Author: Anita Nair

  • Anitha Murthy

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    I am : a rarity, a true blue Bengaluru person

    Presently biding my time : as a software consultant and running a children’s library

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : becoming a worthy novelist

    As good as : it gets, my life is; I am quite content

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from 17th March – 30th April, 2016

    My Website : www.thoughtraker.com

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

    I was floundering as a writer when I joined Anita’s Attic. I had tasted some success with my short stories earlier, but was thirsting to write a full-length novel. I had so many ideas, but struggled to bring any of them to fruition. I needed a guru who could guide me along the write, oops, right direction.

    I was fortunate to be taken under the wing of someone as acclaimed as Anita Nair. She made me introspect; I am still dwelling on the questions she asked in the very first session. Her no-nonsense, practical approach, the hitting-the-nail-on-the-head reviews, and her subtle guidance helped me make steady progress. The exposure to all facets of the writing world, with renowned authors and editors sharing their own personal journeys was indeed enriching.

    I do hope that I can internalize the invaluable lessons and move forward along the path that I have glimpsed.

    Anitha’s Bio

    Anitha Murthy, a software consultant by profession, writes whenever inspiration strikes. She writes primarily short stories, and several of her stories have won awards in contests like the Deccan Herald Short Story contest, the Unisun Reliance Timeout Short Story Contest, and the BBC World Service Short Story Contest. Her stories have been published both in print, in magazines like Reading Hour, and anthologies like City of Gods and Urban Shots, as well as in online publications. Occasionally dabbling in non-fiction, she has written travel and humour articles. She has also authored a children’s book series – The Junkyard Buddies. She is currently working on a light-hearted novel that she hopes will make people laugh.
     

    Anitha’s reading of her part as author of the collaborative fiction piece, “Blessings in disguise”

     

  • Mary-Rose Abraham

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    I am : from Los Angeles, California

    Presently biding my time : as a multimedia journalist and storyteller

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Where hard work, imagination and a little luck will take me

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from 17th March – 30th April, 2016

    My Website : Mary-RoseAbraham.com

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

    Stepping into the Attic began my journey as a literary fiction writer. Anita’s mentorship and guidance, and the camaraderie of my fellow writers, invested that beginning with a great feeling of possibility. As a new fiction writer, it was invaluable for me not only to receive Anita’s incisive critiques with each chapter of my book, but to write propelled by her enthusiasm for our projects and her belief in our talents. More than anything, what I take away from the Attic is the sheer joy of creative writing.

    Mary-Rose’s Bio

    With more than ten years’ experience as a reporter, producer and videographer, Mary-Rose is currently based in Bangalore as an independent multimedia journalist. Most recently, she was a staff producer at ABC News in New York, with previous reporting and producing experience at National Public Radio and NBC News in Los Angeles.

    Mary-Rose has a bachelor’s degree in biology from UCLA and a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, from which she graduated with honors and was awarded the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship as one of the top five students in her class.
     

    Mary-Rose’s reading of her part as author of the collaborative fiction piece, “Tempo Traveller”

     

  • Nithesh Satish

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    I am : Originally from Tumkur. Working in Madras for past two years. I’ll probably not stay in a single place for more than five years

    Presently biding my time : Designing and managing fuel systems of BharatBenz Trucks, reading books and fighting existential crisis with bare hands

    As I secretly follow my dreams of : Being a polyglot

    Part of the : Creative Writing Mentorship Program from 17th March – 30th April, 2016

    My Blogs : The Idiosyncratic Idiot, Waltzing With Verses

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

    I have made several attempts to write a book in the past . But I never survived the exercise beyond three pages.

    At Anita’s Attic , I struggled to get my story off the ground. But after a couple of weeks I did, thanks to Anita Nair’s advice and inputs. She was frank yet kind with her feedback. She helped me channel my momentary bursts of creativity into a disciplined writing schedule . This, I believe is the greatest take- away from Anita’s attic.

    Talks given by writers and publishers during the course were eye openers for someone who had no idea about publishing. I enjoyed every session thoroughly.

    I recommend this program for anyone who had a childhood dream of writing a book. Whether it gets published or not is irrelevant. The joy of writing it is what matters

     

    Nithesh’s reading of his part as author of the collaborative fiction piece, “Trifle as a pudding”

     

  • Glimpses from the Season 3 Graduation Event at Namma Metro on April 29th 2016

    Much as beginnings are exciting, endings leave me overwhelmed – proud at what they have achieved; satisfied at having been able to mentor talent and sad to bid adieu.

    For the past three months, I had nine writers whose writing I was intimately linked to. I walked the paths they did, exulting when they got it right, worrying when they stumbled, and as I watched them read at their Graduation Event, I knew a great sense of triumph.

    This is what we set out to do with ‪ Anita’s Attic‬ – Nurture creativity and make inherent talent blossom. Guide a writer towards fruition and build their confidence. So when I see that happen, there is no one more happier than me.

  • Vinita Nangia & Ajitha G.S at Anita’s Attic

    It was a blazing hot April day but no one was complaining…for the penultimate session of Season 3, Anita’s Attic had a double billing of guest speakers.

