Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meme. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

A Writer's Meme

Write On Wednesday

Thanks Becca, for the meme.

What’s your favourite genre of writing?

In one word, I would say "poetry." But I also venture out for short prose pieces which are stream of consciousness one. I think more of Kafka whose writing is filled with symbolism too, instead of Woolf. Frankly I did not like Mrs Dalloway much. Marquez too is a master of both. The day I stop looking at the larger image, I will forfeit my creativity. Only when one looks at the bigger picture, one can attain some semblance into their writings and hence their lives.

No piece of writing is literal unless it is a newspaper report or translations of other's works. Even then one can read between the lines and interpret it in their own ways. I try to look at the less obvious ones, which are not understood by most. I find that certain journalists lack imagination when interpreting a creative work. They take it too literal or figuratve. For those, my message is: Grow out of it.

How often do you get writer’s block?

To this I would say, "whats that?" When I can't write poetry, I resort to writing book reviews which keeps the mind very open and receptive to outward sounds.

How do you fix it?

As I said before, by reading and writing book reviews. That way my tryst with writing never stops. And keeps my creative juices flowing.

Do you type or write by hand?

I used to write long hand but now I type directly into my PC. Saves time.

Do you save everything you write?

Yes and no. I save it all in the net world. Some hidden, some for all to see.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?

Yes, I have. Initially I never edited anything or tried to improve on my writings. Now I do because I have understood that editing is just as important as creating. It can make or mar one's work.

Do you have a constructive critic?

No, I don't have. I wish for it.

Did you ever write a novel?

I started a novel but never got around after 7000 odd words. Someday I will.

What genre would you love to write but haven’t?

Fantasy, magical realism, symbolic..these cover a whole range.

What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will?

Paranormal. It puts me off. And self-help books too. I am no one to tell others how to lead their lives.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?

As I write only for myself, I would say none. Someday I mean to. I have been told that I write very well. So I ought to publish my work. I know my language skills are good but one still needs to hone up, no matter. Arrogance pulls us down.

Do you write for a living?

No.

Do you want to?

Yes I do. Who doesn't? But for that I need to be a much better writer than what I am right now. Yes, trash gets sold more easily. However, I don't really go for it.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?

Yes, once I wrote a limerick for Valentine's day, which got published in a very well known Women's Magazine, Femina. But the lazy bum that I am, I did not send any more despite gettings mails from the editor.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?

No. NOT YET! *grin*

What are your five favourite words?

aeon: It somehow takes me to another land

semblance: I wish my life to be more orderly

lexicon: For obvious reasons!

gamut: It contains a whole range!

thoughts: Nothing can be as fertile as the mind!

Do you ever write based on your dreams?

Yes, I have. I do. Sometimes dreams contain our deepest desires and the symbolic part is very important to me. I am no analyst, neither do I wish to be one. I only wish to write about those. Thats it.

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?

For a voracious reader, anything works. I like loose ends too, which are open for interpretations. I write the same way.

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen?

Yes, of course. I love ecphrasis poetry. Looking at those artwork, one can entwine words with those. Interpreting any art work in poetry takes a lot of imagination and I enjoy doing it. Dali is a special one here. I have written lots of poetry based on his work.


Thursday, August 21, 2008

Writing style meme

1. Do you write fiction or non-fiction? Or both?

I write almost anything. My fictional posts are based on real life situations. Although my poetry is generic, they too border on personal feelings. To put it briefly, I can write almost anything.

2. Do you keep a journal or a writing notebook?

I do have a journal where I jot down my observations. I also write poetry if something suddenly strikes my mind. However, nowadays my PC is more my journal!

3. If you write fiction, do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing? Do you find books on plotting useful or harmful?

As I write short pieces of fiction, I don't really need to develop my characters. However, sometimes what I have in my mind might turn out complete in my writing. It depends how the piece forms.

4. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?

Both are true for me. Sometimes, I get the itch to write down as I can't settle if I don't do so. At others, I do keep putting it off! I am trying to inculcate the habit of sitting down and write everyday, no matter what.

5. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time? .

This too depends. I can write for long periods or not at all. Or maybe in short bursts. But when the feeling strikes, one has to sit down and write. Nonetheless, I have felt bored writing for longer periods. I do need breaks in between.

