Writing & Learning

Hi there! I am an aspiring writer, teaching myself the craft. I have a million WIPs and I am always on the lookout for a new one. Potterhead for life!

[nonpractisingwriter]

One of MA professors told me 'There will be a time when you will just be done with fiction and will fall in love with non-fiction'. That day I had fought him. (Tbh I still would, because I love the world of made up stories). But he was right on one part. I did fall in love with non-fiction. Not like the stories I read - hard and fast. Much like the non-fiction slow, steady and rational. This book is the almost the 4th consecutive non-fiction I read and man is it wonderful! Heard about this on a podcast and had to read it. Manu Pillai is a fantastic writer but is an even better researcher. Each and every essay in this book is a well researched, extremely well written story that takes you in its own world. Each story is a short lesson not only in the history of the time but also the politics of then and now. There are stories about a warrior princess to who went to London to talk to the queen woman-to-woman, about a lost Italian youngster who came to India and became a Pandit, about a beautiful prostitute who brought the downfall of a kingdom and another about a sexually active queen who saved her kingdom. There are stories about the work of Christian missionaries in India, about the cruelty of the British Raj and the seeds of revolution sown in the depts of factions of the country. Heck there is even a story about the origin of the Babri Masjid/ Ram Mandir issue. Loved this thoroughly! Can't wait to re-read after a few years. Like all non-fiction, having gained more perspective! #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #reader #books #amreading #nonfictionbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CVGQW2at2r8/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nonpractisingwriter]

'What really is love?', one has to ask themselves when put there there is so much hate. When you are constantly subjected to hatred by the media, a lot of times your innate belief in love gets shaken. . And the first place you look at in order to be reassured is your house, your family. And I did exactly that and found all my answers. . In this lockdown my parents have taught me the meaning of true love. they taught me that love does not disappear when all hope is lost, instead it strengthens and thrives. . Love, like wine, gets better as it ages. Read the full article on my blog, I have put the link in bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . . . . . . . #love #writing #writinglife #writinginquarantine #witergram #writer #author #blog #blogger #coffee #tea #reading #read #writinginspiration #writingcommunity #writers #life #love #happycouple #writings #medium #writergram #writerlife #writersofinstagram #article #lovenotes https://www.instagram.com/p/CCyYRB3Aj85/?igshid=qo53pg8o7us3

[nonpractisingwriter]

A cup of black coffee and an open word document at 8 am in the morning, isn't that every writer's dream? . I have been getting that for the past 3 months, and yet the actual progress I have made is minimum. . These 3 months I have spent more time feeling guilty about not writing than actually writing. . Then I realised that I can go slow. I can give myself permission to not do anything. I can give myself permission to take one day at a time and not plan things obsessively. I can give myself permission to write crappy first drafts of articles and then forget about them for weeks. I can give myself permission to just think about my writing/ my characters and call it a day. . All I am saying is...give yourself permission to slow down. Permit yourself to slack. . . . . . . . . #writing #writings #amwriting #writinginquarantine #writinginspiration #inspiration #life #creative #creativeatwork #creativewriting #books #bookstagrammer #writer #writerlife #author #amwriting #blog #blogger #writergram https://www.instagram.com/p/CBzgq78AkJc/?igshid=1n5jpyx6ft9po

[nonpractisingwriter]

The world is at a crossroads today, and we all want to be on the right side of history. But before we post something online, or go for a protest, or donate, or prepare home made meals for migrants, it is time for us all to 'Introspect'. . Khaled Hosseini's writing is just the thing you need to read to push you into instrospection. 'And the Mountains Echoed', is such a wonderful deep dive into human morality, our basic instincts to survive, privilege that some of us enjoy, and the stories of wrongdoing and rightdoings of normal individuals. . His characters are you and me, and people we all might have known or at least met at some point in time. If not ever before, then at least in 2020 all of us at some point have encountered these moral questions. . The question on which side of the field have been this year? . . . . . . . #khaled #khaledhosseini #andthemountainsechoed #book #bookstagram #booklover #read #reading #readersofinstagram #reader #bookstagrammer #booknerd #lockdownlife #lockdowndiaries #lockdownreading #2020 #lockdown2020 #bookreviews #bookrecommendation #bookreview #recommended #introspection #like #follow #followｍe https://www.instagram.com/p/CBZq41JAELn/?igshid=1xef1bt8yu6fi

[nonpractisingwriter]

You know what is the most irritiating thing about this entire month of lockdown? I have no excuse. I have no right to say that I did not get the time. I have all the fucking time in the world to create, to write!

