Blog

  • Announcing Season 11 of the annual Creative Writing Mentorship Program

    Join the Creative Writing Course Season 11 by Anita Nair Bengaluru

    Anita’s Attic announces its Season 11 of the annual Creative Writing Mentorship program by Anita Nair, which would be online, and will run from 3 June – 19 August 2023.

    Anita’s Attic Creative Writing Course, run by the acclaimed Indian author Anita Nair, is a highly regarded writing program in India. It was established in 2015, and since then, it has helped numerous aspiring writers to develop their writing skills and achieve their writing goals.

    The course is designed to provide a supportive and stimulating environment for writers to hone their craft. It is open to writers of all levels, from beginners to those with more experience. The program consists of a series of workshops, lectures, and one-on-one mentoring sessions. Each workshop is designed to focus on a specific aspect of writing, such as character development, plot structure, dialogue, and narration.

    One of the most significant advantages of the program is the opportunity for participants to work closely with Anita Nair, who is the course director and lead mentor. Anita is an accomplished writer with several critically acclaimed novels, including “Ladies Coupe,” “Mistress,” and “Eating Wasps.” She is also a highly respected writing coach and has mentored many successful writers. Participants in the program will benefit from her vast experience and knowledge of the craft.

    The program is also distinguished by its focus on building a writing community. Participants will have the opportunity to network and interact with other writers in the program, which can be invaluable in terms of providing support and feedback. The program encourages participants to share their work with each other, which can be both motivating and instructive.

    Another notable feature of the course is its emphasis on helping writers develop their own unique voice. The program encourages participants to explore their own creative impulses and develop a writing style that is authentic and original. This focus on individuality can be especially helpful for writers who are struggling to find their own voice.

    In addition to the workshops and mentoring sessions, the program also provides opportunities for participants to engage with the wider writing community. For example, participants have the opportunity to interact with industry professionals, such as agents and publishers. This exposure can be invaluable for writers who are looking to take their writing to the next level.

    Overall, Anita’s Attic Creative Writing Mentorship program is an exceptional program for writers who are looking to develop their writing skills and achieve their writing goals. It provides a supportive and stimulating environment for writers of all levels, with a focus on building a writing community and developing an authentic writing voice. The program is led by Anita Nair, a highly respected writer and mentor, and participants will benefit greatly from her experience and knowledge. If you are an aspiring writer in India, Anita’s Attic Creative Writing Course is undoubtedly a program worth considering.

    Inquire & Join

  • Creative Writing Mentor | Why does an aspiring writer need a mentor?

    The best creative writing course in Bengaluru offers mentorship by Anita Nair

    Did someone read the ramblings in your personal diary and discover the writer hidden in you? That’s how most writers begin their journey. What next? The pre-requisites for being a writer are reading and writing. But being mentored and understanding the art and craft of creative writing is equally important for an aspiring writer. To put it simply, your creative writing aspirations can benefit immensely with the right creative writing mentor, and a mentorship program in creative writing.

    The benefits that come from attending a Creative writing course serve as a launchpad for your life as a writer. Are you contemplating whether you should or shouldn’t enroll yourself in one? Understanding the takeaways that come from it will help you make a well-informed decision.

    Understanding the nuances

    Knowledge Enrichment

    Like any other discipline, even the art of writing needs to be understood inside out to be able to excel at it. Hence a writing course entails knowledge acquisition, skill set enhancement, and learning new literary techniques. Furthermore, a creative writing course gives you insights into what does and what doesn’t make a story work. And most importantly it makes you master the language which makes you write confidently. A creative writing course is one way of helping you find and develop a voice of your own.

    Creative Writing Mentor Anita Nair

    The Curriculum

    Writing isn’t just writing, it involves ideating, researching, prewriting, writing, editing, publishing, and marketing. A creative writing course takes you through each aspect step by step. It also makes you aware of the different forms of writing that there are and how to present it effectively. Because writing is not restricted to just being inspired, there are several other aspects to it which you discover through a creative writing course.

    It helps you form a writing community of your own

    A writer often feels least understood in a sea of their own words. Working alongside peers helps with identifying and overcoming the struggles that you go through as a writer. It presents you with an opportunity to be mentored by writers who have established themselves. And, receiving and giving feedback makes room for growth and helps a writer understand the nuances of writing. Making and maintaining these connections takes you a long way as a writer.