6. Are you a morning or afternoon writer?

I can write at anytime. I am an evening person but for the reason, I work in the day!

7. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?

It does not matter if there is noise, music or any other distractions. I can close myself in and write away to glory at any place.

8. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?)

Long hand, and on computer.

9. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One? Or do you let the story evolve as you write?

No, I definitely do not know the ending when I start writing. It simply goes with the flow. Many a times, it has ended in a complete different way from what I had intended.

10. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?

Not much. If I did, I would be writing porn, which sells!

11. Editing/Revision - love it or hate it?

I truly hate editing/revision. Once I write/finish anything, I want to move on to the next. I might came back later, much later to revise it!

Friday, February 08, 2008

10 to 10---I did 11!

I have been tagged by Juliet Wilson for this. The idea is to do ten verses about me, and then issue the challenge to ten others. As it about writing poetry, I decided to do the meme. This is not in any particular order. Here I take Option Three: Pick Three of Cafe Writing February Project. Pick any three words from: astonished, conclusion, drown, gilded, hands, magnify, snow, time. Also for [Fiction] Friday Challenge: Flip a coin. Heads, and your characters hates Valentine's Day, Tails, and they love it. Now come up with the reason your character feels the way they do.

rock music playing loudly, I drown-
synchronising my steps,
my fingers tap furiously on the keyboard-

I write my dancing thoughts,
giving it a semblance of order
magnified in the form of poetry.

mathematics equates to my line of work
where I interact with children-
goggle eyed to receive knowledge.

green earth attracts, soothes-
earthy browns, mustard yellows
willow in my mind’s vision.

internal dialogues are nothing new
for me. I resolve my problems talking to
myself out of it or into it.

smell of books draw me into a world
so very different from my own-
teaching me so much while doing so.

holding a cup of tea, I savour that aroma-
indulging myself with many a cup
filled with antioxidants, over the day.

my finger rings reflect the rays of the sun-
my only weakness in jewellery;
no other embellishments interest me.

loose tees, many pocketed cargos along
with snickers, is my favourite attire-
comfort being the keyword always.
withdrawing into myself, I like being alone
in my own skin. loneliness is a word
which is not there in my dictionary

spewing disapproval on vulgar display
of love, it matters not a fig, flipping coin
may go either way for valentine!

conclusion in a nutshell is that I lead
a pretty normal, boring life-
wishing for scandals in abundance.

Now the tagging bit! Instead of 10, I am tagging 11!

Catherine,

chris sapp,
Don Iannone,
dnake1,
floots,
ghost particle,
ozymandiaz,
steve
square1,
tammy,
tumblewords

All my poet/non-poet friends are welcome to do the meme. Remember, you have to write ten things about yourself in verse form!

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Introducing myself by the way of poetry---3WW



Bridge, Disturbed, Still

sb poet of watermark fame wants us to introduce ourselves. In the way of poetry. No, not by writing poetry. That I will do in another post for which I was tagged. I have taken her questions too. Please do introduce yourself here or on your blog. Just don't forget to link back here or to sbpoet! You can change these questions or make your own.

  • Do you read poems?
  • If no, why not?
  • Do you write poems?
  • If yes, whatever for?
  • What, for you, makes a poem a good poem?
Do you read poems?

Yes, of course I read poetry. I read all the older as well as newer poets, Shakespeare, Wordsmith, Keats, Byron, Browning, Burns, Frost, Yeats, Syvia Plath (Some may get disturbed reading Plath but her words carry a lot of power), Dorothy Parker, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, Charles Simic to name only a few.

Do you write poems?
If yes, whatever for?

Yes, I do. All the time. I taught myself to write it. Why do I write it? To give an outlet to my creativity, I take up a lot of social issues in my poetry. I give vent to my feelings. I express myself via poetry. Poetry helps me understand myself. Poetry can bridge the gap left by emotional upheaval, in our heart and soul. It gives me a certain direction. There is some compulsion to write it down. Sometimes it gushes out. Others, I make myself write it. Many times what I intended to write flows in another direction. I seldom write intensly personal poetry. Or love poetry. Still, reading poetry is more pleasurable than writing it down.

