tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76932056344636059172024-03-13T21:59:21.884+08:00Scribbles…..Musings on books, writing, rejection slips and all the other things that make a writer's life-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-36718446456258227792013-05-19T19:47:00.002+08:002013-05-19T22:30:07.261+08:00Father And Son<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
But take your time, think a lot,<br />
Why, think of everything you've got.<br />
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
- Father And Son, Cat Stevens</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On this day, exactly one year ago, I stood by my father's hospital bed, held his hands and kissed his forehead as he breathed his last. He had been in hospital for close to a month after suffering a stroke, and I was with him for almost all of that time. Much has changed since that day. My family and I are now living in a new country, having moved from Bangkok to Singapore in the middle of last year and in that time, I have had a lot of time to come to grips with my father's death and also reflect on what I think I've learnt.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Never postpone your dreams.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We all say we'll get around to pursuing a hobby, or going on that vacation, when we 'have more time'. Don't. Because you never really know how much time you have. My father started life as a teacher and a journalist but put his writing aside when he joined the Government. I remember seeing a diary with scribbled notes for a novel in his cupboard many years ago, and when I began writing myself, I would ask him to finish it. He did get back to writing after his retirement, and went on to become a bestselling author. When we were chatting in hospital, he told me how proud and happy he was that I was pursuing my dream of being a writer. 'At least you didn't wait till you were 58', he said with a smile. Life can be short and unpredictable, but it can be beautiful if you live each day as fully as you can. So sign up for those lessons, book those tickets, or sit down in front of that keyboard. Whatever your dream, start living it a little bit every day.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The true meaning of being connected</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's said we live in a connected age today, and most people measure that by the number of Facebook friends and LinkedIn contacts. Yes, we are connected, but the most fundamental connection we form is with our loved ones through the memories and stories we create together. I have now lost both my parents, and the true meaning of being an orphan is that it is almost as if your childhood never existed, because there is now nobody there who can share memories and tales of that time with you. But then I see our old photos, and I remember my parents in my dreams, and I realize that the warm, loving childhood they gave me formed such strong connections that even after they're gone, those connections live on. So forgive me if I don't post every few minutes on FB, or share my 140 character reactions to every game, TV show or news report. I'm using that time to create real connections with my family and friends.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The futility of holding grudges</b></div>
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My elder brother and my father had not spoken in years. When my father was in hospital, he told me his one regret was that he had not got around to reconciling with my brother. And now, they will never get that opportunity. I am nobody to sit in judgement over anyone, and I'm sure at that time, they were right in their own minds, but does it really matter? When faced with the finality of death, do our differences of opinion on things that seem important at that time really matter as much as we'd like to think? Would we really want to say or do the hurtful things we sometimes do if we knew that we would never get a chance to make up? I am not a saint, and at times I do get pissed off, but then I let it pass- life is too short, and too precious to hold grudges.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The true meaning of inheritance</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been back to my father's old apartment in Delhi a couple of times over the last year, to get it cleaned up and to pick up some things. Both times, as I sat in that apartment my parents had made their home, I was struck by how it was now just an empty shell, bereft of any life or soul. I realized that people spend their lives accumulating bank balances, building bigger houses, buying bigger cars, but you take none of that with you. Also what you really leave behind are not those trinkets of material advancement, but the memories and values you instill in your children. So the only thing I've brought back from my father's apartment is an old set of toy soldiers he and my mother had got for me more than thirty years ago from a trip to London. We used to play with it together when I was a kid and it was perhaps my most prized possession as a child. My parents had kept it, together with some of my favourite cars, in a box and after all these years, my childhood was waiting for me, encapsulated in that old box and those old toys, and all the wonderful memories they brought back. I played with my own son, Aadi, with those same toys, and while my father wasn't there to see it, somewhere, somehow, I felt the circle of our lives was being completed. I am now myself a father, and the only real way I can do justice to my father's memory, the only real inheritance of his I have a right to, is to take all those memories and values he gave me, and use them to be the best possible father to my own son.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Baba, Cat Stevens called this one wrong. You are no longer here, but your dreams still are.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFUQvspa2uo/UZi7K9UwRpI/AAAAAAAAAL0/rel821XloI0/s1600/DSC03342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFUQvspa2uo/UZi7K9UwRpI/AAAAAAAAAL0/rel821XloI0/s200/DSC03342.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-po7IM1PzaiE/UZi7Aofeg1I/AAAAAAAAALs/er2TqAVXUPA/s1600/heepo+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-po7IM1PzaiE/UZi7Aofeg1I/AAAAAAAAALs/er2TqAVXUPA/s200/heepo+baby.jpg" width="146" /></a>My father with me when I was less than a month old-and on the right, me with Aadi soon after his birth.</div>
</div>
-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-71282965007071450202013-02-01T21:37:00.000+08:002013-02-01T21:37:07.690+08:00LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THE KING<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As a
kid, two authors perhaps most influenced me in terms of committing to a writing
career. The first was Tolkien, who inspired me with his ability to conjure up
fantastic worlds, characters and epic adventures. The second was Stephen King.