    Creative Writing Mentor in Bangalore
    Enrolling in Anita's Attic the best creative writing course in Bengaluru fine tunes your mind

    It fine-tunes your mind

    A writer lost in the mumble-jumble of their thoughts gets easily distracted. But a creative writing course ensures that a chunk of your day is dedicated to writing alone. Besides that the course structure and the guidance from the mentors instills in a writer a commitment towards writing. Trying to attain perfection a writer may struggle to actually write, a creative writing course helps you maneuver around this and keep writing.

    Finding the creative writing mentor in Bengaluru

    When you choose Anita Nair as your Creative writing Mentor at Anita’s Attic , it has many advantages:

    • Here we identify, empower, and nurture talent.
    • Applicants are subject to a filtration process prior to enrollment.
    • You will work on a current project of yours in the course of the 12 weeks at the Attic.
    • It covers several aspects of writing like creating a character, how to write a structure for your book, dialogue writing, etc.
    • The journey doesn’t end in 12 weeks, once you’ve finished your manuscript you can send it for feedback and evaluation.
    • You can choose to learn and write a genre that interests you.
    • You will be mentored by one of the best in the industry Anita Nair.
    • You will network and interact with the geniuses in the writing world.
    • If you have a story you will find it here.
    Inquire and Join

  • When a writer falls in love with you, here’s what life looks like

    Have you lost your heart to a writer?  Loving and being loved by a writer is a different experience altogether. It isn’t easy but it’s rewarding. With innumerable thoughts churning in their mind, here’s what life looks like when a writer falls in love with you. 

    1. It adds newness to life

    No two days are ever going to be the same for you. You might walk into a house cluttered with crumpled bits of paper. Or you might sit up until the wee hours of the morning to discuss a story idea. Your partner could break into a happy dance or convince you to do something you never imagined doing.

    2. An imprint of your identity is left behind in their words

    You become your partner’s muse. That occasional love note or the poem on your birthday will indeed make you feel special. A writer being observant in nature notices things about you that might ordinarily escape one’s eyes. The wavy curls of your hair, or the crinkles around your eyes when you smile. Anything and everything about might be a source of inspiration to your writer partner. Your love story will remain as a memory even after you.

    3. You learn a thing or two about resilience

    A writer has been through all of it, the pitfalls and the successes. But one thing that helps a writer sail through these situations – is an undying spirit and hope. This quality of theirs has a positive impact on their relationships. Because come what may your writer partner is going to try to make things work.

    4. Your gestures don’t go unnoticed 

    It is often said that the writer has the memory of an elephant. So don’t be shocked in case your writer partner randomly brings up something you mentioned 6 months back. Most importantly, your acts of kindness and your selfless sacrifices will be thought of with gratitude. But the same policy holds good for the times you inflict pain.

    5. You have found yourself a problem- solver

    A writer has an innate ability to think about situations from every angle. This makes a writer look at things in a rational way. Whether it’s a work-related issue or a family crisis your writer partner with their vivid imagination is sure to give you a solution.

    6. You are going to make sound decisions

    A writer is required to read and watch content as a part of their preparation. As a result of which, a writer gains insights into various kinds of people and their perspectives. Hence, your partner wouldn’t go wrong in assessing a person. If your writer partner offers you advice pay heed to it.

    If you are in love with a writer, your partner is vulnerable and requires space. But with all that said and done, you are going to be loved with an intensity that’s going to turn your life around. Even with their moodiness, and writer’s block, the way a writer loves is special. The world needs more such people don’t you think? Is there a writer hidden in you? You can hone your writing skills at Anita’s Attic.

  • Krupa Ge unravels a writer’s journey

    Season 8’s second session featured the first guest of the Season, Writer & Editor Krupa Ge author of the best-selling “Rivers Remember”, sharing her writing journey and the common pitfalls to avoid as one gets down to serious writing. Thank you Krupa for the fantastic session with Season 8 at Anita’s Attic.

  • Anita’s Attic Season 8 Begins | Going virtual in the midst of the Pandemic

    Anita Nair kickstarted Season 8 of Anita’s Attic. Covid-19 wrecked our original plans and then our plan B. But with the true artist’s indomitable spirit, we re-invented ourselves so we could do what we have always done: mentor writers and nurture good writing.
    Here is a sneak peek of session 1 online. ( And in all honesty, I must admit, it felt like we were all in the same room.
    Here is looking forward to the rest of the sessions with Season 8 writers!

