Being Grateful

Just got back from holiday and it's time to get back into the writing scheme of things, with a vengeance. However, before I get back on the timer, I have a couple of people who have given me a massive boost in the couple of weeks gone by...

First, a darling cousin of mine mentioned that she was a bit inspired by the blog. That in itself makes you want to carry on and reminds you of your commitment. Geet, thank you.

Second, and it is so hard to start with this one because it is such a privilege, but while I have bumped into one of my favourite writers a couple of times, I actually did interact with him a fair bit and while I do fear getting to know people who I set apart, fear of a bubble burst, there was no such thing. I learnt a lot from him and he is such an inspiration. Rohit Brijnath, thank you.

Also, one of my resolutions for 2012 was to zip up the purse and spend less. Just before the stroke of midnight, on a last-supper-impulse, I purchased a 'write your novel' package online. My last purchase of 2011 and I received it when I got back from my holiday. Five books ranging from time-management, motivation, skill, technique and it is such a rush. So thank you Writers Digest.

Other than that, I have noticed that craft can be worked on. Some of the best writers write better when they have more time. Thinking about a story line, observing details, romancing with each sentence and the play of words is a little more attainable with time, with hard work. Gives us lesser mortals more hope. Time.

I also attended a meeting of budding writers, most attempting a first novel, and that brought to my realisation that procrastination is a huge and wide spreading disease. I'm infected and fighting it. I hope to get better soon.

Quick Returns

It is a lot easier to start afresh every day as far as writing in concerned. Like what you did in school – a blank piece of paper. It doesn’t matter if you are writing in continuation of a chapter, just take off from where you remember stopping, a mere link. This may not be a good idea; it is just what I think. It allows you a fresh tone and fresh ideas that may take a different course from where you left your work today. Plus, it doesn’t seem like you are completing an assignment or task, it frees you from all of it and makes it plain and simply writing. I quite like it.

I also bought myself the much talked about timer and it definitely works. It helps you move along faster, putting yourself out there without much time to rethink as the soft ticking takes over. It also helps you realise that 15 minutes is nothing!

I set it for thirty minutes today and that just got 700 words out of me, but I am guessing it gets better as this is just the beginning. Also, it stops you from procrastination. You procrastinate when there is no set time to a task, not knowing for how long you may sit down to write allows you to weigh it down and push it for later. However, the timer makes it more attainable and when it goes off all you want to do is write more. So you either write or look forward to your next date with it. Try it and let me know what you think… if you aren’t already at it.

The other bit of advice: follow @AdviceToWriters @WritersDigest @Quotes4Writers @Ava_Jae if you are remotely interested in writing or already are a writer. Their daily tweets are inspiring, they say it as it is and some of the tweets also take you on mini-guilt trips. The links and articles posted by them are super helpful.

Keep Writing

The first two chapters are drafted alright. However, that’s what they feel like – raw drafts. I guess the idea is to get the story and characters sorted out first. My second chapter feels like 12 chapters in one as it moves from one incident to another. You take a solid hit in confidence as you doubt your command of the language, your ability to write and if it all is actually worth a novel or merely a string of happenings. Not to worry, I shall let time reveal the daunting answers as I push my way forward.

Read an interesting quote today that’s worth sharing, I think it is by Christopher Hitchens. “Don’t say as a boy your grandmother used to read to you, unless at that stage of her life she really was a boy, in which case you have probably thrown away a better intro.”

It got me in splits on the train and yet, many of us do make such mistakes. Also, it reminds you that many people DO make such mistakes. You are not alone. Keep writing and I am guessing these are things that one must remember on the editing table.

I am currently averaging 3000 words per chapter and don’t think that makes a difference or matters.

RE: PREVIOUS POST ON NAMING CHARACTERS

The joss stick idea failed miserably. I did change one of the names despite all promises. I guess it helped me make up my mind, but I suggest if you go for any such weird solutions to name your characters or finalise names, get it out of the way early on (only if you must). You will eventually go with your instinct and what seems right for the character. I guess it was another form of procrastination. Also, for those of you who dished out advice on names that I should use… that’s out of the window too. Here’s advice that I may not be following, don’t ask others for advice.

Naming Characters

Finalised the names of my main characters and how? I lit a joss stick, placed it STRAIGHT in its holder on a tray, surrounded it with six chits with a combination of names and decided to go with the one that had the most ash on it (in the end). These were of course names that I chose, just a couple of extras floating around. The ashes, all of it, landed on one chit. I shall stick to these names through my first draft and make peace with them until then.

One thing so true about starting off is keeping away from external opinions, another trap that I have fallen into. I had one person insist that if your character is controversial, then he or she needs to have the letter 'R' in his or her name. It represents friction. Clearly.

The other problem is going with names that aren't true to the origins of these characters. In a forward world, where an English person could give their child an Indian name, or an Indian could choose a Muslim name, can you do the same with characters in your book? Not that I am changing my names now, but just curious. I would think you have to justify it at some point. Plus, preconceived notions do paint a picture in a readers mind. Wouldn't it be unusual if you were reading a book about Jane in India and on page 23 realised she is a Punjabi girl with nothing more to it. What do you think?

The next task is to finalise the final draft of my first chapter, if there is such a thing. It is still a draft. Will check-in when that is done.

Getting Started

Nobody said that getting started was easy and I wasn’t expecting it to be a cakewalk. However, it is a little harder than I expected. There are mountain peak highs and then ages of lull. In August 2011, I wrote on a piece of paper “I am going to write my novel and get it published,” as suggested by @WritersDigest. And I started writing. I came up with a rough map of the route my book would take; beginning and end were vague, but present (in my mind). I drafted a couple of chapters and fell into the ‘my-main-characters’-names-suck’ trap. I am still there. So from whizzing through about 5000 words to nothing. Zilch.

I am sure writing during the Jane Austin era was easier, perhaps getting published harder. You take a pen and you write – simple. Today, at least for me, the choices are killing. Should I type or should I write, let me get my blog and twitter in place first, I have won a booker and am autographing books in my head before I even know the names of my characters. In my defence, Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) imaged getting an Oscar when she was about 12. But you see, there are so many distractions – a manicure before typing? Perhaps a burst of colour will inspire me. I once read that ‘fame’ was taking over the idea of ‘going to heaven.’ So true, and it hampers your inner instinct and that raw energy that just wants to write.

The truth is, it is scary. While I do think I am a half-decent writer and everyone has a story to tell and it is a skill you can work on, writing allows you see yourself butt-naked. No matter how slim and hot people may think you are, or no matter how confident you are, you always find something you need to work on. Something that you would want to change. Something that tells you, you are only human.

Now that I have all the frills of twitter, blogging and the manicure out of the way, I am hoping to get back to some serious writing. This blog will keep you posted on my progress and pitfalls. In the meantime, what do you think of revealing a book title before even writing the book? Dangerous or perhaps a form of copyright and branding?