Join seventeen authors for an evening of reading and conversations, mentored by Anita Nair as they read out 17 short pieces of ragtime showcasing their literary strengths at the Rangoli – Metro Art Center on 21 September 2017.
The Season 5 batch of writers, a group from diverse walks of life and interest will present their best narratives with a musical background, to mark their graduation – an intense twelve-week creative writing mentorship program by renowned author Anita Nair.
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[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : Always searching for a new story
Presently biding my time : Hiding in an open office, suffering from an acute imposter syndrome, constantly wondering about who is on to me
As I secretly follow my dreams of : Writing a vindaloo of a book filled with dodgy characters, heart-breaking days and spiced laughter
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
Though all of us believe that we have a bestseller surreptitiously lurking within us, not many of us know how to build its bones and blow some soul into it. The process of storytelling is so much more than being able to write competently or having a great idea. It involves discipline, rigour, characterization, re-imagination, plot structures, editing and knowing the difference between metaphors, clichés and “being precious”. And…Anita has taught us all this and more. She has helped us examine our writing with a critical lens and become strong, powerful storytellers.
Through the program she has meticulously reviewed our work every week and introduced us to authors, editors, agents, social marketers and publishers who helped us understand the entire business of writing, from table to twitter. So, if you are serious about becoming a writer, or just interested in knowing more about the process of storytelling, do the program. It’s brilliant!
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[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : An Interior Designer and Entrepreneur and now an aspiring writer
Presently biding my time : Doing what I love – work blended with some music, spiced with some friendships and extra-large refills of reading
As I secretly follow my dreams of : Spinning sketches of tales to tell
As good as: it gets
Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017
About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program
Anita’s Attic was a revelation which unfurled as I spent every Saturday, mesmerised listening to her and other co-writers spinning a web of words around me. Anita not only mentored ours words, in fact quite subtly but surely, imparted us the sensibilities and resilience required to create a piece of fiction. She walked the talk every Saturday and we slaved out piece after piece of some thousand words each Wednesday. Each submission was a dare and dread for a non-writer like me. I carried the fear of Red marks like a halo every Saturday. But everytime, although I was handed a red hued word doc, I also renewed my lessons in kindness, discretion, objectivity and word wisdom beyond par. The attic experience with Anita and a bunch of cracking, much talented co-writers showed me beyond doubt that ” Darr ke aage jeet hai”!
Bharti’s Bio
A designer by heart and soul, passionate about enabling my clients to create their own design statements reflected in their lifestyle through their dwellings.
Professionally describing:
Creative interior design professional and entrepreneur with over 150 executed projects in Bangalore spanning over 15 years. Experience in all styles of design – classic, contemporary, retro, and modern Minimalistic with a strong background in project management, space planning & optimization and quality control. Academically I have a Masters degree in Resource Management from University of Delhi followed by PG Diploma in Entrepreneurship Management. I have also done a certificate course in Interior Design from Regent Academy of Fine Arts, London.
Bharti Girdhar | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program
Anita’s intensive 11 week program made me write with discipline and rigour. The guest speakers at the Attic helped me understand the art and science of the entire spectrum of the publishing process. What I liked the most about the Program is Anita’s specific, one-on-one feedback that ensures everyone ups the ante from whatever level one is at. Her honest, hard-hitting and empathetic feedback helped me improve my writing craft. She gave invaluable tips on writing from a seasoned writer’s perspective. She is a true professional and one of the best mentors I was fortunate to have come across.
Sujatha’s Bio
Sujatha has an overall work experience of 32 years, out of which 25 years have been in the banking space. She is presently freelancing as an empanelled trainer for a leading Private Sector Bank. She has been sporadically contributing articles / travelogues to the leading newspapers in the country over the last two decades. Two of her short stories were placed in the third place during the months of January, 2016 and February, 2018 in the national Write India Season 1 and Season 2 contests conducted by the Times of India. After doing the creative writing program at Anita’s Attic, she got quite a few of her articles and stories published both in English and Telugu across a few leading magazines both within India and outside of it.
Sujatha Rao | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program
Being among the lucky few to be handpicked by Anita herself was a tremendous confidence boost. Since then, every second spent in Anita’s Attic has helped me grow as a self-assured writer.
Learnings about the tricks of the trade, constantly driven peer group, insight into the publishing world were just a few of the highlights from the twelve amazing weeks at Anita’s Attic. The personalized feedback and interest shown on my work made the classes all the more rewarding and enriching. An aspiring author could not ask for a better place.
Sasi’s Bio
Storyteller. Dancer. Artist. Dreamer.
A marketer by profession, storyteller by heart, Sasi holds a management degree from IIM Bangalore. He likes every form of storytelling; from scintillating movies to thought-provoking books, especially videos games. Needless to say, his leisure times are occupied with too many hobbies to even count.
Sasidharan M | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
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[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : A writer by profession, communicator by intent and storyteller by passion
As I secretly follow my dreams of : Not just dreaming and telling stories, but actually publishing short stories, interwoven with all the bitterness, pain, joyous moments of life. Someday, somewhere, hopefully someone will read my stories and say, “Ah, this is so real”!
Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017
My Blog :
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About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program
I write and visualize every day, breathing life into business and marketing communications. This perhaps put a block on my creative fiction writing. I had ideas and stories in my head, but could never translate them into print. I have done blogs and small pieces, but was always stifled when I had something bigger and beautiful in mind. I have been following Anita Nair’s stories and tweets, and found a very sensitive and contemporary writer, with a down-to-earth attitude. Over the last twelve weeks, Anita has helped craft my writing and thinking process. This individual one –to – one learning has helped me structure and articulate my thought processes with more form and finesse. Her feedback is priceless. Her sensitivity has helped me take course correction and shaped by writing into a mature stream.
