Blog

  • Shweta Rawal

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    I am : a storyteller in a world that is full of stories and characters

    Presently biding my time : as a Management Consultant

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : writing my first novel about stories and how they make us who we are

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

    My Blog : The Home of a Nomad

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

    Writing has been an immense source of joy since I was a child. When I came to the program, I had written a few blogs for a few years and multiple unfinished stories.

    On Day 1, I was completely zoned out being in the same room with Anita Nair. I didn’t know what I would accomplish and how. However, all my doubts were laid to rest with Anita’s generous, patient, and nurturing demeanour. If it wasn’t for the Attic, I wouldn’t be writing my book.

    Over the course of past many weeks, this program has become as much a self-exploration to find and nurture my unique voice as a writer as it is an attempt to learn the art. Additionally, getting to know the industry has added tremendous value to how I view books and the writing and publishing process. I feel I am walking out with a new life that identifies writing as a purpose, as an art, and as a profession as well. I have also found some great friends, kindred spirits, a talented bunch of people that uplifts and supports.

    My only, constant grouse these days is that the program is coming to an end. That said, I am also excited about finishing my first book, and getting it published. Attic has made that writing future possible for me.

    Shweta’s Bio

    Shweta is an MBA by education. She works as a Management Consultant and specializes in Organizational Change Management and Learning and Development. Her work has given her opportunities to travel and work with people across cultures and geographies. She loves to read, watch movies and TV, and cannot live without tea, quiet time in a balcony, biscuits, and laughing out loud at least once a day.

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

  • Jayapriya Vasudevan from Jacaranda Press at Anita’s Attic for Season 5

    As Season 5 of Anita’s Attic hit session 10, and the imminent end of the mentorship program looms, it is only natural that the writers start wondering what next? And it is to precisely answer this daunting question that can overwhelm and drown a writer’s confidence that we called in the marines.

    Read that as Jayapriya Vasudevan, India’s first literary agent whose international agency Jacaranda Press first set up twenty years ago represents 90 writers across the globe.

    Calm, collected and full of kindliness, Jayapriya gave the writers a comprehensive introduction to what an agent can and can’t do. And a realistic picture of the life and times of a manuscript submitted.

    Thank you Jayapriya for being the bright light of hope you are!

  • Ajitha GS on what a Publisher looks for in a Manuscript, at Anita’s Attic

    Just what does an editor in a publishing house look for in a manuscript ?

    This is a question that worries every writer working on a book. And who better than Ajitha G S, the editor who has worked on some of the finest fiction and non-fiction published from Ghachar Ghochhar to A Feast of Vultures to the Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India to talk about it to the Season 5 writers at Anita’s Attic.

    Thank you Ajitha.

  • Udayan Mitra, Publisher, 4th Estate, HarperCollins India at Anita’s Attic

    Very often, movies and TV series gloss over how for every writer who goes on to become a published author, there are hundreds who don’t make it. Sometimes an insight can make the difference from wanna be to will be.

    So one of the highlights of the mentoring program at Anita’s Attic is to invite publishing experts to speak to the writers.

    Our first publishing expert for Season 5 was Udayan Mitra, Publisher, 4th Estate, HarperCollins India who led the writers through the alley ways of the publishing world and on what to expect.

    Thank you Udayan. We loved having you at the Attic.

  • Youssef Rakha addresses Season 5 over a Video Call

    So what do you do when one of the writers who has impressed you in recent times is Youssef Rakha who lives in Cairo and you still want the writers at Anita’s Attic to interact with him after having read one of his stories The Boy Jihadi ?

    Bring in the marines or in our case *conditionsApply. And so despite the distance, the time zones and borders, our guest speaker for the week made his presence felt and how.

  • Anita’s Attic on Staking a Writer’s Digital Territory

    It is critical for aspiring writers and published authors to carve out a niche in the digital space, to ensure they find room in the bookshelves in physical and digital stores.

    As part of that process, all Anita’s Attic writers of Season 5 were taken through a session on staking their digital territory by Biju Ebenezer B

    Thank you *conditionsapply for your support.

  • Anita’s Attic Season 5 begins with Kiran Nagarkar at the Attic

    Thus began Season 5 of Anita’s Attic. And who better to kick-start the season than the utterly brilliant, erudite and amazing Kiran Nagarkar?

    In Bangalore to celebrate the publication of the box set of the Ravan & Eddie Trilogy and the 43rd year of publication of his first novel Six Sevens are Forty-Three, Kiran Nagarkar made the time to come by to the Attic and spend time with the 17 writers present.

    Over the course of an hour Kiran talked to the writers about what it means to be an artist – The joys and triumphs; the trials and tribulations.

    Thank you Kiran Nagarkar and thank you HarperCollins India for facilitating this talk.

  • Flaubert on the highest & most difficult achievement of Art

    Image Source, Credits & Rights : Wikipedia

    I have always felt that nothing could explain the feeling of Art more appropriately than this.

    This is an excerpt from The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857 that captures for me, the very essence of the creative process.

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  • Anjali Soni

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    I am : the happy voice

    Presently biding my time : to start spreading positivity through my writings

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : giving Peace a LOUD voice on our planet

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from 6th August – 28th October, 2016

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

    Anita – instills disciple and clear sightedness. She teaches to write with a light pen the most complex. She genrously shares her experience and expertise to give your inner voice its uniquely true expression. Through interaction with writers, publishers, agents she ensures we get a good idea of the spread and depth of the Indian Publishing Industry.

    Anjali’s Bio

    Anjali is a Banker with over 20 years experience, a Practioner of Yoga the last 8 years. She manages her Financial Advisory Business along with sharing the life changing qualities of Yoga.

    Anjali Soni’s story on Bibliophobia

  • First Attic Lecture at Anita’s Attic by Suresh Menon

    Suresh Menon, prominent Indian journalist, author and a noted sports writer delivered the first lecture in The Attic Lecture Series at the Season 4 Convocation ceremony on October 28, 2016.

    Suresh Menon spoke on “The Hidden Life of Words.”

    The first lecture in “The Attic Lectures Series” by Suresh Menon