Showing posts with label writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writers. Show all posts
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Sunday, December 14, 2014
10 Major Challenges of Writing a Book
I always thought being a writer would be my ideal job, because it comes pretty naturally to me, I enjoy it, and I have a never ending imagination!
It's the toughest thing though. Here's why:
1) You are your own boss - no one is going to tell you when to write and what to write, and the deadline. It's up to you. You have to find that motivation, even when writer's block isn't an issue.
2) Creating a GOOD story is tougher than you think - so you have a plot, you have an outline, but now you have to fill in the details. Or you have the details of your characters, and the world they are in but you have to create a good story, that includes growth of the character and change. Etc. etc. etc. It's amazing what Jane Austen, and the Bronte sister's did. Oh goodness! We still have material - social issues in our world to base our stories on, but their characters development was so well done!
3) Its gonna take time, a whole lot precious time - to do it, to do it, do it right! yeah, so as we grow older we find we have less time. Time begins to slip away so easily. Yet when we are children a day seems to take forever. I wish I had that type of time now. Oh and then there are random chores, obligations that need to be taken care of like an oil change, or cleaning! So making time, and committing time to writing is tough as a grown up adult. Like the saying goes- "health is wasted on the young" so is time!
4) Remembering what you wrote yesterday - few chapters in and you forgot the deets from chapter one, and then 30 chapters in you forgot the details from chapter 15! Creating a timeline, or some sort of organization of characters is important. For instance, I know the world well, and I know my characters, but sometimes I forget what I put in her bag. At the time i put the things in her bag I knew what they were and why they were, but then 4 chapters later, I forget. Kind of like, you have a list of things to tell your significant other at the end of the day, and then you see them and you forget half of it. Then you remember it just when you are both about to fall asleep!
5) Setting deadlines and goals - these are hard to stick to, because of all of the above. So kick it out the window. You'll find that once you do that, you'll be able to write more, and then you'll set a goal, 'I want to finish it by the 20th of Jan'. Then once you set it, it get's tough again.
6) Thinking of Publishing? - these thought or worries rather, come and go; for me, more often than not. Self publish, or find an agent, or approach a publisher? Which one is right for you. I say finish writing, have a manuscript. Edit it twice and then worry about publishing. Maybe do some research in your free time, yes that time which is so hard to come by. I will be posting information on that soon! So stay tuned!
7) Worries of failure - you could be the next JRR Tolkien of JK Rowling or George RR Martin, but it's such a competitive world, and you're better off making video games honestly, cause I rather play video games than write cause it's easier :-P kids today rather play video games than read. There are those who read, but I fear those numbers are decreasing rapidly. Then there are those who write for Movies... aaah! Worries of failing will plague the author, but to write knowing the chance of success is very low, is quite comforting. Accept that and write.
8) Atmosphere from noisy to quiet, finding a balance for writing - so I've always dreamt of writing a novel at a cafe, where there's a fire sizzling, and I got me some hot chocolate. I am brandishing my wonderful ink pen, and writing on some wonderful parchment... scratch that. Over full Starbucks, noisy, Christmas music, no fireplace, and yeah the baristas shouting about. Nope, need to find that ideal setting, yet. It's hard to find a perfect atmosphere or ambiance that nurtures writers. The right amount of noise, as to not being distracting, as well as not to quiet to be creepy. Yes silence can distract me, so I find playlists that inspire but also help keep me focused (so different from my running play list, or driving play list!). Then there's the internet, def don't connect to the WIFI, and if you need to look something up use your phone, keep it to the minimum!
9) Prioritizing writing, life, friends, balancing? Maybe not balanced but being smart about it - writing is important, but if you have a different job that sustains you while you are writing, that should take priority. Then there are life things, as in a friend needs you, friendship is very important, don't ditch your friend, then again a good friend would understand. So setting these priorities and working around them. Sometimes you might prioritize and set up a schedule, that schedule will change! Be flexible. I set time to write, but sometimes it doesn't flow well, until my head hit's the pillow at 11:30 pm and then I get mega-inspired. I have to teach at 8 am the next morning, but I go with the flow and deal with it. Its the only way it's going to get done, sometimes I just write it on note-cards, and try to pick it up later. When I do stay up late to write, I suck it up although i am tired, and I deal with it the next morning, and drink tea and look awesome (somehow) and make sure I teach well (tea does the job for me).
