up any time in January and the first week of February, whenever you feel you’d benefit from a 1:1 consultation.
Forever: Help yourself to a 5% discount if you decide to take the full 9-week Writing from the Chakras workshop in Summer 2014 or beyond.
So, $99 =
31 days of deep, guided writing prompts directly in your email inbox in January
+
Compelling, inspiring visuals
+
Eight (8) audio mp3 meditations that you can keep and use anytime
+
Easy chakra cheat-sheet for writers — a PDF guide for future use
+
(optional) 1 hour coaching to conquer blocks and find strategies for keeping your momentum going
+
5% discount on all future Writing from the Chakra events, including the full 9-week workshop in Summer 2014
+
100% risk-free guarantee: I’m totally sure that this material will work for you! But just in case: If you try out every prompt but find you’re still NOT satisfied, I will gladly return your money on Feb. 1.
What students love about Writing from the Chakras
Here’s how past students describe their experience with this powerful, breakthrough system of writing — accessible now as a low-cost e-course for the first time:
“facilitated the shedding of layers and layers of self-doubt, fear, procrastination, and inertia”
“a beautiful way of connecting and working through energy blocks”
“deeply rooted in the personal … nurturing and fun”
“helped me rekindle my writing!”
“deepened my ability to write intense and vivid scenes”
“I learned that my creative well is bottomless!”
FAQs
Q. Are there live sessions? Do I have to log in at a certain time?
Nope! It’s all in your inbox, so you can work on your own schedule.
Q. What technology do I need?
An email address — that’s all.
If you have a computer with audio capacity (iTunes or something similar, and speakers or headphones), you’ll be able to listen to the audio meditations, too. But everything will be provided as text, so you’re never required to listen in order to get the day’s writing prompt.
Q. Are you accepting international students?
With pleasure! Please contact me at hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com for payment options if you cannot access PayPal or if you have a question about currency conversion. The rate is US$99, payable in whatever currency you prefer.
Q. What is Writing from the Chakras, actually?
We tap into the seven levels of human experience to generate rich, versatile writing. Whether you want to write ancestral memory or science fiction … a high-impact fight scene for your action movie screenplay (root chakra! survival!) … or a moment of epiphany in your subtle and elegant short story (crown chakra all the way!) … it all comes from the energy stored in the body. These fun exercises are tools for engaging mind/body/soul in your writing, working through trauma, and busting through blocks.
The chakras we work with, starting from the bottom, are:
(image by Izolda Trakhtenberg)
1: The Root Chakra
2: The Sexy Chakra
3: The Power Chakra
4: The Heart Chakra
5: The Throat Chakra
6: The Third Eye
7: The Crown
Q. How will we cover all of that in just 31 days?
Powerfully! Here’s how your January will look:
Week 1: Building a Strong Foundation (Root, Sexy chakras): Memory, survival, sex, creativity, our deepest dramas.
Week 2: Manifesting in the World (Power, Heart): Dive into the core of your being to access virile, emotional writing.
Week 3: Getting to Truth (Throat, chakra scan): Are you saying what you really want to say? Can you hear which part of you most needs to speak? Learn how to integrate the energy spine, unblock, and open up to tell your truest story. Week of July 1-6.
Week 4: Connecting to Source (Third Eye, Crown): Vision and transcendence, writing that flies off the page and into the ether, the future, alternate universes and beyond.
Q. How can I give this as a gift? Will you notify the recipient?
First, thank you for your generosity to the writer you adore!
After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email asking whether this is a gift and if so, who should receive it and any special instructions. Your writer will receive a special e-card letting her or him know that you’ve given this beautiful gift. You can choose the day of delivery for the e-card and the specific language, if you like.
Q. How do I sign up for my bonus $99 personal coaching session?
After you register for the e-course, you’ll receive an email with instructions to schedule and pay for your 1:1 session. This offer is first come, first served, available as long as my calendar has openings. I’ll try my best to accommodate everyone; the sooner you book, the more likely I’ll be able to meet your needs.
Q. My question isn’t answered here.
No problem! Please contact me at hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com .
For more about the Writing from the Chakras approach, please check out this interview in Delphi Quarterly.
