Blog

  • Sathya RG ‘s book “It’s a Mom Thing” by Rupa Publications is now on stands !

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    Anita’s Attic Alumni Sathya RG ( Season 1) ‘s new book
    “It’s a Mom Thing” is now out on stands and for
    purchase online at Amazon.

    Anita Nair had this to say of Sathya’s momentous achievement, “I often tell my writers at the Attic that what turns a writer into a published author is a sense of purpose and an inner resilience. Right from the beginning Season 1 writer Sathya Ramaganapathy had that clarity of vision and a sharp sense of focus. Not to mention the fact that the book she was working on was deliciously funny, insightful and totally kick-ass.”

    What could be a prouder moment for us than this!

    Congratulations Sathya!

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    Dreaming of becoming a published writer?

    Inquire and join our next season.

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  • Getting creative with writing | Writing it Right is the Key

    Writing is sacred to a writer. The hours you spend writing is a time of contemplation and a journey of self discovery. As a writer you may be intimidated by innumerable fears. From a blank document to the seeping fear of inadequacy, your mind is in a state of turmoil more often than not. Writing, like any other craft needs practice and discipline. Here are a couple of things that could aid you in the process.

    A Time and Space for Writing

    Writing is personal and doing it in solitude yields better results. In your daily allowance of 24 hours, dedicate a fixed portion of it wholly to writing. Either at the crack of dawn in the company of chirping birds or in the stillness of the moonlit night. At what hour do your creative juices flow ? Set up a space to write, declutter it and place all the things that inspire and comfort you. Tick marking these two things on your to-do list will help in setting your daily writing routine in place.

    A Way to Focus

    Another challenge to overcome while writing is taming your brain. The human brain scampers in all directions disrupting ordinary trails of thought. Popular writer Robin Sharma suggests a simple technique to ensure razor sharp focus while writing. He suggests to keep a blank sheet of paper, and each time you lose focus make a check-mark. A heightened awareness will rid you of this problem and increase concentration.

    It pays to be Social

    Are you bitten by the social media bug ? Twitter & Instagram are the best platforms, along with a personal blog ( we recommend WordPress) than can be used to your advantage. Writing groups, tips by famous writers and opportunities are bounced around for writers on all these platforms. Pinterest is extremely useful for research. You can also use it as a storehouse by creating boards and stacking together all the material you find useful.

    A Journal is your Best Friend

    As a writer you are mostly on alert mode. Anything may strike a chord and inspire you to string in a line or weave a new story. All these snippets may fade away from your mind, hence it is advisable to carry a journal and record everything. Or if you are of the ‘networked’ kind, make use of the notepad options on your smartphone to record those scribbles and thought fragments. Who knows? That tiny bit of information recorded can be instrumental in making your story a bestseller.

    Become a Grammar Nazi

    You may have won several laurels in this literary journey, but stick to the basics. Grammatical errors, scrappy sentences and unnecessary descriptions take away the finesse from a write-up. So write, edit and re-edit to make sure that your write up is crisp and conveys what it’s meant to.

    Reading is as important as Writing

    So clock in a minimum of 20 minutes of reading everyday to better your writing and enhance your vocabulary. So read the books you envision writing one day.

    Writer’s block is a state of mind you can work around, rise above these words and conquer. There is always professional assistance (that is even customised and personal that is available) for creative writing for those who are willing to go that extra mile to hone their craft.

    What are you waiting for? Give these tips a shot and get your name etched on the paperbacks and leave an imprint in your reader’s life.

  • Anita Nair’s Lessons in Forgetting ( The Lilac House in US) shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize

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    Anita Nair’s Lessons in Forgetting (2010) as The Lilac House in the US region has been shortlisted for the first edition of the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize, awarded annually in the honor of Rabindranath Tagore, Indian author and the first non-European Nobel prize winner for Literature.

    The Rabinthranath Tagore Literary Prize

    The Tagore Prize is a legacy to Rabindranath Tagore, his outstanding contribution to Indian and international literature, as well as to the cultural, educational and humane ideas he pursued throughout his life.
    Accordingly, the criteria for winning the award are:

    creativity, outstanding literary relevance, promotion of peace and national, cultural and religious tolerance, preserving linguistic and cultural heritage, and being socially conscious in character.

    The prize will be awarded for one extraordinary piece of work, or as a lifetime achievement. In the latter case, at least one representative piece of work should be available in English.
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    The opening ceremony and the first presentation of the award will be held on April 11th, 2018 from 6 pm to 9 pm in New Delhi, in the premises of India International Center (IIC). The laureate will receive US$ 10,000, and a diploma.

    Do keep following the https://www.facebook.com/tagoreprize/ for updates and the announcement.

  • The Second Attic Lecture at Anita’s Attic by VK Karthika

    VK Karthika, Editor Westland Books delivered the second lecture in The Attic Lecture Series at the Season 5 Convocation ceremony on September 21, 2017.