10) Word count goals - so publishers have set an average word count for various genres. Fantasy / sci-fi fiction lands at about 80,000 - 100,000 words. So with length in mind, and matter of course, it's good to pace yourself, and build. Setting a word goal per day/ week is good but eventually I've found that difficult to work with.
Lastly: editing, but since I'm not there yet, I'll leave it for the next blog entry. So stay tuned!
And yes I have not really edited this blog!
:-P
Breathe
(always remember to breathe while writing!)
It's the toughest thing though. Here's why:
1) You are your own boss - no one is going to tell you when to write and what to write, and the deadline. It's up to you. You have to find that motivation, even when writer's block isn't an issue.
2) Creating a GOOD story is tougher than you think - so you have a plot, you have an outline, but now you have to fill in the details. Or you have the details of your characters, and the world they are in but you have to create a good story, that includes growth of the character and change. Etc. etc. etc. It's amazing what Jane Austen, and the Bronte sister's did. Oh goodness! We still have material - social issues in our world to base our stories on, but their characters development was so well done!
3) Its gonna take time, a whole lot precious time - to do it, to do it, do it right! yeah, so as we grow older we find we have less time. Time begins to slip away so easily. Yet when we are children a day seems to take forever. I wish I had that type of time now. Oh and then there are random chores, obligations that need to be taken care of like an oil change, or cleaning! So making time, and committing time to writing is tough as a grown up adult. Like the saying goes- "health is wasted on the young" so is time!
4) Remembering what you wrote yesterday - few chapters in and you forgot the deets from chapter one, and then 30 chapters in you forgot the details from chapter 15! Creating a timeline, or some sort of organization of characters is important. For instance, I know the world well, and I know my characters, but sometimes I forget what I put in her bag. At the time i put the things in her bag I knew what they were and why they were, but then 4 chapters later, I forget. Kind of like, you have a list of things to tell your significant other at the end of the day, and then you see them and you forget half of it. Then you remember it just when you are both about to fall asleep!
5) Setting deadlines and goals - these are hard to stick to, because of all of the above. So kick it out the window. You'll find that once you do that, you'll be able to write more, and then you'll set a goal, 'I want to finish it by the 20th of Jan'. Then once you set it, it get's tough again.
6) Thinking of Publishing? - these thought or worries rather, come and go; for me, more often than not. Self publish, or find an agent, or approach a publisher? Which one is right for you. I say finish writing, have a manuscript. Edit it twice and then worry about publishing. Maybe do some research in your free time, yes that time which is so hard to come by. I will be posting information on that soon! So stay tuned!
7) Worries of failure - you could be the next JRR Tolkien of JK Rowling or George RR Martin, but it's such a competitive world, and you're better off making video games honestly, cause I rather play video games than write cause it's easier :-P kids today rather play video games than read. There are those who read, but I fear those numbers are decreasing rapidly. Then there are those who write for Movies... aaah! Worries of failing will plague the author, but to write knowing the chance of success is very low, is quite comforting. Accept that and write.
8) Atmosphere from noisy to quiet, finding a balance for writing - so I've always dreamt of writing a novel at a cafe, where there's a fire sizzling, and I got me some hot chocolate. I am brandishing my wonderful ink pen, and writing on some wonderful parchment... scratch that. Over full Starbucks, noisy, Christmas music, no fireplace, and yeah the baristas shouting about. Nope, need to find that ideal setting, yet. It's hard to find a perfect atmosphere or ambiance that nurtures writers. The right amount of noise, as to not being distracting, as well as not to quiet to be creepy. Yes silence can distract me, so I find playlists that inspire but also help keep me focused (so different from my running play list, or driving play list!). Then there's the internet, def don't connect to the WIFI, and if you need to look something up use your phone, keep it to the minimum!
9) Prioritizing writing, life, friends, balancing? Maybe not balanced but being smart about it - writing is important, but if you have a different job that sustains you while you are writing, that should take priority. Then there are life things, as in a friend needs you, friendship is very important, don't ditch your friend, then again a good friend would understand. So setting these priorities and working around them. Sometimes you might prioritize and set up a schedule, that schedule will change! Be flexible. I set time to write, but sometimes it doesn't flow well, until my head hit's the pillow at 11:30 pm and then I get mega-inspired. I have to teach at 8 am the next morning, but I go with the flow and deal with it. Its the only way it's going to get done, sometimes I just write it on note-cards, and try to pick it up later. When I do stay up late to write, I suck it up although i am tired, and I deal with it the next morning, and drink tea and look awesome (somehow) and make sure I teach well (tea does the job for me).