It was a quote by Stephen King that inspired me, as an eleven year old, to
staple together my poems with Maths solutions and sell them to my classmates at
fifty cents a pop. He had said something to the effect that the moment someone
paid you anything to read what you had written, you were talented. That evening
I came home with my first `royalty’ of $12.50 and announced to my mother that I
had become a professional writer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In
later years, as someone who began to discover a love for writing horror, and as
someone who enjoyed reading horror as a genre, I grew up in awe of the amazing
body of work Stephen King had created.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In
more ways than one, Stephen King was the one author who perhaps led me to be
the writer I am today. So it was one of the highlights of my writing career so
far to be on the same page as him- literally. Yesterday, I broke into the Top
10 bestselling Horror writers worldwide on Amazon, at #10, and had the amazing
experience of being listed on the same page as Stephen King, an author I have
admired ever since he first inspired and propelled my foray into writing. In a
way, my journey as a writer had come full circle. Someone joked about me now
taking on The King, but I have no pretensions of competing in the same weight
class as him. Just being on the same page as him was a privilege- akin to
someone who has grown up idolizing Sachin Tendulkar finding himself in the
middle batting with the Master. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Stephen
King will probably never read this and we will perhaps never meet in real life,
but he should know that his words inspired a little kid thousands of miles away
all those years ago, and led him to develop a life long love for writing. Today
that kid is relishing meeting his inspiration, if only by being on the same
page on an Amazon.com bestselling list. I can only hope and aspire that some
day my work touches some kid’s life somewhere the way writers like Tolkien and
King did mine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Am
now at #12, but find myself checking often whether I’m back, living next door to
The King.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-91948989029972922032012-12-30T12:55:00.000+08:002013-01-04T21:16:17.135+08:00We The People: An Open Letter to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">WE THE PEOPLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">An Open Letter to Indian
Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">Dear Dr. Singh,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">You do not know me, and perhaps we will
never meet each other; yet I am taking the liberty of addressing this letter to
you. Partly that is because I am one of the 1.2 billion Indians who look up to
you to rule this nation of ours in our name- an ordinary, anonymous citizen
reaching out to his elected leader. Partly it is because, as a writer, I can
think of no better way to give vent to the sense of outrage I feel at the
recent rape and murder of a 23 year old woman in Delhi than to put my thoughts
down in words. However, it is also because, among all your peers in our
government, I hold out hope that you will have the integrity and courage to
bring about some real change. Unlike many of your peers, you do not owe your
position to the family name you carry or to favours traded in political and
business deals. So I hope that with your conscience unburdened by these, you
can demonstrate the courage that we the people demand of you. As an
undergraduate student of Economics, I watched with admiration as you removed
the shackles that tied down the Indian economy and set it on a path of
acceleration and development that it had never seen before. That took real
vision and courage but the challenge you face now will require perhaps even
more courage. However, the payoff will be much bigger because we will truly be
on the path to development not because of GDP growth numbers but when half our
population can live their daily lives in safety and security, without having to
worry about being thrown to the mercy of rabid animals like the six men who
brutalized the young woman in the Delhi bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">What could you do? Here are three
thoughts for you:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 1. </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understand
ground reality and how deep the rot really lies. You lead a rarified existence,
as befits your status. However, there is no shame in getting one’s hands dirty
and understanding what is actually happening in the nation you govern. Great
rulers of our past like Akbar and Ashoka often ventured out in disguise to
understand what was on their peoples’ minds. Today, with social networking and
media, you don’t need to do that, but you do need to be in touch with what we
the people are feeling. If you had been, you would not have waited so many days
after the incident for your poorly edited and produced telecast to the nation.