  • Creative Writing Tips – Try these 6 easy & effective ways to record those ideas

    What’s the one thing which transforms the urge to write into actually writing?

    Apart from that stroke of inspiration, it is an idea. It will suddenly spring up in your mind and catch you off-guard. Maybe, while running an errand. Or it could dawn on you while walking your dog in the park. You promised yourself that you would remember what it was. But are you having trouble recalling your idea? Stop berating yourself, a writer’s mind draws inspiration from nothing and everything. Hence, an invaluable writing tip is to record those ideas. In order to record those precious thoughts, you need a full-proof method. Who knows? One of those ideas could turn into a masterpiece for you. Here’s presenting techniques that you could toy around with to devise a method that works for you.
    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    1. A Notebook


    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”]

    [symple_spacing size=”30″]
    Old fangled as it might seem, one of the most common writing tips is to maintain a Notebook. You could partition it into sections or just jot down anything that inspires you in a manner you deem suitable. Take some time to deck up this book, so that it resonates with the things that you stand for as a writer. It could include a quote that inspired you, a line from a book, a journal entry, just a random thought, song lyrics, a dream, a to-do list, or a bucket-list.[/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    2. Bullet Journal

    [/symple_column]
    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”]
    [symple_spacing size=”50″]

    If you’d like to step up and organize your notebook you can always opt to start a bullet journal. It is an excellent way to forecast your plans, record your ideas, track your writing habits, and meet your writing goals. Whether you believe it or not having a bullet journal, notches up productivity, and enhances creativity. But if using a notebook isn’t your preferred method of writing you could always set up a Digital Writers Notebook. [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    3. Voice Recordings

    [/symple_column]
    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”]
    [symple_spacing size=”50″]

    If jotting down your ideas seems tedious, you could always record your thoughts. Those ramblings in your head and those brainstorming sessions with yourself can be recorded here. This process eliminates the distraction of correcting those typos and deciphering your own handwriting later on. It’s easy to implement and listening to your thoughts, later on, gives more clarity.  This exercise even helps in maneuvering around a writer’s block.

    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    4. Pinterest


    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”][symple_spacing size=”40″]
    As a writer, your mind is always on alert mode, even while surfing the internet. You might stumble on an article that could inspire you to create content. But where does one save all these links? You can use Pinterest and create a private board that functions as a storehouse of your ideas. Furthermore, you can create a public board, and share all your writing inputs, such as your blogs, reading recommendations, and techniques.

    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    4. Take a Picture


    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”][symple_spacing size=”20″]

    As a writer, you can use your smartphone to your advantage. Capture pictures of things, instances, and scenarios along the way. You could further save all this in a separate folder. Who knows? Scrolling through these stills could inspire a share-worthy blog post. It is more or less, a gallery of your thoughts. Looking for an idea for your next story? Charge your phone, step out, go for a walk, and capture a picture of the first thing that inspires you.

    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    5. Stash it in your notes

    Creative Writing Tips
    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”][symple_spacing size=”30″]

    The notes feature on your phone is excellent to list down your thoughts. Being glued to our phones all day makes it easy to type that idea. The play store has many note-taking apps with additional features to amplify the note-taking activity. It is convenient to capture that stray thought which springs up in your mind from nowhere. These work as excellent story openings and might also result in the stringing of a sad sonnet.

    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]

    6. Index Cards

    Creative Writing Tips
    [/symple_column]

    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”][symple_spacing size=”=”20″]

    Writing is incomplete without research. Hence, you could use Index Cards to organize your research. To begin with, broadly classify the subject you are writing and researching in categories. For example: – your categories could be the introduction, problem, solution, advantage, and disadvantage for a blog post. You could color code it by using different colored pens or sticky notes. All these little nuggets of information can easily be woven into a blog post.
    [/symple_column]

    Which method are you going to use to record that next idea of yours? One of these could prove to be useful for you. Besides this, if you are looking for writing tips and aspire to become a disciplined writer, sign up for Season 8 of Anita’s Attic, you’ll find it here! Submissions are now open.