10) Word count goals - so publishers have set an average word count for various genres. Fantasy / sci-fi fiction lands at about 80,000 - 100,000 words. So with length in mind, and matter of course, it's good to pace yourself, and build. Setting a word goal per day/ week is good but eventually I've found that difficult to work with.
Lastly: editing, but since I'm not there yet, I'll leave it for the next blog entry. So stay tuned!
And yes I have not really edited this blog!
:-P
Breathe
(always remember to breathe while writing!)
Monday, January 06, 2014
Half Way Through At The End Of The Year
I like Capitalizing the first letter of all the words in my headings, I don't know why.
Ok let me get
Ok let me get
I am writing a fictional novel. It's a supernatural thriller, for young adults or grown ups not sure yet. It's more work than I thought it would be, and it's funny how the book grows as I grow as a person. I don't think it will be my best work, but I am pouring my heart and mind into this. I feel like i am writing it in a rush, because i gave myself a deadline, but because of Teacher Training, holidays, and my new boost for getting back in shape, I have fallen behind. I do hope to make hedgeway as I thought it was called, but then Ryan corrected me, and I know it is headway. It's going to be a fun book to read, creative and imaginative.
This book takes me places in my mind, and makes me people I am not! Can't wait to share it with you all eventually! Writing this blog, makes me feel like I've finally come clean, in regards to my absence from blogging. I mean I have blogged, but its not as incessant as it was. In fact am proud to say last year I published 137 blogs posts. My blogger stats tell me the most number of views were in July and Nov 2013. USA rules with most readership, followed by Russia! India follows in at third, and European countries including UK follow after that. I just have to say thanks for reading to all my readers! I hope you all will like my book!
Most people view it from a Windows computer; 28% from a Mac. Oooh! 48% view from firefox, and only 20% from Chrome, (chrome is personally my preferred browser. It's fast and better all round). 15% of readers still use IE, whyyy!!!! There's so much other info from the stats, but this was supposed to be about the book I'm writing, how I got carried away!
I'm half way through writing this book. YA(young adult books are usually 55k to 60k long, and I am (a grandmother figure in my life, told me to never measure/ count progress but to get through it), 26k in. Which is half way for the 50k goal, ok plus there will be more added. However for sci-fi fantasy "they" say a 6 figure range is better... really?
Trudging along then!
I can do this!
Breathe!
This book takes me places in my mind, and makes me people I am not! Can't wait to share it with you all eventually! Writing this blog, makes me feel like I've finally come clean, in regards to my absence from blogging. I mean I have blogged, but its not as incessant as it was. In fact am proud to say last year I published 137 blogs posts. My blogger stats tell me the most number of views were in July and Nov 2013. USA rules with most readership, followed by Russia! India follows in at third, and European countries including UK follow after that. I just have to say thanks for reading to all my readers! I hope you all will like my book!
Most people view it from a Windows computer; 28% from a Mac. Oooh! 48% view from firefox, and only 20% from Chrome, (chrome is personally my preferred browser. It's fast and better all round). 15% of readers still use IE, whyyy!!!! There's so much other info from the stats, but this was supposed to be about the book I'm writing, how I got carried away!
I'm half way through writing this book. YA(young adult books are usually 55k to 60k long, and I am (a grandmother figure in my life, told me to never measure/ count progress but to get through it), 26k in. Which is half way for the 50k goal, ok plus there will be more added. However for sci-fi fantasy "they" say a 6 figure range is better... really?
Trudging along then!
I can do this!
Breathe!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Story of a Blogger Blogging
5 years of blogging, and this year is the year I have written the most number of blogs. The year isn't even done yet. I began this blog for many reasons, mostly to encourage myself to write, write often, make writing a habit, and not to be afraid of criticism. It inspired and led to much more.
Now I am looking to make a change... rename the blog maybe, change the design. I love using blogger though... it's nice. I'd love ideas and suggestions. It would take place over a period of time though, so much going on. Also I plan to start writing my book soon, so my blogging will slow down a lot. At least that's the plan.