The post A New Year’s Gift for Your Writer appeared first on Minal Hajratwala.
August 3, 2013
Blueprint Your Book 2013
A 6-Week Intensive
for Crafting Your Manuscript
August 31—Oct. 18, 2013
with Minal Hajratwala
Blueprint Your Book is a crash course in structure — to help you transform your ideas and rough drafts into a cohesive, compelling manuscript.
Every book makes its own shape in the world, just like a body. As Michelangelo said, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” We’ll chisel deep into the foundations of great storytelling to find the shape that works best for you. You’ll end up with an organic form and an action plan that gives you full freedom to sculpt your story whole.
Each week, you’ll receive a lesson packed with tools and exercises that you can put to work now. You’ll spend the week exploring, applying the new ideas to your own work, and workshopping your results with your classmates. You’ll also receive personalized feedback from me. You’ll learn:
The top five successful book structures
How to create your own organic structure (a.k.a., this is not your school essay outline)
What you most need to know about plot and narrative drive
How to sort out overlapping timelines and handle flashbacks
How to develop your characters’ motivations to drive the story
How to get crystal-clear about your themes (i.e. What the heck is this book about?)
The strengths and unique qualities that others see in your project — even when you might not
How to structure your time and your support system
How to deal with your inner critics
How to strike the balance between form and freedom, to create a form that lets you write everything your book needs to say
You’ll also receive:
Insightful, personal critique from me on the work you generate in class
Encouraging, thoughtful workshopping from peers
Dozens of easy, 15- to 30-minute writing prompts to bring out the book that’s in you
And you’ll end up with an action plan to drive your project all the way to completion.
You can use this course as the perfect setup for National Novel Writing Month: the challenge of writing 50,000 words this November. (I’ve done it twice, using these same tools to create my workplan, and it’s a remarkable experience!)
You’re ready to Blueprint Your Book if you:
Yearn for a clear plan to help you make progress on your manuscript.
Wrestle with character arcs, plot, and theme — but can’t imagine reducing your gorgeously complex story to a mere “outline.”
Want a solid foundation to get you started.
Are halfway through and need a jolt of clarity to propel you to the end!
Fee: $565 US.
Registration: Pay $565 by PayPal to hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com to reserve your space.
Dates: We start August 31 and finish October 18, 2013.
Requirements: An email address and internet access twice a week. You can join from anywhere in the solar system. All genres and genders are welcome.
Questions? Please scroll down for Frequently Asked Questions, or email me.
About the Instructor
Minal Hajratwala is the author of Leaving India: My Family’s Journey From Five Villages to Five Continents (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009), which has been called “incomparable” by Alice Walker and “searingly honest” by the Washington Post. The book won a Pen USA Award, an Asian American Writers Workshop Award, a Lambda Literary Award, a California Book Award (Silver, Nonfiction), and was shortlisted for the Saroyan International Writing Prize. She spent seven years researching and writing the book, traveling the world to interview more than seventy-five members of her extended family.
She is the also editor of Out! Stories From the New Queer India (Queer Ink, 2013), a groundbreaking anthology of contemporary LGBT literature since the decriminalization of homosexuality in India. She spent 2010-11 as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in India researching a novel, while also writing poems about the unicorns of the ancient Indus Valley. Her creative work has received recognition and support from the Sundance Institute, the Jon Sims Center for the Arts, the SerpentSource Foundation, and the Hedgebrook writing retreat for women, where she has served on the Alumnae Leadership Council. Her one-woman show, “Avatars: Gods for a New Millennium,” was commissioned by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco for World AIDS Day in 1999. As a journalist, she worked at the San Jose Mercury News from 1992 to 2000 as an editor, reporter, and the newspaper’s first reader representative (ombudsperson). She is a graduate of Stanford University and held a fellowship in the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in 2000-01.
As a writing coach, Ms. Hajratwala believes language is magical, and she loves helping individuals and organizations access the power to express themselves in words. She has taught writing workshops nationally and internationally at universities, community organizations, and online, including as a 2012 memoir faculty member at the Voices of Our Nations Arts summer program for writers of color on the University of California-Berkeley campus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How do I sign up for Blueprint Your Book?