    VK Karthika spoke on “The Company of Words.”

    The second lecture in “The Attic Lectures Series” by VK Karthika

  • Sonakshi D Kandhari

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    I am : Trying to hear my own voice in the deafening sounds that stifle me

    Presently biding my time : As a content writer in a start-up

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Being a Confident writer

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017

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

    Being the youngest writer in the class I was unnerved by the sheer talent and maturity of the other writers in the batch. Like a scared kitten I curled up in a corner waiting for the storm to pass. Anita understood my insecurities and gently urged me to come out of my hole.

    I still retreat in the dark corners every once in a while, but the one on one interactions with Anita has instilled in me a hope that after every cloudy day the sun will shine again. The craft of writing is laid out in a simplistic way enabling budding writers to blossom and go a step closer towards achieving their dreams. If you are shrouded in self-doubt and are looking for a place to hone your skills as a writer then this is the place to be.

    Sonakshi’s Bio

    Sonakshi is an introvert who uses poetry as an outlet to express her emotions. I spend my days as a content writer in a start-up firm. I have behind me an MBA in Hospitality & Tourism from Christ University and work experience in a travel agency for over a year.

    Sonakshi D Kandhari | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic

  • Swapna Menon

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    I am : a bioinformatics consultant, exploring the craft of writing short stories

    Presently biding my time : Living. Breathing. Moving. Standing still

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Expressing myself effectively, beautifully

    As good as: I am

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017

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

    I have been writing poetry for as long as I can remember. About three years ago, I started writing short stories.Then, I found Anita’s Attic while surfing online. I was luckier still to be selected for the program based on my flash fiction submission.
    I spent two nights on the train every week, traveling from Kochi to Bangalore and back, being there for every single session. What more could a novice ask for than to have Anita Nair look at his or her work, personally? The blind spots in my writing of three years became visible to me af-ter eleven weeks at the Attic; clumsy sentences, superficiality in certain areas were just a few of these.

    I discovered how deeply connected the process of writing is to the clarifying of one’s mind and thoughts. The habit of writing with awareness, now touches the way I write emails, the way I think about myself, the way I interact with others. There is a freshness in my eye. It makes me notice and feel the world about me – something I keep forgetting to do.

    Along the way, I met some wonderful human beings, my fellow writers at the Attic. The laughter, the fun conversations we shared made me get on the train with enthusiasm every week, as much as, everything else the Attic offered.

    Swapna’s Bio

    Swapna Menon is a bioinformatics consultant. She analyses high throughput data, generated from the research laboratories of American universities. She adores all the art forms – writing, painting, dance, theater, movies, music but dares practice just a little bit of writing. In the laps of nature, she loses her speech, her thoughts, her sense of time and all her faculties, save for the joy of being alive.

    “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic

  • Namrata Dass

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    I am : A writer, bibliophile and avid dog lover

    Presently biding my time : Working as a freelance content writer and a Hypnotherapist

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : becoming a published Young Adult fiction writer

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017

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

    To be handpicked by Anita Nair for this program has definitely been one of the highlights of my career. The Creative Writing Mentorship Program is one of a kind in India. Anita Nair is a brilliant mentor who is firm, encouraging, patient and helps an aspiring writer understand the pros and cons of creative writing.

    As a student of this program, I have gained valuable insights such as the common pitfalls to avoid as a budding writer, story crafting, character delineation and eliminating author’s bias. The program has given me an opportunity to interact with rain-makers from the publishing world who helped me understand the workings of this creative industry. This platform has refined my writing skills and enabled me to showcase my literary work.

    Namrata’s Bio

    Namrata is a Bangalore based freelance content writer who is currently freelancing with Indiahikes, a trek documentation organization that captures experiences of trekking enthusiasts. A background in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy lends her a better understanding of human behaviour. Occasionally, she waves a pendulum before unsuspecting folks and relieves them of the burden of their heavy wallets!

    Namrata’s keen sense of observation and peculiar imagination makes her believe that the more bizarre a writer is, the more creative they get. Ever since she has adopted her first dog, she has been inspired to work on her first book, a young adult fiction that helps stray dogs find a voice albeit an anthropomorphic one. She might just need extensive Hypnotherapy thereafter to vanquish the various canine personalities which dominate her mind these days. When Namrata isn’t chasing her literary pursuits, pet therapy with her dog, Kuttus, a good laugh, great conversation, yummy food and generous doses of red wine lifts her spirits.