Yes, you are absolutely right. This is a rant by yet another writer who cannot for the love of God seem to create anything in this quarantine.

This one month in solitude, away from all worldly things, without the pressures to travel for work, without an option for going out, to every writer in the world felt like a blessing in disguise. All of us, especially those of us who have a day job, love to say that we absolutely do not have the time and energy to write or create after a day’s work.

And in this lockdown when that one great excuse of ours was taken away from us, writers all over have been destitute. In this past month I have over and over realised how privileged I am to be safe in a house, with all the facilites I need. Basically, the most conducive environment to creating. And in the past whole month all I have done is write and share just one short story. Just one.

I have, like most other writers, three main WIPS, five small WIPS, 1700 ideas and a gazillion vibes that I wish to work on. And yet, I am doing absolutely nothing. Unable to focus, unable to concentrate, unable to create.

The fact that I am effectively wasting the best writing period I will ever get in years is killing me. The fact that I am not working on my projects is eating away at me. But it is not like I haven’t tried. I did what I know best. I made a timetable. I made a to-do list. But day and again I fail to live by it. In a last ditch attempt to focus on my work I even deleted Instagram and Twitter, I thought that would help. But no, that has just been adding to my misery.

Being in the right state of mind does have an impact on writing. I am so not okay right now. I do not have motivation and I certainly am not happy. Yes, I know and I agree that this is a forced lockdown and not a productivity contest. A lot of wonderful, powerful women on the internet have been calming people’s nerves by reminding them that it is not a contest.

But for a person like me, with a full time day job, three side jobs and a lover and family to handle, this is the time of my life. This is that period that will never come back in my life. And yet here I am, not even reaching for a blank page everyday.

So yes, it’s time for you and me to take matters into our own hands. There are a few things I have been doing, and they help me. I hope they help you too.

1. Control your sleep pattern

I realise that these are anarchial times. We do not have a sleeping hour. But that is the first thing I did. All thanks to my mother who does not allow anything, and I mean anything, to disturb our family’s sleep schedule. We sleep early and we wake up early.

2. Journal

@inspiredtowrite I owe this to you. Almost everyday while I have my morning tea, I write down positive reinforcements in my diary. I start off with describing my morning and go on to note down my goals for the day. Smaller goals. Doable things.

3. Do not watch the news

Do not watch the news at any cost. There is nothing but negativity and bad news in the world out there right now. Pray. Pray for the world, but do not watch the news. If like me you are working on something positive it is very likely that your mood will transpire onto your pages. So no news.

4. Set up. Set up. Set up.

Set up your time, your desk, your clothes, your tea/coffee/wine fix, your favourite writing pad and pen. Set it up.

Even after all of this it might feel that you are staring at a blank page. No problem. Write one paragraph. Just a few sentences. Tumblr posts count. Plotting your project counts. Just keep putting one word in front of the other. Even if it is only for one hour a day.

I have been doing this for the past week and I am getting through it. One day at a time. One paragraph at a time.

[thefeelingmoveson]

hi. i made a video about how frustrated i am that i can't create basically

[nonpractisingwriter]

It's just difficult, with this quarantine. And I feel slightly better about the fact that I am not alone in feeling like this. Maybe this will make me feel better for the rest of the day.

[write-on-world]

[nonpractisingwriter]

All day, everyday during this lockdown!

[write-on-world]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Writing Tips And Memes (@writingtipss) on Apr 16, 2020 at 12:20pm PDT

[headspace-hotel]

damn all the badass parts in my novel are gonna be so badass when I get around to writing them

[writerscreed]

I stopped telling myself that I am lost.

Because certainly, I am not.

I’m on a road with no destination to follow,

nothing but endless roads, an endless journey

into somewhere that I never knew existed.

Driving with hope and faith that I’ll reach

the place where once I feel home, a place where

once I feel safe, feel me and.. feel belong.

I am not lost, because I’m on my way.

Semjase 17: 26 pm

[write-on-world]

Source: Writer'sHQ.c.o.uk.