The quickest way: Via PayPal.com, submit a payment of $565 to hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com. You can use your Paypal funds or a credit card. You’ll get a confirmation from PayPal immediately, and a welcome email from me within 24 hours.
If you’ve never used PayPal, don’t worry. It’s easy and takes about 3 minutes. Grab your credit or debit card, then just follow these simple steps:
Go to www.paypal.com
Go to “Buy” and then “Make a payment.”
Enter “hajratwala@gmail.com,” then your email address, then the amount, $565.
Click Continue and follow the directions to finish.
That’s it!
If you prefer to mail a check:
Send a check for $565 to:
Minal Hajratwala
847 East Angela St.
Pleasanton CA 94566
Please drop me an email *after* you have put the check in the mail. I will consider that your registration date and start sending you materials, so that we don’t have to wait for the snail mail to arrive.
In India, if you want to deposit directly to my account, ask me for my details.
Or send your owl / passenger pigeon / unicorn. (Please do not pay in leprechaun money, though.)
Payment is due in full before your first class, unless… scroll to the bottom of this FAQ.
Q. What is the time commitment?
This is an intensive course. You’ll want to allot a minimum of 2 hours per week to read the weekly lesson, try out a few of the exercises, and participate in the workshopping. The assignments are flexible and each week, you’ll be given a choice of things to do. If you got excited and did everything on the list, you could spend up to 10-12 hours a week — or even more, if you decide to write, write, write!
Q. Can I get a sneak preview of the syllabus?
Of course! Here you go:
Week 1: Time. Timelines, flashbacks, cause and effect, time period research, chronological and non-chronological elements of storytelling.
Week 2: Place. Maps, memories, geographical research, world-building.
Week 3: Plot. Arcs, acts, mysteries, suspense, tension/trauma points, narrative drive, post-outlines, emotional maps.
Week 4: Character. Development, motivation, interviewing, interactions, quest/journey.
Week 5: Theme. Image, metaphor, symbol, central argument, throughline, core meaning.
Week 6: Action plan. Putting together what you’ve learned. Writer’s life: support circle, critique, inner critics, calendaring, goals, blueprint for completion.
Q. Seriously, we’re going to do all that?
I’m going to offer you all that —because that’s what makes this an intensive. Then, you’re going to choose what you most need right now — because that’s what makes you the writer in charge of your own process.
The truth is, I’ll give you way more than you can possibly do in six weeks. Somewhere in there will be the gems that will transform your writing, right where you are now — so you won’t waste time doing anything irrelevant or that doesn’t resonate.
Remember, the purpose of this course is to set you up to finish your book. Use the tools you need now. Keep the rest for when you need them, weeks or years later. (I still use exercises and frameworks that I learned in writing classes I took in 1994.) You have a lifetime ahead of you as a writer, and your book has a whole life cycle ahead too.
The wealth of material here guarantees that you’ll get exactly what you need at this stage, as well as a box full of toys/tools to play with as your book grows up.
Q. What stage should my book be in to join this class? I’m not sure what my book is about… I’m not even sure I’m writing a book … I’ve already finished a first draft, can I still learn from this class?
All of the tools and exercises are designed to use prior to new writing OR prior to a major re-write/revision. Here’s the rundown:
If you want to write a book but you’re not exactly sure what, this class will be awesome for you. You’ll get ideas and tools that will help to you shape your ideas. You’ll be able to move forward from the cloud of vague ideas that you have now, to focus on a clear, specific, actionable project. And a plan for getting it done.
If you are at or near the beginning of your book, this class will be fantabulous for you. You’ll get a bunch of new tools and a head start on a lot of stuff that will save you time and hair-pulling in the writing process. Go sign up, ok?
If you’re partway through your book, or have a draft or two done, but you sense that there are major issues with structure/theme/plot/character, this class will offer you huge relief. We’ll sort out the things that are confusing you, and get you revved up with a bunch of new strategies so that you can finish your manuscript with confidence. Sign up!
If your book is almost finished and you know exactly what it’s about and you don’t really need to sort out any issues, congratulations! This class would probably be most helpful if you want to get a headstart on your next project. Or you might want to ask me about my manuscript review services, because I am a fantastic editor. Or, you know, maybe you want to go get a glass of wine and pin some stuff on Pinterest instead.