Stitch, Shudder, and the A song of Ice and Fire series has really helped motivate and inspire me to do my own work. Take that leap of faith, stop all other distractions, do my thing and write. I am very excited about this. My world is transforming to bring everyone this story... and I am excited to take all my readers there.
A little bit about my book idea: based in Ohio, strong female lead,and a very mysterious, supernatural, horror/thriller and dark plot! Maybe even a bit macabre. That's all I can say right now!
I am excited, because fall and fall adventures, will help inspire and set the tone.
Remember:
Winter is coming!
Breathe
Now I am looking to make a change... rename the blog maybe, change the design. I love using blogger though... it's nice. I'd love ideas and suggestions. It would take place over a period of time though, so much going on. Also I plan to start writing my book soon, so my blogging will slow down a lot. At least that's the plan.
Stitch, Shudder, and the A song of Ice and Fire series has really helped motivate and inspire me to do my own work. Take that leap of faith, stop all other distractions, do my thing and write. I am very excited about this. My world is transforming to bring everyone this story... and I am excited to take all my readers there.
A little bit about my book idea: based in Ohio, strong female lead,and a very mysterious, supernatural, horror/thriller and dark plot! Maybe even a bit macabre. That's all I can say right now!
I am excited, because fall and fall adventures, will help inspire and set the tone.
Remember:
Winter is coming!
Breathe
Monday, September 17, 2012
I am a Writer
I write. I have always written. In fact perhaps writing is my best form of communication. It is the only time my brain slows down and my fingers can keep up. So I am a writer, it is in my blood. My family is full of writers, musicians... artists in general. Somewhere a long the line the values were misplaced and we began focusing on the other art of science, law, business and such. I am a writer and will write.
I am writing a book and it is harder than I ever imagined... just as much as any work is, creating takes a lot of energy. It's giving birth to an idea, image, concept, a story...
The reason I write this short note, is to say your comments and feedback are what have kept me going. It has helped me realize and appreciate my own talent and helped me act upon my calling. Finally. So thank you, and keep the comments coming. Thank you so much. I hope my writing pleases you as much as it heals me!
Breathe
I am writing a book and it is harder than I ever imagined... just as much as any work is, creating takes a lot of energy. It's giving birth to an idea, image, concept, a story...
The reason I write this short note, is to say your comments and feedback are what have kept me going. It has helped me realize and appreciate my own talent and helped me act upon my calling. Finally. So thank you, and keep the comments coming. Thank you so much. I hope my writing pleases you as much as it heals me!
Breathe
Monday, August 20, 2012
From Blogging to Writing: Transformations
The transformation occurs:
from blogger to writer.
From singing in the shower to composing on the piano and guitar!
Dreaming of the dress, to being able to fit in the dress comfortably so!
From wanting to be fit, to feeling the muscles build and the fat burn.
Thinking healthy to being healthy - 1 french fry is yummy, 2 french fries reminds you of how gross that made you feel!
Planning trips and finally making them happen... even if it is just you, travel solo, the adventure is more amazing.
From accepting advice, and actually acting on it and learning from it.
This power to transform in a positive manner, is all yours.
You control it.
Find out how to do it, and do it!
Breathe!
from blogger to writer.
From singing in the shower to composing on the piano and guitar!
Dreaming of the dress, to being able to fit in the dress comfortably so!
From wanting to be fit, to feeling the muscles build and the fat burn.
Thinking healthy to being healthy - 1 french fry is yummy, 2 french fries reminds you of how gross that made you feel!
Planning trips and finally making them happen... even if it is just you, travel solo, the adventure is more amazing.
From accepting advice, and actually acting on it and learning from it.
This power to transform in a positive manner, is all yours.
You control it.
Find out how to do it, and do it!
Breathe!
 |
| Falling Water - PA, Frank Lloyd Wright |
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Creating: Music, Lyrics, Writing
Once the fire of creativity makes its way through your veins and nerves and senses...
it's hard to make it stop. It is hard to go back to being a machine.
You're on bursting with ideas, potential, and it flows through you.
You can feel more, hear more, sense more, taste more...
Appreciate more
And then you meet the brick in the wall.
You can't make them see your light, your spirit; they are stuck.
Once you set a spark of creativity and imagination on to them, however you do it might be tricky...
It will slowly carve it's way through them... if left un-nourished it may diminish once again. So keep the fire of life, imagination, creativity burning.
