Blog

  • Chemmannore Renooj Jacob

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

    [/symple_column]
    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”]
    I am : A work in progress

    Presently biding my time : : Writing my debut book which is a collection of poems, through which I narrate the story of a woman.

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Being a writer

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from June 30 to September 15, 2018

    [/symple_column]

    About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program

    Getting handpicked by Anita Nair was one of the high point’s in my life. The program helped me to identify the style of writing I was good at and the genre that I could focus on. The Saturday classes and the weekly assignments hones your writing skills and helps to craft one’s work better.

    Renn’s Bio

    Renn consults as an IP Strategist for a top 5 IP law firm of India. His earlier boutique IP firm which he founded was acquired by the IP law firm where he currently consults. He has done his EPGBM from IIM, Calcutta and has a Masters and Bachelors in Engineering.

  • Lavanya Srihari

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

    [symple_social icon=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavanya-srihari-a305406/” title=”Follow Me” target=”self” rel=””]

    [/symple_column]
    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”]
    I am : A bookworm addicted to the smell of libraries and book shops, a closet writer (so far), an experiential cook, a fan of quirky movies, a believer in lounging, sauntering and other such forms of exercise, an incorrigible chatterer who loves solitude equally, an admirer of trees and their persistence in the face of human stupidity

    Presently biding my time : : Doing what needs to be done while walking a parallel universe of ideas and words in my head

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Telling stories well and writing amazing prose

    As good as: This mad, bad, sad, glad, good, horrendous, marvellous world we live in! or Schrodinger’s Cat!

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from June 30 to September 15, 2018

    [/symple_column]

    About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program

    I enjoyed being a part of this program. Anita, in her own words, is a taskmaster. She has taught us the importance of self-discipline. Her knack of breaking down difficult things and fears to manageable daily activities is liberating. A problematic mountain often becomes an easily scalable hill after a session with her!

    Her weekly critiques of my writing boosted my confidence tremendously and showed me where I can do better. I have gone from a solitary secret scribbler to one who dreams of being a published writer eventually!

    I loved these Saturdays where I could spend time with others who share a passion for writing. I am fortunate to have met and shared this journey with so many warm friendly intelligent and supportive people.

  • Sandhya Ranganathan

    [symple_column size=”one-third” position=”first” fade_in=”false”]
    Sandhya-Ranganathan-Anitas-Attic-Bio
    [symple_social icon=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandhya7/” title=”Follow Me” target=”self” rel=””]

    [symple_social icon=”facebook” url=”https://www.facebook.com/sandhya.varnika” title=”Follow Me” target=”self” rel=””]

    [/symple_column]
    [symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”]
    I am : A dreamer, a writer, a globetrotter

    Presently biding my time : Trying to write 400 words a day between a full-time technical communications career and being Mom to my eight-year old human child and three feline ones.

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Being a published author. My recurring dream since childhood

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from June 30 to September 15, 2018

    My Website : www.varnika.co

    Recent Published Work : Mia finds a home

    [/symple_column]

    About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program

    It took me ten years to complete my first (as yet unpublished) fiction novel. Ten years of trying to eke out a writing discipline between life events, learning the craft by trial and error and ultimately not having the confidence that I was good enough.

    I wanted to do it differently for my second book. So I joined Anita’s program and it has been a dramatically different experience. I got into a cadence of writing, and received real-time tips, feedback and encouragement. It was wonderful to meet fellow writers and others in the publishing industry week after week. I didn’t want it to end. I wish I had this opportunity ten years ago. If you get the chance, grab it.

    Sandhya’s Bio

    Sandhya is a Graduate in English Literature from Lucknow University and has done her Advanced Masters in Global Management. She currently works as a Section Head in Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Knowledge Management division. She is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. That has driven her over three decade global career as a leader, a coach, and champion of inclusion and diversity. After she staggers home from work, she enjoys pottering around her home and garden in Bangalore with the aforementioned babies.

  • Season 6 – A Cricketer turned Writer comes to the Attic

    Very often writers wonder where do other writers come from. What did they do before they decided to write a book? What was that epiphany that led them towards a literary life? And what were the challenges? Who better than long time friend of the Attic and first class cricketer Harimohan Paruvu to dispel doubts and worries and fill Season 6 writers with the fortitude for the way ahead. Author of books such as The Men Within by Harimohan Paruvu ( novel) and 50 Not out ( leadership book) Harimohan, once fast bowler now man of letters left the Season 6 writers clean bowled. Thank you…

    About Harimohan Paruvu 

    Harimohan Paruvu (born on 14 August, 1967) is an Indian author, former cricketer, columnist, screenwriter and motivational speaker, known for his English language books centered on the game of Cricket.

  • Season 6- Anitas’s Attic family welcomes Penguin Random House.

    In May this year Anita’s Attic acquired a new knowledge associate – Penguin Random House India. So it was with immense pleasure we welcomed PRH Editor-in-Chief Meru Gokhale and Tarini Uppal, Editor, to share publishing and editorial insights with Anita’s Attic writers, past and present. Thank you Meru, Tarini and PRH for gracing the session with your presence.

    About Penguin Random House:

    Penguin Random House India knows the market,understands new forms and styles of literature in India,and is a subsidiary of the well established and well respected global publishing house, Penguin Random House.