  • Covid-19 and its impacts on Reading and Writing

    The Lockdown has shaken up the economy in unforeseen ways. Migrants have been desolately displaced, salaried employees are striving towards attaining job security, and entrepreneurs are struggling to achieve stability. People are getting through day after day with a sense of helplessness. But amid all this misery and strife, there’s a silver lining for writers. Life has presented them with an opportunity to hear their inner voice. Here’s a deeper analysis of Covid-19 and its effect on writers.

    1. Time for Knowledge Acquisition

    The pre-requisite for a writer is to be an avid reader. Wouldn’t you agree? At the beginning of every New Year have you determinedly taken up a reading challenge that you’ve been unsuccessful in finishing? The Lockdown has given writers a chance to complete those long-pending reading lists. This time devoted to reading and introspecting is setting the foundation for new stories. A new genre of literature called  ‘Lockdown Literature’ is taking shape. The few published works born out of this time include Love in the Time of Quarantine, The Day before Today: Lockdown Stories, and Lockdown Liaisons: Leaving and other Stories

    2. Pending Planning Done Now

    In today’s digitized world, pre-planning, editorial calendars, and ideation are the need of the hour. But in our rush to meet the crushing deadlines, this element is somewhere ignored in the process. The Lockdown has given writers the time to research, catalog ideas, forecast, and draw out plans for their brands, books, or blogs.

    3. More people turned to write

    Many people with a flair for creative writing have done nothing about it because of the pressing demands that daily life poses. The Lockdown has spurred up these writers. The deadliness of Covid-19 and the heart-wrenching situation of everyone around us has resulted in many resorting to writing and venting out their pent-up emotions. Celebrities have turned into poets, bloggers are constantly churning pieces to intrigue their readers, authors are creating compelling stories and scriptwriters are coming up with innovative plots. Empathy is easily expressed through writing.

    4. Establishment of Writing Communities

    Publishing houses, writers, and content creators are engaging their followers with various initiatives. There are a growing number of online literature festivals, live storytelling sessions, and writing workshops. Writing cues, writing challenges and poetry contests have a higher level of participation. All of a sudden there is an ever-growing community of writers who are honing their skills in the course of this pandemic. More and more people are making use of the digitized forms of writing like Wattapad, Your Quote, and Mirakee.

    5. More Meaningful Writing

    With everyone abiding by the norms of social distancing, communicating through words is the only way for one to establish connections. Writers are now forced out of their comfort zone to write content that makes a difference. Today, brand strategies are more conscious and stories are more humane.

    6. Reading goes Digital

    As a result of the Lockdown restrictions, E-books, Kindles, and AudioBooks have gained prominence among the readers. While many people weren’t used to this form of reading it has caught on in India.

    All in all, words are a source of comfort. They are therapeutic to a writer and they heal a reader. It’s a source of comfort in these troubled times. Read and write through the pandemic, it will leave behind a sensitive population in its wake.

  • The 4th Anita’s Attic Lecture and Season 7 Graduation | You are invited

    The 4th Anita’s Attic Lecture

    Theodore-BhaskaranThe Annual Attic Lecture Series seeks to celebrate the power of literature and its presence in our lives. Anita’s Attic is proud to present “Nature Writing – The Dimensions” by S. Theodore Baskaran, as this year’s annual Attic Lecture.

    In an illustrious career spanning several decades, S. Theodore Baskaran has written innumerable critically acclaimed articles and books, in both Tamil and English. His second book, The Eye of the Serpent (1996) won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 1997. Mr. Baskaran is an avid conservationist, a former honorary wildlife warden and the South India Representative of the International Primate Protection League. A former trustee of the Indian arm of the World Wildlife Fund, he is a regular contributor on conservation for The Hindu and the Frontline magazine. Mr. Baskaran is also a former Chief Postmaster General for the state of Tamil Nadu.

    The development of literature has closely followed the evolution of civilization. Over the centuries, literature has grown from merely documenting progress to influencing human thought and becoming a harbinger of global change. From education to entertainment, from religion to revolution, literature permeates every aspect of civilization.