Some of us get jaded, and like a smoothed rock we sit. We have become passive and complacent. We forget how to fight. Life threw too many difficult hurdles our way, too many loses, too many defeats. The bar was set too high, or the road was too long and winded. The task was too complex and difficult, we lost the battle of the wits. We gave up. Where did the fire go?
Like the Olympic flame, like the Olympians, we can not let that hope fade away.... If we fall, we get up, in time. We must learn from these creatures... and keep trying till we perfect ourselves. Not get distracted by the shiny objects that are there to throw us off the balance beam, not slow down to give into some temptation, not err just because we made a small mistake previously.
We can get back up. We can feel renewed, stand up, and start imagining; then creating.... then actualizing, achieving.
I once asked a very famous Indian music composer and a very famous Indian lyricist, "how do you know which song to put to this tune or that tune?" It is the strangest stupidest question ever however I now know the answer. And to those of you who didn't understand my question, I meant to ask when writing lyrics, how do you figure out what tune to put it to? And when writing a piece of music how do you know what lyrics to put to it. That is for the artist to decide. I know now the secret to this special ability. I won't forget their quizzical faces, or the music producer's reaction!
Breathe!
it's hard to make it stop. It is hard to go back to being a machine.
You're on bursting with ideas, potential, and it flows through you.
You can feel more, hear more, sense more, taste more...
Appreciate more
And then you meet the brick in the wall.
You can't make them see your light, your spirit; they are stuck.
Once you set a spark of creativity and imagination on to them, however you do it might be tricky...
It will slowly carve it's way through them... if left un-nourished it may diminish once again. So keep the fire of life, imagination, creativity burning.
Some of us get jaded, and like a smoothed rock we sit. We have become passive and complacent. We forget how to fight. Life threw too many difficult hurdles our way, too many loses, too many defeats. The bar was set too high, or the road was too long and winded. The task was too complex and difficult, we lost the battle of the wits. We gave up. Where did the fire go?
Like the Olympic flame, like the Olympians, we can not let that hope fade away.... If we fall, we get up, in time. We must learn from these creatures... and keep trying till we perfect ourselves. Not get distracted by the shiny objects that are there to throw us off the balance beam, not slow down to give into some temptation, not err just because we made a small mistake previously.
We can get back up. We can feel renewed, stand up, and start imagining; then creating.... then actualizing, achieving.
I once asked a very famous Indian music composer and a very famous Indian lyricist, "how do you know which song to put to this tune or that tune?" It is the strangest stupidest question ever however I now know the answer. And to those of you who didn't understand my question, I meant to ask when writing lyrics, how do you figure out what tune to put it to? And when writing a piece of music how do you know what lyrics to put to it. That is for the artist to decide. I know now the secret to this special ability. I won't forget their quizzical faces, or the music producer's reaction!
Breathe!
Monday, August 06, 2012
Blogging
Recently I read an article making fun of bloggers, and of course now I forgot where, but basically pointed out how one created a bubble about themselves and life, and how sad the lives of bloggers really are etc.. I put a lot of work into my blog, because it helps me prepare for "writing". Also I enjoy writing for an audience, however I need for feedback, constructive criticism, appreciation, anything!!!!
Do write! Love hearing your opinions, ideas, thoughts, even if it maybe just one word. Silence is great, but art is nothing unless it is discussed. Yes?
So anyway this attitude that bothers me is that "writing" is less novel now thanks to online publishing and the E-readers. It is true, books are more easily accessible, and cheaper, so what does the writer get? I remember the days when I traveled the whole city of Chennai looking for 1 Enid Blyton book. Or traveled the entire of Kolkata college street to find the right copy of The Tale of Two Cities. Gone are those days? Some very old books still aren't digitized, I had fun tracking down one of Edmund Hilary's more rare books. However in this age where we are obsessed with making fun of blogs, 50 shades of Gray, Twilight... what is the scope of becoming a Tolkien, Dickens, or a Shakespeare?
A twist.
So I will bring music and stories... from the abyss. It's just not a love story, or lust that drives me, but those of you who knows me it's something deeper, spiritual, and even dark. I began writing my novel this weekend, as well as writing music. It was awesome and exhausting. I had forgotten how exhausting creativity could be. I will still blog! However I am excited about this new advancement to the second phase.
I was talking to a friend recently who reminded me I just need to immerse myself and stop waiting for some traffic signal. I'm the only one who can change the traffic; Just as Gandhi said: "be the change you wish to see in the world."
