Author: Anita Nair

  • 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

  • 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.

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    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.

  • The Hindu – MetroPlus | In drama and dissent

    Sooraj Rajmohan
    SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 16:35 IST
    UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 16:35 IST
     

    Comic artist Appupen spoke of the importance of artistic integrity at the graduation event of the sixth edition of Anita Nair’s creative writing course

     
    A rainy Bengaluru evening saw a new batch of writers achieve a milestone at the Rangasthala theatre at Rangoli Metro Art Centre. The graduation event for the sixth season of writer Anita Nair’s creative writing course and mentorship programme, Anita’s Attic, had popular comic artist Appupen deliver the third Attic Lecture on The Magic of Dissent.

    The event started with Nair talking about the difficult, and sometimes unrewarding, craft that is writing, and why it is important to respect one’s own work. “An uncle of mine was an artist,” she said, “he always said to never do anything for free, because then the recipient will never respect the work. Writing is a lottery. Sometimes bad writers make huge sums of money while good writers remains in anonymity for their lives.”

    Read the complete report

  • Manorama Online | നർമഭാഷയിലൂടെ ചിന്തകൾ ആഴത്തിൽ പതിപ്പിക്കാം: ജോർജ് മാത്തൻ l

    മനോരമ ലേഖകൻ SEPTEMBER 15, 2018 12:51 AM IST

    ബെംഗളൂരു∙ നർമഭാഷയിലൂടെ ഏതു ഭിന്നാഭിപ്രായവും സമൂഹത്തിന്റെ ചിന്തകളിലേക്ക് ആഴത്തിൽ പതിപ്പിക്കാനാകുമെന്നു കോമിക് രചയിതാവും വിഷ്വൽ ആർട്ടിസ്റ്റും സംഗീതകാരനുമായ അപ്പൂപ്പൻ (ജോർജ് മാത്തൻ). ഇന്ത്യൻ ഇംഗ്ലിഷ് എഴുത്തുകാരി അനിതാ നായരുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള ക്രിയാത്മക രചനാ പഠനകേന്ദ്രമായ അനിതാസ് അറ്റിക്കിന്റെ ബിരുദദാന ചടങ്ങിൽ ‘ഭിന്നാഭിപ്രായങ്ങളുടെ മായാജാലം’ എന്ന വിഷയത്തിൽ പ്രഭാഷണം നടത്തുകയായിരുന്നു കലാകൂട്ടായ്മയായ ബ്രെയിൻഡെഡ് ഇന്ത്യയുടെ സ്ഥാപക എഡിറ്റർ കൂടിയായ അപ്പൂപ്പൻ.

    Season-6-Graduation-Ceremony-Anitas-Attic-Rangasthala-2

    സമൂഹത്തിൽ, ഭൂരിപക്ഷങ്ങളുടെ അഭിപ്രായങ്ങൾ അടിച്ചേൽപിക്കുന്നതിനെ ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യാൻ വേറിട്ട ഇത്തരം ശബ്ദങ്ങൾക്കാകും. സമൂഹത്തെ നേർവഴിക്കു തിരിച്ചുവിടാൻ ഇത് അനിവാര്യമാണെന്നും കോട്ടയം പള്ളം സ്വദേശി കൂടിയായ അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു. മേരി റോയിയുടെ ‘പള്ളിക്കൂടം’ സ്കൂളിൽ നിന്നു പകർന്നുകിട്ടിയ, വേറിട്ട അഭിപ്രായ പ്രകടന വാസനയാണു ഗ്രാഫിക് നോവലുകളായ മൂൺവാർഡ്, ലജൻഡ്സ് ഓഫ് ഹലഹല, ആസ്പൈറസ്, ദ് സ്നേക് ആൻഡ് ദ ലോട്ടസ് എന്നിവയിലൂടെയും രാഷ്ട്രമാൻ എന്ന സൂപ്പർഹീറോ കഥാപാത്രത്തിലൂടെയും രാഷ്ട്രീയഹാസ്യമായ ഡിസ്റ്റോപ്യൻ ടൈംസിലൂടെയും തുടർന്നുപോരുന്നത്.