Geeta’s Bio
Geeta Philip is a marketing & communication professional based in Bangalore. She loves to tell stories, read and write, enjoy Malayalam movies, be with friends and family, and simply chill out in the evenings, doing nothing.
Geeta Philip | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
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[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : a designer by profession, writer by vocation
Presently biding my time : exploring the world through lens, pen, spoon, travel and living while completing my first novel
As I secretly follow my dreams of : being every kind of writer I can be
Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017
About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program
My journey began, like the best stories do, on a midsummer’s night, when I had a sudden and compelling premonition that if I didn’t apply for the programme immediately, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I had been staring at the Attic web page on and off for a good three months, without doing anything about it.
Laughing at myself, I sent off my stories at midnight, and then slept the sleep of those who can do no more. What I didn’t know was that I had just made the deadline by a few hours – or that it would allow me to walk with my heroes.
The Attic to me was the beginning of a Quest, and I thought of the seventeen of us as the Knights of…well, rectangular tables with grommets. My mission was to find my voice and hone my skills. The Twin Obstacles of Insecurity and Indiscipline were met and challenged; the Monster of Grammar was fought and even defeated; the Mentor, Anita, bestowed the gift of Crafting.
It is rare to meet the kind of givingness I have encountered in every member of the Attic. The company of good people is an inspiration on its own. In the wild spaces of my imagination, there is a place forever marked ‘Attic Dreams’.
Vatsala’s Bio
Vatsala is a Bachelor of Design (Lifestyle Accessories) from NIFT, New Delhi and has completed her B. A. English (Hons.) from Delhi University. As a design and advertising professional, she has worked with over 50+ global brands. A four-year stint as contributor and part-time correspondent for HT Next and HT School Times saw her interviewing public personalities like the then President of India Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, Sri Arun Jaitley, Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, sarod player Ayaan Ali Bangash and Delhi Metro MD Dr. E. Sreedharan , while writing on issues like education, design and culture.
Vatsala Lakhotia Holani | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : a software geek, techpreneur, space junkie, science freak, history buff, book addict & just an incurable philomath … and now a wannabe writer *fingers crossed*
Presently biding my time : as a technology co-founder in startups
As I secretly follow my dreams of : being the first writer on Mars (the only thing that would marry all my passions into one, literally a long shot), else I’ll settle for being a good writer on Earth
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
This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. Being a writer, has been a bucket list item for me since I wrote my first poem at the age of 15. Now, at the top end of my career, receiving an acceptance from Anita’s Attic program on my submission was immensely self-affirming. The program itself has helped me in validating where I’m good and where I need to improve. It provided the structure, lessons and insights into what it takes to be a good writer. Will I be a writer worthy of reading? I hope so. But am I a writer? Yes, I am. This I now know. And for that, I will always be thankful to Anita.
Unni’s Bio
Unni is a software technologist with 27 years of diverse industry work experience, currently working with startups in various domains. He is based out of Bangalore, India, where he lives with his wife and teenage daughter. Unni is passionate about future trends and building world class products and solutions that solve real world problems today.
Unni is currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at CASHe, a revolutionary startup in the alternative lending fin-tech space in India. He is also the CTO at Aeries Technology Group, a global business consulting company providing innovative offshoring solutions. Unni is also a mentor and advisor at OneDelta Synergies and RealDocs, both in the legal-tech space.
Unni is now an aspiring writer and hopes to be published in the not too distant future.
Unni Nambiar | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : An IT project manager, a father to a feisty two year old daughter and the proud of owner of a bright red Maruti 800
As I secretly follow my dreams of : writing a fantasy novel that weaves together Gods , Karma, middle class India and a water buffalo
As good as: My last project status update
Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from July 1 – Sep 21 2017
About being a part of Anita’s Attic Creative Writing program
Saturday mornings at Attic were the highlight of the week. For five hours I could park aside real world responsibilities and do something that truly mattered to me. I got to discuss my work with Anita, sit in contented happiness among my people and eat exquisitely flaky ,chewy Kerala Paratha.
Anita gave my writing roots and wings. She was insightful, warm and encouraging but had no hesitation slipping her fingers around the throat of a badly written paragraph to give it a good firm squeeze. I was told what I needed to hear and not what I wanted to hear. She easily combined the wispy, dreamy elements of writing with a no-nonsense ,down to earth commitment to plot, structure ,character development and word count.
I will be forever grateful for the company I got to keep. My batch mates were intelligent, witty and compassionate people from all walks of life. Easy conversation, an undercurrent of good humor and a general sense of well-being pervaded within the four walls of Anita’s Attic. Signing up for the course is a decision I will be always be pleased with.
Dinesh Devarajan | “Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
[symple_column size=”two-third” position=”last” fade_in=”false”] I am : an MBA who transitioned from the Corporate Sector into the Social Sector – trying to stem the bleeding of my bleeding heart Presently biding my time : Not biding my time at all. I just want to do more of what I’m already doing
As I secretly follow my dreams of : Changing the world
As good as: new – after sleep / solitude
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
Anita’s Attic was a great and gruelling experience and it was a big surprise and privilege to be selected. I have never written this much consistently for such a long period – the discipline was awesome and very much needed. All her teaching points were very useful especially because they come from long experience of writing and publishing books. Guidelines, little tips, habits, things to be careful about – all of this tried and tested by an accomplished author.
The meetings with the publishers and agents were also very enlightening and I am very grateful for Anita’s generosity in sharing her wisdom, experience and her contacts!
Now it’s time to put all of this into action and come out with the manuscript. I feel more confident to take this forward since the guideposts have been placed at Anita’s Attic.
An added bonus was the bonding with the other writers. I feel like I found my people.
“Not Just Jazz” | The Graduation Ceremony of Season 5, Anita’s Attic