Me: "I want to be a writer,"
Friend: "It's like a duck saying it wants to be a duck. Just start swimming!"
Now I'll have to get back into Yoga! Re-finding myself is fun!
Breathe!
Do write! Love hearing your opinions, ideas, thoughts, even if it maybe just one word. Silence is great, but art is nothing unless it is discussed. Yes?
So anyway this attitude that bothers me is that "writing" is less novel now thanks to online publishing and the E-readers. It is true, books are more easily accessible, and cheaper, so what does the writer get? I remember the days when I traveled the whole city of Chennai looking for 1 Enid Blyton book. Or traveled the entire of Kolkata college street to find the right copy of The Tale of Two Cities. Gone are those days? Some very old books still aren't digitized, I had fun tracking down one of Edmund Hilary's more rare books. However in this age where we are obsessed with making fun of blogs, 50 shades of Gray, Twilight... what is the scope of becoming a Tolkien, Dickens, or a Shakespeare?
A twist.
So I will bring music and stories... from the abyss. It's just not a love story, or lust that drives me, but those of you who knows me it's something deeper, spiritual, and even dark. I began writing my novel this weekend, as well as writing music. It was awesome and exhausting. I had forgotten how exhausting creativity could be. I will still blog! However I am excited about this new advancement to the second phase.
I was talking to a friend recently who reminded me I just need to immerse myself and stop waiting for some traffic signal. I'm the only one who can change the traffic; Just as Gandhi said: "be the change you wish to see in the world."
Me: "I want to be a writer,"
Friend: "It's like a duck saying it wants to be a duck. Just start swimming!"
Now I'll have to get back into Yoga! Re-finding myself is fun!
Breathe!
 |
| My creative sister and I! |
Monday, July 09, 2012
To Be a Writer
I wanted to be a writer ever since I had an imagination, and I could scribble characters which were alphabets to me. I first expressed myself by drawing, and then writing. My little 3 year old head had such thought and imaginations; I was fed books, cartoons, movies... and my brain would create a new world for myself from those ideas. It was truly glorious. I have always wanted to share it with the world.
The catch is, being a writer is like being an artist... you might as well be a poet or a penniless sitar player (Moulin Rouge reference). The profession of being a "Writer" was not in my parents vocabulary. Like all Indian parents, the idealized profession for their kids is: Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer. So hackneyed, so trite, yet it is the norm; so sad. However other occupations that lead to an abundance of wealth, and a "normal" life is acceptable, in example - business person, computer technology, research, etc. As long as you are able to follow the formula- Graduate, Get a Good Job (which pays enough to sustain you, parents, spouse and children, accomplish the following- buy house, car, get kids college educated, paid time off etc.). Cookie cutter houses, cookie cutter lifestyle. Life pattern: set. This is the best and safe route: take it. Best advice ever?
I like being safe, but I don't want the above. I've been searching my whole life, for more than what is presented to us by society, family, media, popular culture... There is more, but it's a risky jump away from my clutches. My family and society have never accepted this route/ idea, it's not safe, we don't know where it will lead, it is unconventional. (Just a tiny insight into my inner struggles with identity, family, cultures, life, and self).
Writing, though many a writers do exist, is still an unconventional career. How will I make it work? I am used to a certain lifestyle. Am I willing to give it up and live below my standards to become that independent yet awesome writer I yearn to be. No one believes I can, but I believe in me. Yet I have been seeking support for years now. That is the path I need to take, when no one has faith, I do, and I go with it. I know people who believe in God know God believes in them and it makes it easier. So I will just have to create my own imaginary being, maybe it's gonna be Higgs.
Writers need time, and space, and that's another lifestyle change most families have a hard time accepting. The aloofness, the quiet, ie. why would someone want to go solo, away from family and friends? Especially for a very chatty/clingy/emotionally dependent family. It is funny cause we start out life as us, and then we mold to our families, and then realize we have to become us again. I always was quiet, shy, introspective, and friendly; somewhere that changed and I became social and chatty, and now I long to revert back to default settings.