    Appupen-at-the-Graduation-Ceremony-Season-6-Anitas-Attic

    അനിതാസ് അറ്റിക്കിന്റെ ആറാമത്തെ ബാച്ചിൽ പഠിച്ചിറങ്ങിയ 12 പേർക്കുള്ള ബിരുദ സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റുകളും സമ്മാനിച്ചു. തുടർന്നു 12 പേരും ചേർന്നെഴുതിയ കഥയുടെ വായന നടന്നു. നവതലമുറ എഴുത്തുകാർക്കിടയിലെ സർഗാത്മകത പരിപോഷിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനായി നടന്നുവരുന്ന കോഴ്സ് ഡിജിറ്റൽ പാർട്ണറായ കണ്ടീഷൻസ് അപ്ലൈയുമായി സഹകരിച്ചാണു സംഘടിപ്പിച്ചുവരുന്നത്.

  • Gallery | The Season 6 Graduation Event at Namma Metro, on September 14, 2018

  • Krithika Balaraman

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    I am : A feminist, a designer, a procrastinator and a writer

    Presently biding my time : Trying to juggle my job, my writing and my pets

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Completing my fantasy novel

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

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

    I always thought that if I took the time to sit down and write, I’d be wonderful at it. Being at the attic stripped me of all delusions that it would be as easy as that. Anita redefined the way I look at words, and gave me the space to make all my mistakes. It’s been a privilege to have her critique my work. I’ll miss our weekly classes and all the wonderful people I’ve met !

    Krithika’s’s Bio

    Krithika has completed an undergraduate in Design and currently works as a data visualiser. She loves to experiment with watercolours and would rather talk about her dogs than herself.

  • Anu Alex

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    I am : An Electrical Engineer, a voracious reader and a diligent student of Bharatanatyam

    Presently biding my time : Designing Electrical Systems for Buildings; ensuring that neither the transformers spark nor the cables fail

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Writing stories leave an impression on the reader – stories that linger on yet leave the reader wanting for more.

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

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

    Anita taught us the importance of honest writing, the need to explore the character’s inner selves, and the beauty of narrating them in finely chiselled lines – to lift our writing above the ordinary. In her, I found a mentor who painstakingly reviewed my work and helped identify the flaws in my writing. At the attic, I flocked with birds who shared a penchant for good literature and encouraged each other to keep up the writing momentum. During weekends, I would commute from Chennai to attend the classes. However, my efforts proved worthy, when somewhere down the road, I realised that I had developed an intense bond with the art of writing.

    As Sylvia Plath said, “Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.”

    Anu’s Bio

    Although an engineer by vocation, Anu is a dancer by avocation. She holds a bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives and works in Chennai.

  • Saumya P Mittal

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    I am : An imaginative writer and a compulsive traveller.

    Presently biding my time :Trying to connect the floating dots of ideas in my head to weave out something meaningful.

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : having my short story collection published.

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

    My Blog : Cleopatra Diaries

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

    I always wanted to write stories. However it is only after joining Anita’s Attic that I realised that writing is not just about penning down your ideas. Since the first session itself, Anita taught the intricacies of the art of writing and encouraged us to develop a writing routine. Her invaluable inputs while critiquing my weekly assignments changed my entire perception on story writing. In a span of twelve weeks I have experienced a remarkable transformation in my writings. Presently the biggest challenge ahead of me is to keep myself motivated to write regularly without the weekly assignments that I used to submit to Anita. I really enjoyed all my sessions and will miss the invaluable time spent at Anita’s Attic.

    Saumya’s Bio

    Iam a sociologist by qualification who went on to study cosmetology. Presently a passionate beauty blogger, newspaper columnist, dreamy story writer and an incorrigible cook. Love to travel and weave my experiences into words. I have a fascination for writing children fiction as well.

    Published Work

    http://www.pioneeredge.in/rising-depressive-other-psychological-disorders-in-adolescents/

    http://www.pioneeredge.in/spirituality-a-contemplation/