    Anita’s Attic – Season 7 Finale

    Join twelve writers, mentored by Anita Nair, as they present their literary work through a performance entitled Under the Purple Sky

    Anita’s Attic, a twelve-week creative writing mentorship program by renowned author Anita Nair, concludes its seventh season with a graduation ceremony and a unique narrative performance based on a post-apocalyptic theme. Twelve budding writers will present their gripping adventures in this eerie world, written especially for this event, at Rangasthala, Rangoli Metro Theatre on Saturday, 31st August, at 5:15 pm.

    The graduating class of 2019 consists of authors, poets and screenwriters spanning multiple genres – from crime, fantasy and literary fiction to the magical world of children’s fiction and the timeless wisdom of Health & Well-being. The writers hail from diverse walks of life, across India and the world. They are driven by one common motive – to produce well-crafted, qualitative and compelling work that gives form to each of their individual, literary ‘voices’.

    The Attic’s graduation event is being partnered by Namma Metro and Bangalore’s famed Rangoli Metro Art Center. The Center has been a long-standing patron of the fine arts and is host to a variety of cultural programs, public installations, and a steady stream of innovative ideas.

    For further details, contact: info@anitasattic.com

  • Season 7 – Roshini Dadlani, Commissioning Editor, PRH, on what Editors look for in a manuscript

    The ancients tell you that it is the first step that is the hardest. But once you make the decision to pursue your dream, the universe will find a way to make it happen.

    Season 7 at Anita’s Attic saw 13 writers from different parts of the country choosing to take that first step and needless to say we are excited to be mentoring these 13 bright writers.

    As part of our association with Penguin Random House, Roshini Dadlani, Commissioning Editor talked to the writers on what editors look for in a manuscript.

    Welcome again Season 7 and thank you Roshini for your valuable insights from the publishing perspective.

  • Creative Writing Tips | Write, write and keep writing

    Go back in time and recall the first time you wrote.

    [symple_spacing size=”20″]
    What led to it? Were you madly in love? Or was it the pain of a parting friend? These overwhelming emotions propelled the writer in you to compress those emotions into words. Re-reading what you put on paper in a matter of minutes opened up possibilities and windows of opportunity for the creative part of your mind, because it gave you the courage to accept that “Hey, I can write”. With the passage of time the magnitude of any emotion reduces, the writer in you flounders around struggling to seek inspiration. Doubt? Despair? Writer’s block? All these misconceptions plague you and leave you wondering “Can I write more?” Combat all of this by following the golden rule of “writing every day.”

    Make writing a ritual

    Like how it is imperative for a bodybuilder to flex those muscles, a writer has to exercise that writing muscle and make writing a daily ritual. Waiting for that moment of inspiration may turn you into a writer who “makes hay when the sun shines”. Writing everyday will bring discipline in your work and make you write with or without inspiration. Practicing this continually will result in your creativity going up several notches.

    Think about it, if your second sonnet was not garnered with the same appreciation as the first one, would that crushing disappointment blinded you? Is it going to be the end of your journey as a writer? Stop wallowing in self-pity, brush aside the fear of rejection and write everyday. You will only get better at it. Do you have a flair for penning poetry but apprehensive about giving that short story a chance? Writing everyday will broaden your horizons and in the journey you may discover that you can write other genres too. In this fast-paced environment it is difficult to still time, look for the appropriate words and simply write. Writing everyday will enhance your vocabulary, help you gain pace and deliver write-ups fast.

    “What do I write about, every day?” This thought alone can be a stumbling block in the practice of writing every day. Mulling what to write about? Look around you, the room you’re sitting in, the walls, the interiors or anything about the room that is fodder for your imagination – simply write. This will train you to write fearlessly, striving to attain perfection will not make you a best-selling author but practicing the craft of writing will certainly prod you in that direction.

    Writing is liberating

    Writing every day, will fine tune your skills as a writer but will lead to holistic improvement in the quality of life. Bottling up resentment, anger or bitter feeling will affect the state of your mind. Writing enables you to vent out all your emotions and leaves you feeling considerably lighter. It is a journey of self discovery that helps bring order in the clutter of life.

    Research says that writing improves mental health and people who write are happier. When one writes of their problems, it brings and gives the much needed strength to deal with unforeseen circumstances. Suffering from long term ailments, it is advised to  engage in expressive writing it will coax the disease out of your system and heal you.

    Not convinced yet? Pull out your notepad and scribble away, either it will nurture your talent or you will live life feeling happier and healthier.