Author: Anita Nair

  • Vatsala Lakhotia Holani

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    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

    My Website : AV Mode

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    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

  • Unni Nambiar

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    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

  • Dinesh Devarajan

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    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

    My Blog : Indian Born Confused Desi

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    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

  • Rosemary Thomas

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    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

  • 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.