Where to find inspiration for writing.
So the Hyderabad litfest and the Times of India litfest at Bangalore, both went off fabulously well.
Here is a pic from the Hyderabad litfest. I was in conversation with Milan Vohra and Ratna Rao.
I was told that our session rocked :) It was crackling, sparkling and there was a lot of interaction! :) We spoke about 'Love in the times of Google' and I read out relevant passages from my new book. We spoke about partners sharing passwords, about emotional infidelity, about the use of Internet in making new connections and how our social lives have changed because of invasion of technology.
Those in Delhi, I am coming to your city! I will be in Delhi on 6th Feb and in Gurgaon on 7th Feb. I shall put up the invites on my Facebook page.
(And yes, we will be talking about Love in Times of Google. I will be in conversation with Vinita Nangia Senior Editor, Times of India in New Delhi and with Anuja Chauhan ( Author of books like Zoya factor, Those pricey Thakur girls) in Gurgaon. )
At most of these events, I get asked over and over again--"Where do you get your inspiration from?"
Honest answer to that would be I don't know. I can find inspiration from anything! I can find inspiration from a dried leaf that is now dead and decaying.(Like this poem I wrote). I can get inspiration from something as mundane as a pressure cooker whistling. (I can think of at least ten stories that involve a pressure cooker, even as I type!). I can get inspiration from a beautiful sunset. I can get inspiration from a sentence that someone uttered. I can get inspiration from a single word. I can get inspiration from something I read in the news, from an incident that occurred or didn't occur, from a noisy or a nosy or a nice neighbor, from a young lad waiting on tables in a restaurant, from an abandoned pet, from a bird that perches on my balcony every day, from a squirrel---from anything really.
And that is the truth.
Perhaps the people who ask these questions want to know where I get the ideas from. (I make them up, inside my head! My mind is a very busy place). Perhaps they want to write too. I don't know.
If you want to write, the best way would be to start to read. Read, read and read. Make your reading wide and varied. Read everything you can lay your hands on. And then write. Write about anything. Write about everything. Write about nothing. But write.
That's the only way to become a writer! :)
Will blog again soon. I have some urgent personal work to take care of.
But that won't stop me from blogging.
Till the next post, be cheerful and keep smiling. Remember to count your blessings and be grateful for them.
Life isn't that bad too! :)
_________________________________________________________
Buy my books in India
Buy my books outside India
Here is a pic from the Hyderabad litfest. I was in conversation with Milan Vohra and Ratna Rao.
And here is a picture from the Bangalore Times of India litfest, where I was in conversation with Vaishali Mathur, senior commissioning editor, Penguin India.
I was told that our session rocked :) It was crackling, sparkling and there was a lot of interaction! :) We spoke about 'Love in the times of Google' and I read out relevant passages from my new book. We spoke about partners sharing passwords, about emotional infidelity, about the use of Internet in making new connections and how our social lives have changed because of invasion of technology.
Those in Delhi, I am coming to your city! I will be in Delhi on 6th Feb and in Gurgaon on 7th Feb. I shall put up the invites on my Facebook page.
(And yes, we will be talking about Love in Times of Google. I will be in conversation with Vinita Nangia Senior Editor, Times of India in New Delhi and with Anuja Chauhan ( Author of books like Zoya factor, Those pricey Thakur girls) in Gurgaon. )
At most of these events, I get asked over and over again--"Where do you get your inspiration from?"
Honest answer to that would be I don't know. I can find inspiration from anything! I can find inspiration from a dried leaf that is now dead and decaying.(Like this poem I wrote). I can get inspiration from something as mundane as a pressure cooker whistling. (I can think of at least ten stories that involve a pressure cooker, even as I type!). I can get inspiration from a beautiful sunset. I can get inspiration from a sentence that someone uttered. I can get inspiration from a single word. I can get inspiration from something I read in the news, from an incident that occurred or didn't occur, from a noisy or a nosy or a nice neighbor, from a young lad waiting on tables in a restaurant, from an abandoned pet, from a bird that perches on my balcony every day, from a squirrel---from anything really.
And that is the truth.
Perhaps the people who ask these questions want to know where I get the ideas from. (I make them up, inside my head! My mind is a very busy place). Perhaps they want to write too. I don't know.
If you want to write, the best way would be to start to read. Read, read and read. Make your reading wide and varied. Read everything you can lay your hands on. And then write. Write about anything. Write about everything. Write about nothing. But write.
That's the only way to become a writer! :)
Will blog again soon. I have some urgent personal work to take care of.
But that won't stop me from blogging.
Till the next post, be cheerful and keep smiling. Remember to count your blessings and be grateful for them.
Life isn't that bad too! :)
_________________________________________________________
Buy my books in India
Buy my books outside India
Write about everything. Write about nothing. But write // One of your advice that I always follow :)
ReplyDeleteUseful advice ,Preeti.
ReplyDeletetrue , inspiration can be from anything & everything , do you have videos or you tube link of the literary fests ?
ReplyDeleteInspired a lot by your inspiration from anything.yet i loved the inspiration from dead leaf
ReplyDeleteVery true mam.Got my brand new copy of Touch my bde gift ...:) Cant wait to read it but has as exams here.Keep writing mam n keep inspiring us..:)
ReplyDeleteMam when you coming to mumbai with Love in Times of Google .please let us know here or on your fb page.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. :) The inspiration is there. But sometimes before we can put that inspiration into words something happens and the inspiration dies down! :(
ReplyDeletePlease do come to Mumbai @ once...! We are definitely a nice audience, who are love with your work..!
ReplyDeleteHope to see you soon :)
Recently I got to know about you! I went through your recent novels and Awesome response. Soon, am going to grab ''The One you can not have''
ReplyDeleteYour writing shows the beautiful You from within :-)
Lots of love and wishes!
Happy writing ...
Sim!
P.S- Please visit my blog and read my poems when you get time. I'll be really happy :)
When our you visiting my city Mumbai :-|
ReplyDeleteMaam, I have been reading your works for over 5 years now, probably my first comment here. I can simply say when the days dull, when i am feelin sad...i simply remember your blog to read...and then i don't feel soooo bad :-)
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog constantly, mam... Its been inspiring for me.. Plz keep writing.. I dont follow FB.. so it will be a privilege to get connected with you trough this blog.. Do reply mam, Plz..
ReplyDeleteHey Preeti,
ReplyDeleteI lovingly refer to you as my Wikipedia for feelings. I was and am still amazed how the words you write feels so true and bang on the point..Its like If I am unable to express a thought or feeling, I refer to your blogs and books.. and every other time I find exactly what my thoughts would like to be expressed as.
Keep writing.. Your words are truly food for soul... Love ya.. Muaah.. =) =)