I want to write, I can't wait to. My mind is a mess, 29 years of ideas floating around, unharnessed, connecting at points, needs filing and organization so bad. I wish I could hire an assistant to help go into the deep dark cupboards in the back, which has fresh ideas locked away, and bring them to the forefront. I need to grease up my writing hand and pick up a pencil, eraser and sharpener and draw the thought flows down
In the middle of the 29 years of mental story planning and building, a lot happened - personal growth, life, college, education, college English classes, artistic influences, dark times, travels, meeting people from all walks of life, experiences and relationships. All this influenced me tremendously in my blog writings and non- online writings. Especially the "imagination- killer"; I love fiction, fantasy and everything beyond this world, that keep us locked in a so called reality with rules and such (law's of physics, science, religion, politics, civics etc.). This person was so grounded, that he condoned my imagination, that "pretending" was silly. However all thinking is imagining anyway, (later I realized). For a while though my imagination was killed, and I sought to be grounded in reality (which I might say is boring, and can make you age faster than the higgs boson!).
This is my choice. This is what I will do.
I will write.
Breathe
PS: found this when I was researching short life spans (reference, see last paragraph of blog)
Animals with short life spans - http://akorra.com/2010/03/04/top-10-shortest-living-organisms/
This happens to humans when they tune into "Reality" too much.
So what should I write?
The catch is, being a writer is like being an artist... you might as well be a poet or a penniless sitar player (Moulin Rouge reference). The profession of being a "Writer" was not in my parents vocabulary. Like all Indian parents, the idealized profession for their kids is: Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer. So hackneyed, so trite, yet it is the norm; so sad. However other occupations that lead to an abundance of wealth, and a "normal" life is acceptable, in example - business person, computer technology, research, etc. As long as you are able to follow the formula- Graduate, Get a Good Job (which pays enough to sustain you, parents, spouse and children, accomplish the following- buy house, car, get kids college educated, paid time off etc.). Cookie cutter houses, cookie cutter lifestyle. Life pattern: set. This is the best and safe route: take it. Best advice ever?
I like being safe, but I don't want the above. I've been searching my whole life, for more than what is presented to us by society, family, media, popular culture... There is more, but it's a risky jump away from my clutches. My family and society have never accepted this route/ idea, it's not safe, we don't know where it will lead, it is unconventional. (Just a tiny insight into my inner struggles with identity, family, cultures, life, and self).
Writing, though many a writers do exist, is still an unconventional career. How will I make it work? I am used to a certain lifestyle. Am I willing to give it up and live below my standards to become that independent yet awesome writer I yearn to be. No one believes I can, but I believe in me. Yet I have been seeking support for years now. That is the path I need to take, when no one has faith, I do, and I go with it. I know people who believe in God know God believes in them and it makes it easier. So I will just have to create my own imaginary being, maybe it's gonna be Higgs.
Writers need time, and space, and that's another lifestyle change most families have a hard time accepting. The aloofness, the quiet, ie. why would someone want to go solo, away from family and friends? Especially for a very chatty/clingy/emotionally dependent family. It is funny cause we start out life as us, and then we mold to our families, and then realize we have to become us again. I always was quiet, shy, introspective, and friendly; somewhere that changed and I became social and chatty, and now I long to revert back to default settings.
I want to write, I can't wait to. My mind is a mess, 29 years of ideas floating around, unharnessed, connecting at points, needs filing and organization so bad. I wish I could hire an assistant to help go into the deep dark cupboards in the back, which has fresh ideas locked away, and bring them to the forefront. I need to grease up my writing hand and pick up a pencil, eraser and sharpener and draw the thought flows down
In the middle of the 29 years of mental story planning and building, a lot happened - personal growth, life, college, education, college English classes, artistic influences, dark times, travels, meeting people from all walks of life, experiences and relationships. All this influenced me tremendously in my blog writings and non- online writings. Especially the "imagination- killer"; I love fiction, fantasy and everything beyond this world, that keep us locked in a so called reality with rules and such (law's of physics, science, religion, politics, civics etc.). This person was so grounded, that he condoned my imagination, that "pretending" was silly. However all thinking is imagining anyway, (later I realized). For a while though my imagination was killed, and I sought to be grounded in reality (which I might say is boring, and can make you age faster than the higgs boson!).
This is my choice. This is what I will do.
I will write.
Breathe
PS: found this when I was researching short life spans (reference, see last paragraph of blog)
Animals with short life spans - http://akorra.com/2010/03/04/top-10-shortest-living-organisms/
This happens to humans when they tune into "Reality" too much.
So what should I write?
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