  • Season 6 – Harper Collins offers insights about editing and publishing

    A good piece of writing makes that quantum leap to literary worthiness if an inspired editor can help the writer make that jump.
    You have that manuscript ready, but how do you turn it into a novel? It is going to go through a series of edits before completion. Hence for session 4 our writers at Anita’s Attic had the wonderful opportunity of hearing three fine editors share their acumen and offer invaluable advice. Thank you Udayan Mitra, Sohini Basak and Rahul Soni from HarperCollins India for dropping into the Attic and taking the writers through the publishing process.

    About Harper Collins India

    HarperCollins Publishers India Pvt Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of HarperCollins Worldwide and came into being in 1992 completing 25 years in India and almost 200 years globally. HarperCollins India is the world’s largest entertainment to education publisher.

  • Season 6 – Jayapriya Vasudevan speaks about pitching a book

    Session 3, gave our writers an insight into the functioning of the literary world. Having visited writers from all our batches ace literary agent and a friend of Anita’s Attic:– Jayapriya Vasudevan from Jacarnada Literacy agent has been ever so kind to join us yet again in season 6. She shared with our writers the much needed understanding about what it takes to bridge the gap between what publishers seek and what writers must know.

    As always, having Jayapriya as a guest speaker for the day was a delightful experience. The session steered the writers on the various aspects that come with pitching a book, drafting a book proposal and explaining the etiquette of a pitch to calibrating response times.

    Thank you Jayapriya, for being a guiding light and showing these aspiring writers the first step towards climbing the rainbow of literary worthiness.

    About JayapriyaVasudevan

    Jayapriya Vasudevan has more than twenty years experience of working in publishing, during which time she has worked in virtually every area of the business. From editing and event management to sales and distribution, she has ‘done it all.’

  • Season 6- Kalyanaraman Durgadas describes his recipe to success

    At Anita’s Attic the guest speakers are invited keeping in mind the interests of the group. With our Season 6 batch comprising mostly of fiction writers, it was befitting to invite Kalyanaraman Durgdas whose debut novel left in its wake a magical run of readers, reviews and commendations.

    We are ever so thankful to you Kalyan for being a friend of Anita’s Attic and sharing with our writers anecdotes from your journey with Songs Of The Cauvery.

    About Kalyanaraman Durgdas 

    Kalyanaraman Durgadas is an alumnus of both IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta, and has been an entrepreneur. He has written and produced plays. He currently lives in Bangalore. Songs of the Cauvery is his first novel.

  • Anita’s Attic Season 6 begins | In association with Penguin Books

    Thus began Season 6 at Anita’s Attic in association with Penguin Books.

    We embark on this journey spanning across 12 weeks with 12 authors coming with 12 diverse thought streams to churn out 12 stories. We wait in pleasant anticipation for this exciting journey to unfold.

     

  • The journey to Anita’s Attic | An alumnus fondly remembers

    [symple_box color=”blue” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Sonakshi Kandhari, from Season 5 of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing Course & Mentorship program fondly recalls her ‘moment of truth’ from her discovery to being a part of the class at the Attic.[/symple_box]
     
    Sonakshi--D-Kandhari-Writers-Profile-Anitas-AtticDismally hitting backspace on your Word document, you wondered “Am I suffering the proverbial writer’s block?” You began researching writing tips and stumbled upon Anita’s Attic, a creative writing mentorship program for anyone who wants to learn the writing process. Admissions were round the corner and the selection criterion was a 400-word write-up. You switched off your laptop and busied yourself with the day’s chores. The tagline “You will find it here!” was the ear-worm of the day. The voice in your head urged you to give the write- up a shot and the result left you pleasantly surprised. You mustered the courage and finally submitted the write-up.

    Frantically waiting for a response, your heart skipped a beat when your phone flashed with a new mail from info@anitasattic.com. With heady disbelief, you kept re-reading “Congratulations on being handpicked by Anita Nair for the Anita’s Attic Creative Writing Course Mentorship Program.”

    Countdown to the Attic

    After overcoming the initial euphoria, unwanted thoughts threatened to burst the bubble. In the bleakest of moments you wondered, “How will I keep up?”, “Have I been doing the right thing all along?” and worst of the lot, “Do I have it in me to be a writer?” All I can say is, shed aside these inhibitions and wait with pleasant anticipation for the sessions to unfold.

    Haven’t you always yearned for a confidante to discuss story ideas? Anita becomes that and more. On a blank parchment, pen down probable story ideas and let your subconscious guide you to the most relevant one. Your ideas will now receive the able guidance of Anita Nair. Listen in carefully, that Word document saved in your laptop possibly could wind up in a publishing house.

    To prep up, perhaps you could look back at the reading list and get some reading done. The best way to understand the craft of writing is to study it.Browsing through the achievements of the previous batches on the website will give you the much needed confidence. What are you waiting for? Encircle the date on the calendar and get set to go to the Attic.

    On the other side of Anita’s Attic

    Are you curious to know what awaits you? Anita is equally eager, waiting to welcome you into her world. As a writer you are suddenly struck by inspiration but what do you do otherwise? Anita’s sessions will help structure your fragmented thoughts find its groove and write seamlessly. Thriving in a community of peers who are unified by the the love for writing and being nurtured by Anita’s mentorship would be the one definitive step to nudge you towards taking up writing professionally.

    Here is wishing you all the delight and hardwork the Creative Writing program will bring you at Anita’s Attic.