Q. What’s your connection with NaNoWriMo? Actually, what is NaNoWriMo?
A. Besides being what Mork said to Mindy (OK, now I’m totally dating myself), NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. It’s actually international but they haven’t gotten around to changing the name to InNoWriMo because anyway, that sounds yuck. Anyway, it’s a month — November, to be precise — when a whole lot of fools courageous souls sign up to write 50,000 words in a month. I don’t have any official connection to NaNoWriMo, other than writing a Pep but I think it’s a fantastic tool that I recommend to my writing students.
The first time I did NaNoWriMo, I wrote 50,000 words of a novel. I just freewrote like mad, which was fantastic AND had the result that lots of things didn’t end up connecting. The second time, I used the tools that I developed for this course to make specific plans for what I was writing, and it was wonderful to have a working structure in place. I’m excited to share my toolbox/toybox with you.
Q. I understand that it’s online; is there any kind of group interaction? Are there specific days/times when we must sign on?
Interaction with the group takes place in a “virtual workshop,” via a web discussion forum where you can log on anytime.
There are no required times to sign on. But you’re most welcome to join one of the optional live sessions.
Q. When are the live sessions? What will happen in them? Will they be recorded?
Optionally, you can attend a live session with me via Google+ Hangouts. I’ve scheduled them so that people in various timezones should be able to come to at least one session, if desired. The times are:
Monday, Sept. 2: 9 am – 10:30 am Pacific time; 12 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern time; 9:30 pm – 11 pm Indian Standard time.
Saturday, Sept. 21: 7:30 pm – 9 pm Pacific time; 10:30 pm – 12 am Eastern time; 8 am – 9:30 am Indian Standard Time Sunday in India).
Saturday, Oct. 5: 9 am – 10:30 am Pacific time; 12 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern time; 9:30 pm – 11 pm Indian Standard Time.
If you’re in another timezone, so sorry I haven’t calculated yours here! Do check out the World Clock to see your times, and ask me if there’s any confusion.
The format of the live sessions will be Q&A and shared freewriting, and content will be entirely student-guided. We’ll use Google+ Hangout or an equivalent.
In order to create a safe space where participants can share concerns and work in progress, the live sessions will not be recorded or disseminated; however, you may ask other students to share notes on the sessions.
Q. How will the online course work? What technology do I need?
This course will be housed on an interactive educational tool called CourseSites. It’s designed for teaching, and the basic functions are simple to use.
I’ll post a new lesson by 12 noon each Saturday. You’ll log in when you can and read it, and you’ll have until Thursday to post your work for feedback from me and your peers. You’ll give and receive feedback by the following Tuesday. You can also engage in discussions on the online forum and in the optional live sessions.
At the beginning of the course, I’ll send you a welcome document that will include technical details, login information, etc.
The tech basics you will need are:
• An email address.
• A computer with access to email 2-3 times a week.
If you want to join the live sessions, you’ll need:
• A gmail address and Google+ Hangout account.
• A computer with audio and/or video capability to dial in.
Q. Can I take one session at a time? What if I’m going to be away part of the time?
Each lesson will build on the previous ones. We’ll be sharing work and creating a temporary community. So, in order to keep it safe for everyone and manageable for me, there will be no drop-ins. If you are going to be away for some of this time, don’t worry. This is a self-paced class, so you can always catch up on the exercises you’ve missed. Or you can just skip them and go back later, after the class finishes.
Q. What level of anonymity will there be?
You’ll post your own writing and give feedback using whatever name and email address you choose. It’s absolutely fine with me if you want to use a pseudonym or create an alter ego for the purpose of this workshop. Our group agreements will include not discussing or sharing anyone’s work outside the workshop.
If you and I know each other socially, I will always keep all elements of our coaching/teaching relationship private, including the fact that you’re taking the workshop.
Q. How many students do you expect or will you cap?
There is no firm limit. If it gets too big or unwieldy, I’ll probably split it into two smaller “sections” rather than close it off. Since I don’t know when I’ll have the time to teach this way again, I’m reluctant to turn away to anyone who’s ready and willing to move into this work now.
