Author: Anita Nair

  • 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.

  • 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