What, for you, makes a poem a
good poem?

That which moves me deeply, creates vivid images in my mind, is well worded, conveys by speaking out to me. Understanding the poem is important. Using words, which don't make sense fails in the very purpose of poetry writing. Symbolism too should be such which touches our very soul. I like both simple poetry as well as complicated ones.

What puts you off while reading poems ? Online or otherwise?

I will take online poetry. Most are written instantly and are really good. However, I am put off by misspellings and bad or improper usage of punctuations. (*Update: I corrected it here. I think it distracted people from talking about what I wrote before.)


Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas for a Hindu----3WW



Curious
Eventually
Shower

I have been tagged by Smiler to do the Hoopla!

The Rules of the Hoopla
1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as ‘hoopla’ and not the dreaded ‘m’-word.
3. You have to specifically tag people when you are done. None of this “if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged” stuff is allowed…then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you — but the more, the merrier to get this ‘hoopla’ circulating through the Blog-o-sphere.
4. Don't forget to link back to the person who tagged you.
5. Please try to do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it.

Here I go combining the 3WW too!

# When I was younger, I wished to learn more about Christmas. Eventually, my mom told me all about it. She was brought up in a place where there were many Christian Missionaries and she had many Christian friends. She even possessed a very old Bible, which now belongs to me. She gave it to me long to me back.

# I love plum cakes with lots of nuts. I always get it for Christmas.

# I do go out on Christmas day. Just to hang out or window-shopping.

# I like playing Santa for my nephews and nieces. They give me broad hints what gifts they wish for and I get all those gifts which their parents will not buy for them! I shower my love by spoiling them rotten!

# I get a small artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with tiny stars. My mom too helps me.

# In 2001, we celebrated Christmas in Nainital. My dad was alive then. We had gone there for a holiday and it was truly fun. I cherish those memories.

# Our winter break of ten days starts from Christmas, so we look forward to it!

# Once I did go and attend the Mass, as I was curious. I really enjoyed the experience. .

# I like listening to Christmas songs and read Christmas books!

# Since I started blogging, the Christmas spirit truly gets into me. Reading about other people’s traditions teaches me so much.

# One more thing I look forward towards this season is that most of my friends who are staying overseas come to visit India. This is the best time of the year to visit!

# Christmas means family re-unions. I like that aspect of it too. I do try to catch up with family. We all go out together for lunch or dinner.

# I still have a Christmas card I received from one of my naughtiest students 16 years back. It is handmade and therefore priceless!

Now to tag a few for this Hoopla! In alphabetical order!

Bone
Brian
Don Iannone
dsnake1
floots
homo escapeons
polona
sage
Steve
tikkis
trinitystar
tumblewords
within without

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Thinking Bloggers Award




I came to know of my nomination for thinking bloggers award through technorati search engine. I was nominated by Jennifer on her blog post here on 14thApril, 2007.

She read my post, Papa's little girl and nominated me. I am honoured to be nominated.

Next part is to nominate 5 more bloggers who make me think. There are many on my blogroll who make me think and to short list those to five is not easy.
I am doing so in no particular order here.

1. homo escapeons: His blog has all the ingredients from tom-foolery to serious stuff. His use of vocabulary is exemplary. I think some of his invented words should get to the lexicon...:D. One thinking blog, I must say.

2. Poefrica: this is a poetry site about African poetry and African life. It gives me insights into Africa and indeed makes me think.

3. Paul Martin: This one is on spirituality, a must read. Any one from any religion is welcome to participate in his site and give inputs. Do go there and check it out.

4. Lotus reads: A blog about book reviewing. She does it very well. And one gets to know about new books from her site.

5. Sage: His blog is interesting. He reviews books and movies. Writes great travelogues and posts great pictures too. His has a great insight on human beings and brings them to life for all of us by his words. Another thing, he writes poetry too.

There are many others. I would like to mention them here. Floots, Don Iannone, Pat Paulk, J. Andrew Lockhart and enemy of the republic. To name only a few.

Finally, should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging. I thought it would be appropriate to include them with the meme. The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.

2. Link to this post to www.thethinkingblog.com so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.

3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).That was that! Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking! It is the first time I am starting something with my blog so I hope it doesn't come back to haunt me.