Q. Is there any provision for people with financial hardship?
Yes. Times are tough, right? Instead of paying the full registration fee up front, if you need to, you can make payments on the following schedule:
$200 due August 31 or before your first class
$200 due September 20
$165 due October 5
Please note that when you sign up, you are committing to the whole course, so this is NOT a way to “try out” the class and hedge your bets! I trust you to honor your commitment. You can pay via PayPal or, if you prefer, you can mail 3 checks to me, postdated, and I will cash them on the appropriate dates.
If you are based in India AND have limited finances, you can apply for a special reduced rate of 18,000 rupees, which is about half the US student rate.
Q. Are you accepting international students? Is there a reduced rate?
Yes. Please contact me for payment options if you cannot access PayPal or if you have a question about currency conversion.
Q. My question is not answered here.
No problem. Ask me at hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com .
The post Blueprint Your Book 2013 appeared first on Minal Hajratwala.
July 31, 2013
Book structure: Conquering the beast
So happy to have my first piece in The Writer, the oldest U.S. magazine about the craft of writing. It’s on a topic close to my heart, something that most of my coaching clients struggle with mightily — structure! How do you choose or develop the right structure for a book? It’s very tricky, and pre-existing formulas only take you so far.
Here’s the piece with a few of my thoughts.
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For those who want to dive deeper: Are you a writer wrestling the structure beast? Imagine a 6-week crash course that clears up your questions and guides you to develop your own organic structure, the one that’s perfect — and perfectly individualized — for the story you want to tell. No cookie-cutters here. Open to all genres. Check out my Blueprint Your Book class, a six-week intensive workshop that starts August 31.
Cookie cutters are for cookies. Not books.
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And here’s an interview about Blueprint Your Book that the lovely and accomplished Uma Krishnaswami did with me. Thanks, Uma!
The post Book structure: Conquering the beast appeared first on Minal Hajratwala.
June 18, 2013
Book Structure: Conquering the Beast
So happy to have my first piece in The Writer, the oldest U.S. magazine about the craft of writing. It’s on a topic close to my heart, something that most of my coaching clients struggle with mightily — structure!
How do you choose or develop the right structure for a book? It’s very tricky, and pre-existing formulas only take you so far.
Here’s the piece: the five great structures for books.
May 6, 2013
Interview at Writing With a Broken Tusk
Here’s an interview about my Blueprint Your Book course that the lovely and accomplished Uma Krishnaswami did with me. Thanks, Uma!
April 3, 2013
Writing from the Chakras 2013
announcing…
Writing from the Chakras
An Online Writing Workshop
June 1 – July 31, 2013
with Minal Hajratwala
Are you ready to jumpstart your writing and discover new, exciting sources to fuel your creativity? Writing from the Chakras is a body-based writing system that leads to fast, energized, powerful, breakthrough writing. In this 9-week online course, we will tap into the seven levels of human experience that make up rich, versatile writing. Whether you want to write ancestral memory or science fiction … a high-impact fight scene for your action movie screenplay (root chakra! survival!) … or a moment of epiphany in your subtle and elegant short story (crown chakra all the way!) … this workshop will offer a plethora of tools and play to make your writing come alive. Fun creativity exercises, tools for engaging mind/body/soul in our writing, and work that heals trauma and busts through blocks: Join the journey. Isn’t it time to get in touch with the most powerful possibilities in your creative work?
(image by Izolda Trakhtenberg)
This online workshop is suitable for all levels of writers, from beginning to experienced, and you can join from anywhere in the solar system. You will have the opportunity to share work and receive feedback in a supportive, vibrant, temporary community. The focus is on generating new work and developing robust creative skills in order to free your writing to take a great leap forward.
All genres and genders are welcome.
Fee: $425 US.
Dates: We start June 1 and finish July 31, 2013.
Registration: Pay $425 by PayPal to hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com to reserve your space.
Questions? Please scroll down for Frequently Asked Questions, or email me.