[sleepdeprived-dumbass]

Do you ever just have a breakdown over the fact that there are too many books to read, too many movies to see, too many poems to memorize, too many plays to watch, too many artworks to stare at and that you will never be able to consume all of it or is that just me

[nonpractisingwriter]

All the bloody time

[nonpractisingwriter]

Published my new short story on #Wattpad yay! Go and take a look at it. I am trying to remain positive and make something good out of my #SelfIsolation

[nonpractisingwriter]

When He Found Her Diary

28th March 1995

Trying to make something good out of my #SelfIsolation. Give it a look guys. Also, let me know what you are all doing as your #quarantineactivities.

[onetwofeb]

Ursula K. Le Guin’s writing routine

[nonpractisingwriter]

If only I could practice this

[hollys-writeblr]

Often when creating a protagonist, we writers want our hero to feel directly tied to the conflict of the story. Maybe a group of bandits murdered their family, or your protagonist’s boss is offering a job promotion; this is key for good storytelling. Your protagonist and their entrance into the wider plot must flow smoothly. However, a trope that is the exception to the rule is The Chosen One. The Chosen One’s arrival to the plot doesn’t need to be smooth whatsoever. The chosen one doesn’t need to be affected by the wider plot, perhaps even oblivious. It is up to you as a storyteller. The most common way The Chosen One trope is used in literature is the everyday hero. This is the way it goes:    - Our ordinary protagonist is an ordinary person in your world.    - They are the Chosen by some mystic being or prophecy and are thrust into the conflict of the story. Often the Chosen One and the origins of the everyday hero come hand in hand, but that is another trope.

Why This Trope Appeals to Audiences?

Who wouldn’t want to be the subject of a massive prophecy, for someone to validate all the hardships you have been through, for people to accept you immediately. Why wouldn’t you want to be told that you are more than special? This is what this trope brings to the table. The Chosen One can become a vessel for the audience to experience the same wonder as the character, something that gives us hope that someone will knock on our and ask us on a magical adventure.

Positive and Negative Traits of the Chosen One

Although the trope has many positives, the negative traits can often come to light if not written properly. The trope could potentially become a cliché which always hurt the quality of your piece of storytelling.

If your Chosen One is thrust into the story with no agency or is picked by a higher entity to solve a conflict that doesn’t affect them, ultimately they will become a weak protagonist. A way to make sure that your character isn’t weak is for them to reject their destiny or the inciting event. Make sure it is clear that want nothing to do with the conflict but something changes their mind. Your Chosen One sees what this conflict is doing to their normal world and ultimately want to fix it.

Although The Chosen One can become a cliché, it has many positive traits. The trope easily endears the audience to the character situation, understanding the applied pressure for a prophecy that might be millions of years old. Not only does this serve your protagonist external conflict but also their inner conflict. They might struggle with the responsibility of being the Chosen One. Not only does this provides a connection to the reader it is a relatable struggle in an unrelatable situation.

Subverting the Trope

The Chosen One trope is a useful trope if it isn’t written poorly just like any principle. However, most tropes work the best when they are flipped on their head when they completely catch the reader or audience on surprise. This is the same with The Chosen One. One of the best examples of this is in the Percy Jackson series. Through the first series of novels, Rick Riordan  indicates the death of the main character Percy Jackson in order to save the world. This is however subverted, when Percy wasn’t the one to die at all, rather their friend turned enemy Luke. When I read this as a child, I was completely stunned. The way Riordan heavily pushed the idea of Percy dying made me believe it would happen, that the whole world would die without his sacrifice. This is what I liked to call the False Chosen One. Sure, The Chosen One is still the Chosen One, but an integral part of the prophecy isn’t about them at all.

Another subversion is that the Prophecy of The Chosen One is false, that it was all fake, maybe a part of a scheme to ultimately hurt those doing good. These, obviously, can be a downer but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective. Sometimes this subversion can promote the theme that you should be in control of your own destiny and to question authority, even if people feel uncomfortable with it.

There are so many more subversions of this trope that it would take another post to cover the majority of them.

Extra Notes

The Chosen One is really over used. Like a lot. Honestly, I am a bit bored of the trope, however it is the good idea to use it against the audience and that’s why I am so happy when it is subverted. If you remember any examples of this trope and it being subverted and you would like to discuss it will me, please do! 

[nonpractisingwriter]

5 days into 2020 I have already fucked up my writing goals!