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!

Creativity

How do you cultivate creativity in your life? Have you found the things that make you come alive? Are you doing them? Shouldn’t you be?

Many a times we just get on with our lives seeing a lot of things but not observing. We go on doing the routine stuff unmindful of the beauty surrounding us. What is creativity? I think it is looking at life differently from what is the norm. Discerning it in our own ways. A person can do the most mundane of things and still be creative about it. How do I perceive it, is what matters. I think of myself as a poet. And I try to get about that in a different way. For me, every day experiences help me. Cultivating it comes in from the simplest of things. I might hold a cup of tea and see much beyond the tea or the cup or the handle. That is true creativity for me. I do occasionally end up with temporary writer's block, which is more to do with emotions than words drying up. Somehow, when I do come back out of it, I get more creative.

We only need open our ears and eyes to feel the world come alive for us. Or it might make us come alive. Watching children playing is one good example. Or just watching people is another one. I like to sit on the sidewalks and observe the world pass by me. I conjure up stories about those who interest me. Many a times, I write those down in my mind. I am yet to take to write those down in reality. I have considered that. But my mind is faster than my fingers. So I drift from one thought to other while fingers still discern what is going on!

Yes, my outpourings are in the form of poetry. That is the best way I can deal with my creative thoughts, as of now. It is better for me if personal feelings are omitted out of it. So I keep it that way. One of these days, I might gamble it all for writing a novel, or maybe short stories, for a beginning. I am seriously considering it.

What is your take on it? How do you see it?

belles-lettres-----Sunday Scribblings

Sunday Scribblings prompt is: Tell us what comes up when you think: writing.

What does one say about writing? Any who writes understands the strange compulsion we have, to write. Even when we think that our muse is dead, we want to write, we need to write. We want the words, which are blocked, to pour forth.

Some are born writers. Some learn the ropes. Some writers make use of such words that one needs to check the dictionary after each line. A few others have the aptitude to write simplistically which is understood by most. I think writing should be such that even a non-professional should assimilate it. To get across what we want to say, is very important. Indiscriminate use of obscure words fails in that purpose.

Words are in the blood of a writer. When those fail for any reason whatsoever, it feels as if something is dying. I have had that feeling a few times. To overcome that, I resort to write reviews. Somehow, that loosens up the block and I start penning down poetry again. I have felt words wanting to hammer out of me. Any other writer would understand that state very well.

Every writer wants that his/her work to be read and appreciated. In the blog world, we get instant gratification but our words are forgotten as soon as the next post comes up. Nothing can take the place of a book where we savour the words. We leaf through it repeatedly and wish someday someone would treat our writings the same way.

Touching another aspect, there are books, which help us understand poetry or prose. A few teach us the nuances of writing in a particular style. I read, understand, assimilate and develop my own style. I make use of structured poetry to write about modern contemporary issues.

Currently I am reading A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver, one of my favourite poets.

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For more on writing..