About the Instructor
Minal Hajratwala is the author of Leaving India: My Family’s Journey From Five Villages to Five Continents (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009), which has been called “incomparable” by Alice Walker and “searingly honest” by the Washington Post. The book won a Pen USA Award, an Asian American Writers Workshop Award, a Lambda Literary Award, a California Book Award (Silver, Nonfiction), and was shortlisted for the Saroyan International Writing Prize. She spent seven years researching and writing the book, traveling the world to interview more than seventy-five members of her extended family.
She is also the editor of Out! Stories From the New Queer India (Queer Ink, 2013), a groundbreaking anthology of contemporary LGBT literature since the decriminalization of homosexuality in India.
Ms. Hajratwala spent 2010-11 as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in India researching a novel, while also writing poems about the unicorns of the ancient Indus Valley. Her creative work has received recognition and support from the Sundance Institute, the Jon Sims Center for the Arts, the SerpentSource Foundation, and the Hedgebrook writing retreat for women, where she has served on the Alumnae Leadership Council. Her one-woman show, “Avatars: Gods for a New Millennium,” was commissioned by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco for World AIDS Day in 1999.
As a writing coach, Ms. Hajratwala believes language is magical, and she loves helping individuals and organizations access the power to express themselves in words. She has taught writing workshops nationally and internationally at universities, community organizations, and online, including as a 2012 memoir faculty member at the Voices of Our Nations Arts summer program for writers of color on the University of California-Berkeley campus. She is the creatrix of Blueprint Your Book, an intensive and inspiring six-lesson program for manuscript development; and Writing from the Chakras, a body-based system that leads to fast, energized, powerful breakthroughs by tapping the seven levels of human experience that make up rich, versatile writing.
As a journalist, she worked at the San Jose Mercury News from 1992 to 2000 as an editor, reporter, and the newspaper’s first reader representative (ombudsperson). She is a graduate of Stanford University and held a fellowship in the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in 2000-01.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How do I sign up for Writing from the Chakras?
A.
The quickest way:
Via PayPal.com, submit a payment of $425 to hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com. You can use Paypal funds or a credit card. You’ll get a confirmation from PayPal immediately, and a welcome email from me within 72 hours.
If you’ve never used PayPal, don’t worry. It’s easy and takes about 5 minutes. Grab your credit or debit card, then just follow these simple steps:
• Go to www.paypal.com
• Click on “Send Payment” and then “Send Payment Online.”
• In the TO box, type “hajratwala@gmail.com” (no quotes).
• In the FROM box, type your email address.
• In the AMOUNT box, type $425.
• Where it says “Send payment for,” choose “Services.” (This means that you won’t be charged any shipping fees.)
• Click “Continue.”
• Enter your credit/debit card info and follow the directions to create your account and finish. That’s it!
If you prefer to mail a check:
Send a check for $425 to:
Minal Hajratwala
847 East Angela St.
Pleasanton CA 94566
Please drop me an email *after* you have put the check in the mail. I will consider that your registration date and start sending you materials, so that we don’t have to wait for the snail mail to arrive.
Or send your owl / passenger pigeon / unicorn. Please do not pay in leprechaun money, though.
Payment is due in full before your first class, unless… scroll to the bottom of this FAQ.
Q. I understand that it’s online; is there any kind of group interaction? Are there specific days/times when we must sign on?
A. You can take this course from anywhere if you have access to your email once a week. There are no required times to sign on. Interaction with the group includes virtual workshopping and optional live sessions (see the syllabus below).
All of the weekly homework (or, as I like to call it, home play!) will be on your own time. You will receive a weekly lesson with writing prompts and a weekly schedule for giving and receiving feedback from your peers, as well as from me.
Q. Is yoga a requirement?
A. No. We’ll explore a cornucopia of ways to tune into the energies of the physical/metaphysical body. Some of those might be about things to try in the context of your own physical practice — whether that’s yoga or dance, reiki, skateboarding, walking the dog, ec. All of the ‘assignments’ are optional so if it doesn’t work for you, choose something else; you’ll get plenty of choices each week.
(If you happen to be in San Francisco, Oakland, or Chicago, bonus news: I’ve taught Writing from the Chakras with yoga instructors who teach regularly in those cities. In case you’re looking for a yoga class to complement our chakra work, I’d be delighted to refer you to a teacher who is familiar with the concepts we’ll explore here. Again, not a requirement at all, just a bonus!)
