Entrepreneurship & Storytelling

Spoke about entrepreneurship & storytelling.  

The Alternate World Where I Decide the Rules

Writing is magical. I’ve been a writer for 10 years now. I started out late, which some say is a good thing.

I was in my early thirties stranded on the Howrah railway station, my train ten hours late, and something magical happened at that moment. I don’t know how, but I ended up writing the initial chapters of my first novel. And ever since that day, I’ve been addicted to the power of my own imagination. You should try it too. Just surrender to your thoughts, allow your soul to create good and bad mirror images, make them want or loathe something, and you are all set for a lifetime of adventure and fun.

To my mind, there are only two kinds of writers: those who write very well, and those who write well. It is another matter that many writers don’t sell. That might be a sore point. But you have to ask yourself: what is your motivation to write. If it is money—which is not a bad thing—then writing becomes a job. A job is a job and it comes with its own targets, timelines and earnings etc. But if the motivation to write is to unravel this puzzle called life and get on a trip negotiating thoughts that help demystify people and their actions, then writing takes only one direction: that of pleasure.

At a personal level writing allows me to explore a new world where people don’t just exist, they live, their goals are not imagination, they are possible realities, where emotions are not a burden, but a relief to channelize life itself, where unreal is more real, and where god is a distant aberration who watches over curiously. In short, I’m the legal owner of the alternate world that I choose to create. I call the shots, I decide the rules, I change them halfway, and I cherry-pick the winner, who, by the way, is not always the best guy in your world. It’s this power to create and destroy which makes up my day. I live two realities: the one created by nature, and the other created by me. It’s magical as I said. Do you get the drift?

I like the idea of resetting rights and wrongs, playing with the established norms of the society, twist the ambition of the communities that are obsessed with themselves, challenge basic notion about love, longing, need, choice, identity, and survival. I write urban stories set in contemporary times, dealing with real themes and issues, but also explore the core questions of need and negligence through the matrix of greed, hunger and success as it exists in our civilization today.

Writing has also made me a better reader of life. I can see more, feel more, live more, and share more.  I think ever since I started writing I have become more tolerant and compassionate, and I like the idea of challenging myself. When my own questions target myself, it acts as a booster dose to the magic that I experience everyday as a writer.

Trust me, writing is a magical experience. I have found mine, now it’s your turn.

Bestseller in Crossword bookstore, Ahmedabad

Had a fantastic book promotion tour last weekend at Ahmedabad. Thank you Wordzville writers & Umashanker Yadav of Serene publishers for your wholehearted support & outstanding hospitality. Was overwhelmed to see The Girl Who Loved a Pirate in the bestseller section of Crossword bookstore. Also conducted a Creative Writing Workshop. 

In The Times of India today for Creative Writing Workshop

n The Times of India today for Creative Writing Workshop I'd conducted a few days ago at Amity school, Mayur Vihar. Was impressed by the bright students & their interest in storytelling.

Spoke at the Times Literature Festival (Delhi) & Bangalore Literature Festival

Had lovely time at the 'Times Literature Festival' from 28-30 Nov. Fabulous sessions, great atmosphere & exceptional hospitality. All those who attended my session & bought my books, thank you very much. Here are a few pictures. 

And here is the pciture with Preeti Shenoy, Sujata Parashar & Tuhin Sinha 

After the Delhi Times Literature Festival, I has a session at the wonderfully organised Bangalore Literature Festival on the 6th Dec at hotel Royal Orchid in Indiranagar. Made many new friends & got along really well with a bunch of fantastic authors & readers. Partied hard in the nights too in true Bangalorean style. 

4 Creative Writing Workshops in 7 days

I was fortunate to have been invited by the Madras Christian College in Chennai where I conducted workshops for literature students and the Visual Communication students on 12 Oct 14. On my return to Delhi, I conducted two more workshops.

My Creative Writing Workshops have benefited hundreds of aspiring writers in the last two years. Ever since quitting my job on 1 Jan 2014, I have conducted more than 30 such workshops.

Madras Christian College (Visual Arts department) 

Madras Christian College (Literature department) 

 Delhi Commerce & Arts College

At Le Meridien hotel, New Delhi