    Vinita Nangia, writer & columnist and Director of the ‪#‎WriteIndia‬ project came in the forenoon to share her insights on writing, trends seen in the WriteIndia contest and what constitutes good writing.

    Ajitha G.S., commissioning editor at HarperCollins India spent time talking to the writers on publishing trends in India and what it is that makes an editor grab a manuscript and want to publish it.

    Just the sort of impetus needed as the writers set out on their individual journeys towards authordom.

  • Preeti Shenoy at Anita’s Attic

    What does a best selling commercial fiction author do differently?

    Some of the most readable books are written by commercial fiction writers. Be it Marian Keyes, Stephen King, Conn Igulden or Thomas Harris...as for Le Carre and Rankin, they are poets masquerading as thriller writers.

    Nevertheless the literary establishment and lit fiction writers are such snobs that we look down our toffee noses and think all commercial fiction is crap; lit fiction deals with the human condition, while pulp fiction is formulaic renditions of the human condition.

    Over the last three seasons at Anita’s Attic, our guest speakers have always been literary fiction writers. Some of them have had books that sell many copies but a best-selling commercial fiction author’s numbers and reach is in another league.

    Which is why I thought it important that my writers meet and hear about the journey of a very successful commercial fiction writer. And who better than Preeti Shenoy, one among the top five highest selling authors in India (Source: Nielsen scan)and the highest selling woman writer in India?

    In a session filled with practical tips as much as personal takes, Preeti gave Anita’s Attic writers a whole new perspective on what it means to be a writer:

    • When I am writing, my internet is off.
    • I never set out to improve people’s lives
    • I refuse to believe that there is something called writer’s block
    • Blogging helps; it gives you an inkling of who your readers are !

     
    Thank you Preeti Shenoy for the enthusiasm and confidence you brought into the room and giving Anita’s Attic‬ writers an understanding of your creative process.

  • Jayapriya Vasudevan of Jacaranda Press at Anita’s Attic

    I remember to this day our first conversation. Circa 1997. Satyr of the Subway reading. Prasad Bidappa had said I should invite her to my reading at a bookstore. So I called. She was warm and friendly on the telephone. It felt like we had known each other a long time. And then she said – Do you know what I do?

    No, I said. I had presumed she was Prasad’s friend and that was good enough for me.
    I am a literary agent, she said.
    I had met literary agents in books but never a real one. Did they have fangs? Did they bite? Or did they have floppy ears and were cuddly?
    Did they drink wine or the devil’s brew?
    I was curious and we planned to meet.
    I think of how she took me in hand and guided me through the highs and lows in my writing career. She covered my back for me, no matter what.
    That’s what a literary agent should be like. Though they seldom are.And so I wanted my Season 3 Writers at Anita’s Attic to meet Jayapriya Vasudevan of Jacaranda Press. Super Agent. Super friend. And a truly good person.
    Thank you Jayapriya for being who you are. Mwaaaaaaa.

  • Manu S Pillai at Anita’s Attic

    It isn’t often that a 25 year old writer appears on the horizon with a 694 page book of which 120 pages are just notes. The writer : Manu S Pillai and the book : The Ivory Throne [Chronicles of the House of Travancore].

    In what could only be termed an invigorating session, Manu talked to the writers of Season 3 at Anita’s Attic on what started him on the book and its writing. As I sat there watching him address the class, what struck me was not just the brilliance of this young writer but also his passion for what he was doing and his diligence.

    Without passion, any piece of writing no matter how brilliantly researched will not leap off the page and it is this I hope was the greatest takeaway for my writers along with some of these nuggets:

    * Women’s bodies were not sexualized then as it were now
    * Myth making is part of holding onto power

    Thank you Manu Pillai. You are a star! And I personally look forward to seeing you scale greater heights…

  • On Creating and Maintaining a Writer’s Digital Presence

    Just like that, Season 3 of Anita’s Attic is into session 4 and we thought it time that our writers get an understanding of what it is to be a writer in this time and age. And so it was time to call in the Marines.

    And I can’t think of anyone more appropriate than Biju Ebenezer, part of my digital team *conditionsapply and a WordPress evangelist.

    In a scintillating session where Biju talked to the writers about the importance of creating a digital footprint and answered their queries, many nuggets of wisdom emerged :

    * Tomorrow when someone searches for you, you have to give them at least 5 avenues to find you – on creating a digital footprint

    * If you are out of sight, you are out of mind! – on maintaining blogs,

    * Write your blog post at least once a month – on digital discipline

    Thank you Biju for sharing your wisdom so generously and so graciously

  • Vivek Shanbagh at Anita’s Attic

    There is a book everyone is talking about these days.

    Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbagh and translated into English by Srinath Perur. A nonsense phrase title of a slim book but with a truly remarkable literary heft that would put tomes with ponderous titles to shame.

    So to speak to Season 3 writers at Anita’s Attic, we had the gracious and gentle Vivek Shanbagh who talked of his journey from village to city, Konkani to Kannada, reader to writer, real time versus literary time and thereon.

    It was a proud moment for us to be able to include Indian language writers into the Attic’s list of guest speakers. And who better than Vivek Shanbagh to start with!

    Thank you Vivek.