Q. Can I get a sneak preview of the syllabus? How much time should I allot?
A. The assignments are flexible and each week, you’ll be given a choice of things to do. You’ll probably want to allot at least 2 hours a week, perhaps in 30-minute segments. If you got excited and did everything on the list, you might spend up to 4 hours a week — or even more, if you decide to write write write!
Our Syllabus
Week 1: Intro plus the Root Chakra
Week 2: The Sexy Chakra
Week 3: The Power Chakra
Week 4: The Heart Chakra
Week 5: Floating Chakra exercise / Integration
Week 6: The Throat Chakra
Week 7: The Third Eye
Week 8: The Crown
Week 9: Integration, Final Workshopping, & Celebration
In addition to the written materials and virtual workshopping, I’ll host three optional live sessions as follows:
(1) Building a Strong Foundation: Writing from the Lower 3 Chakras. Your questions about fight scenes, sex scenes, power struggles, ancestor work, our deepest dramas. Week of June 10-15.
(2) Manifesting in the World: Writing from Heart, Throat, Hands. Are you saying what you really want to say? Dive in, unblock, and get to the truth of the matter. Week of July 1-6.
(3) Connecting to Source: Writing from the Third Eye and Crown; Integrating the Energy Spine. Vision and transcendence, writing that flies off the page and into the ether, the future, alternate universes and beyond. Week of July 15-20.
Exact times will be based on a survey of availability and interest of those who enroll, and will be scheduled so that everyone who wants to participate can come to at least one session. The format will be Q&A and shared freewriting, and content will be entirely student-guided. We’ll use Google+ hangout or an equivalent.
In order to create a safe space where participants can share concerns and work in progress, the live sessions will not be recorded or disseminated; however, you may ask other students to share notes on the sessions.
Q. How will the online course work? What technology do I need?
A. At the beginning of the course, I’ll send you a syllabus and welcome document that will include technical details, logins, etc.
The tech basics you will need are:
• An email address.
• A computer with access to email once a week.
Optional tech:
• A gmail address for accessing the full features of google groups.
• A computer with audio or video capability to dial into the optional live sessions.
Q. Can I take one session at a time? What if I’m going to be away part of the time?
A. Each lesson will build on the previous ones. We’ll be sharing work and creating a temporary community. So, in order to keep it safe for everyone and manageable for me, there will be no drop-ins.
If you are going to be away for some of this time, don’t worry. This is a self-paced class, so you can always catch up on the exercises you’ve missed. Or you can just skip them and go back later, after the class finishes.
Q. I just saw this and it’s already past June 1! Can I still join and catch up?
A. Before June 5, yes. You’ll have a little catching up to do but it should be fine. After June 5, please email me.
Q. What level of anonymity will there be?
A.You’ll post your own writing and give feedback using whatever email address you choose. It’s absolutely fine with me if you want to use a pseudonym or create an alter ego for the purpose of this workshop. Our group agreements will include not discussing or sharing anyone’s work outside the workshop.
Q. How many students do you expect or will you cap?
A. I’m really not sure, right now I’m open! If it gets too big or unwieldy, I’ll probably split it into two smaller “sections” rather than close it off. Since I don’t know when I’ll have the time to teach this way again, I’m reluctant to say no to anyone who’s ready and willing to move into this work now.
Q. Is there any provision for people with financial hardship?
A.Yes. Times are tough, right? Instead of paying the full registration fee up front, if you need to, you can make payments on the following schedule:
$150 due May 31 or before your first class
$150 due June 20
$125 due July 10
Please note that when you sign up, you are committing to the whole course, so this is NOT a way to “try out” the class and hedge your bets! I trust you to honor your commitment. You can pay via PayPal or, if you prefer, you can mail 3 checks to me, postdated, and I will cash them on the appropriate dates.
If you are based in India AND have limited finances, you can apply for a special reduced rate of 11,000 rupees, which is about half the US student rate.
Q. Are you accepting international students?
A.Yes. Please contact me at hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com for payment options if you cannot access PayPal or if you have a question about currency conversion. Thanks!
Q. My question is not answered here.
A.No problem. Ask me at hajratwala {at} gmail {dot} com .
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