    Namrata Dass | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic

  • Maya Unnikrishnan

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    I am : a person who tries to fit into the mould of an human resource professional yet strives to defy its strict boundaries

    Presently biding my time : Between trying to figure out the perfect diet and working out, aspiring to travel every three months, dreaming of the day or night when words will flow out of my pen, seeking an alternative to every norm in life and hoping that I will never have to confirm

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : of finishing my first book in June 2018

    As good as: Coming home

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017

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

    I have always wanted to be read, read by someone who understands writing. Understand it for its crafting, its language, its strengths and its beauty. I wanted to be in the midst of people who wrote better much better than me. I wanted to be reviewed by someone who had made a mark in the literary arena. I found all this in Anita at the Attic. Anita has been instrumental in driving home the fact that writing is first and foremost a discipline.

    Churning out 1500 words every week broke me yet made me. I have been both elated and dejected at the reviews and that is what I was looking for. The Attic has made me more resolute in sharpening my skill in the days to come. Anita has also introduced us to digital experts , Publishers , literary agents and authors and each interaction has taken us one step closer to the world of words .It has been a wonderful journey with her and my team mates who have instilled fun and purpose into the learning .

    Maya’s Bio

    Maya is a Post Graduate in Human Resources from XLRI and has completed her Executive leadership Program from IIM Kolkata. She has worked across different sectors in sales, marketing and Human Resources. Currently she heads Human Resources in BORQS Technologies in Bangalore

    Maya Unnikrishnan | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic

  • Sachin Dev

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    I am : A die-hard speculative fiction geek who lives on a staple diet of books, music and dream fantasy world – his love for planning escapist travel itineraries to Middle Earth is closely competed for, by his dogs and his laptop

    Presently biding my time : Slaving away in a corporate job that involves numbers and pie-charts and fooling a lot of people

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Buying a private island in the Pacific – gained from the royalty advances of my novels that usually kick-off a bidding war between publishers. Realistically? I want to stop saying I moonlight as an author and make writing a full time job writing across genres

    As good as: Neil Gaiman or Samit Basu. Who am I kidding? Prefer to be just myself

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017

    My Website: Sachin Dev

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

    I had heard of Anita’s creative writing program a couple of years back but hadn’t seriously considered going for any mentorship or a training workshop as I didn’t believe that writing, a creative pursuit, could actually be taught.

    But after my first book came out last year – and I was wrapping up book two in that series, I realized that I was writing myself into a corner. With respect to my craft as well as my ideas. So this year when I applied for Anita’s workshop, I applied with two thoughts in mind. One was to of course continuously work on and improve my craft but secondly and more importantly, Anita’s guidance and mentorship would definitely be the right platform for me to take my writing to a larger audience and a bigger world out there.

    These twelve weeks instilled a new discipline about meeting deadlines and ensuring I am continuously productive. But more than this, the sessions with Anita gave me a clear logical thought process that drove forward my writing – ultimately helping me become a much more conscious writer. It also helped me understand the big bad world of publishing from veterans who had been there, done that. The camaraderie I have struck up with my fellow writers at the workshop have also improved my approach to writing and I have definitely made some good friends here

    Sachin’s Bio

    Sachin discovered Tolkien in his early teens, GRRM as a new adult and countless other gods in pretty much his late twenties. These still form a large wedge in his circle of life. Travel, radio and theatre have also figured in that ever-expanding and diminishing circle. He is the author of Faith of the Nine, an Indian epic fantasy that marries mythology and grimdark – and is diligently completing the rest of the books in that series while getting distracted by magical and fantastical ideas all the time.

    On perhaps a more prosaic note, he is an engineer from BITS Pilani and holds an MBA from Indian School of Business. Attribute the love for numbers and pie-charts to this. He is currently based in Bangalore, planning to relocate to an island that hopefully doesn’t submerge in his lifetime. He spends an inordinately large amount of time chasing after his dogs (who love the free life a bit too much) when he is not busy dreaming up fantasy worlds full of monsters. And beautiful Yakshis, of course.

    He can usually be found ranting on twitter under the handle @xenosach, devouring books and talking about them on his blog http://fantasy-smorgasbord.blogspot.com. You can always stalk him online at his official website http://sachindevt.com

    Sachin Dev | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic

  • Kanika Mehrotra

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    I am : A bibliophile, a logophile, a writer, a wanderer and a psychotherapist

    Presently biding my time : Eavesdropping on coffee-shop conversations, writing fiction about real life and practising psychotherapy

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017

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

    With so much of my life changing, I felt my writing sink deeper and deeper under the dredges of routine and responsibility. I knew I needed something special to jolt me awake and re-connect with my dream. Anita’s attic was all that and more. Besides connecting me with kindred spirits, these 12 weeks also gave me a chance to revisit my writing with new eyes and gave me courage to believe in my words.

    Anita’s honest feedback and the gift of mentoring is the stuff of dreams for any aspiring author. Added to that were invaluable experiences with editors, publishers and agents – it has been an incredibly enriching experience that has made me a better writer.

    Kanika’s Bio

    Kanika is a clinical psychologist and an arts based therapist by profession. She is currently working on her first book.

    Kanika Mehrotra | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic