Category: Anita’s Notes

  • The 3rd Anita’s Attic Lecture and Season 6 Graduation | You are invited

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    Join twelve authors for an evening of ‘Heresay On The Metro’ showcasing their literary strengths at the Rangoli – Metro Art Center on 14 September 2018 at 5.00 pm.

     
    Anita’s Attic, India’s premier ‘literary mentorship program’ helps aspiring writers hone ‘The Art of Storytelling’ across multiple genres. This intense twelve-week workshop conducted by the celebrated author Anita Nair not only enables literary talents to find their voice but also introduces them to established writers, publishers and agents who visit ‘The Attic’ every week.

    The graduating batch of Season 6 comprises I.P consultants, art curators, knowledge managers, visual communicators, technologists, homemakers, marketers and digital strategists. What binds these diverse folks together is their friendship with words and an overwhelming desire to become published authors someday. To mark their graduation, they have collaboratively spun a satirical tale on the power of rumors, fake news and gossip, called “Hearsay On The Metro.”

    The evening will also host the 3rd Annual Attic Lecture by Appupen, on the subject “The Magic of Dissent“.

    A comics creator, visual artist and musician, Appupen tells stories from the mythical dimension called Halahala.
    Appupen has been creating the mythology of Halahala since 2005 and his first graphic novel, ‘Moonward’ was published by Blaft in 2009. Then came ‘Legends of Halahala’ and ‘Aspyrus’, both from Harper Collins. His fourth graphic novel, ‘The Snake and the Lotus’, is published by Amazon-Westland, 2018. Appupen launched his online comic series with the popular superhero satire ‘Rashtraman’ and the politically charged ‘Dystopian Times’ in 2015. He is the founder/editor of Brainded India, an arts collective with an agenda. Join us for an exciting audio-visual presentation that brings alive the magic of dissent as seen through Appupen’s eyes.

    The Attic Lecture will be followed by the Season 6 Graduation Event of Anita’s Attic.

  • Season 6 – A Cricketer turned Writer comes to the Attic

    Very often writers wonder where do other writers come from. What did they do before they decided to write a book? What was that epiphany that led them towards a literary life? And what were the challenges? Who better than long time friend of the Attic and first class cricketer Harimohan Paruvu to dispel doubts and worries and fill Season 6 writers with the fortitude for the way ahead. Author of books such as The Men Within by Harimohan Paruvu ( novel) and 50 Not out ( leadership book) Harimohan, once fast bowler now man of letters left the Season 6 writers clean bowled. Thank you…

    About Harimohan Paruvu 

    Harimohan Paruvu (born on 14 August, 1967) is an Indian author, former cricketer, columnist, screenwriter and motivational speaker, known for his English language books centered on the game of Cricket.

  • Season 6- Anitas’s Attic family welcomes Penguin Random House.

    In May this year Anita’s Attic acquired a new knowledge associate – Penguin Random House India. So it was with immense pleasure we welcomed PRH Editor-in-Chief Meru Gokhale and Tarini Uppal, Editor, to share publishing and editorial insights with Anita’s Attic writers, past and present. Thank you Meru, Tarini and PRH for gracing the session with your presence.

    About Penguin Random House:

    Penguin Random House India knows the market,understands new forms and styles of literature in India,and is a subsidiary of the well established and well respected global publishing house, Penguin Random House.

  • Season 6 – Harper Collins offers insights about editing and publishing

    A good piece of writing makes that quantum leap to literary worthiness if an inspired editor can help the writer make that jump.
    You have that manuscript ready, but how do you turn it into a novel? It is going to go through a series of edits before completion. Hence for session 4 our writers at Anita’s Attic had the wonderful opportunity of hearing three fine editors share their acumen and offer invaluable advice. Thank you Udayan Mitra, Sohini Basak and Rahul Soni from HarperCollins India for dropping into the Attic and taking the writers through the publishing process.

    About Harper Collins India

    HarperCollins Publishers India Pvt Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of HarperCollins Worldwide and came into being in 1992 completing 25 years in India and almost 200 years globally. HarperCollins India is the world’s largest entertainment to education publisher.

  • 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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  • 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.