If you had been, you would know that it is not just one ghastly incident that
defines the nature of the problem we face. Almost every ordinary woman will
have tales of catcalls, groping and harassment in buses and public places by
men who do it not just because they are barely civilized Neanderthals, but
because they believe they can get away with it. Even the six rapists in the
Delhi case cleaned up the bus and went on with life as usual, thinking they
would never be brought to task. When people talk of bringing about change, they
talk of changing attitudes and mindsets. I believe that will take time and
whatever we try by way of education and sensitization, there will always be
brutes like Ram Singh and his friends in any society. I believe that the cure
will start when they no longer feel they can get away with it. However to act
on it, you first need to understand just how deep the rot is and how strongly
we the people are starting to feel about it- with this young woman’s trauma
acting as the catalyst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put
your own house in order. Even before you start trying to bring about change in
society, have the courage to change the very government you lead for change,
like charity, begins at home. Two of our Members of Parliament and six
legislators face rape charges, and a staggering 162 MPs (28% of the total) have
criminal charges against them. We the people refuse to be led by rapists and
criminals. Fast track these cases, and if found guilty, put them in prison
where they belong, not in the hallways of power ruling in our name. Make an
example of cretins like the legislator who made snide, sexist remarks about
`dented, painted women’ and women who go to discos not having the right to
protest. Yes, his command of the English language rivals his poor leadership
skills, but he has no business being in your government. Your party asks us to
`forgive and forget’ his comments, but we the people refuse to forgive or
forget any more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take
decisive action. The six beasts who killed the young woman on the bus should be
tried and punished as fast as possible- let us not again have the pathetic
sight of the Indian judiciary taking years to process cases. For all I care,
these bastards can hang from the nearest streetlight- through their actions
they have lost the right to live in any civilized society. However, it cannot
and must not end there. What we need is for you, for those who rule in our
name, to take pro-active action. What we need is for exemplary punishment to be
doled out to rapists and molesters. What we need is for you to showcase that
nobody is above the law- not even government officials and legislators like the
ones who killed a serving police officer in Punjab when he objected to their
molesting his daughter. What we need is the fear of God to be put in the hearts
and minds of these brutes- for them to know that they will not get away with it
any more. Aamir Khan had an interesting idea- of `pre-emptive’ action- of using
plainclothes cops including women to ferret out these molesters and rapists and
to remove them from the streets. The softer side of things, the education, the
sensitization, the change in mindsets is needed, and will follow, but in the
short term, our system needs a shock. A shock to make people realize that it is
no longer business as usual. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">The window for you to act is narrow. Not
just because you and your government will lose all respect if you do not, but
because if we the people realize that our elected leaders cannot protect us, we
will have to do it ourselves. Today, young people are protesting peacefully,
demanding action. Tomorrow, they will start taking action themselves. We all
know how that script goes- the police turned against the very citizens they are
sworn to protect, faith crumbling in the regime, chaos and vigilantism. It’s
played out in many countries, most recently in the so-called Arab Spring. I
would never wish that upon my country. India, for all its faults, is a nation I
love- because it is still a nation where people can speak their mind and not
worry about the midnight knock for their words, where ordinary people can
improve their lot in life based on their talent and hard work, and where faith
in democracy still runs strong. That’s what makes me believe in India- and
makes me scoff at comparisons to other so-called Asian giants where growth
numbers are high, but fundamental freedoms low. Please don’t shake that faith.
Please don’t make us question the basic premise on which Indian democracy
works, the premise that puts you in power to rule in our name. If not for
altruistic notions or motives, please at least make your peers act for fear of
self-preservation, something our politicians seem to be good at. As Thomas
Jefferson said, “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when
the government fears the people, there is liberty”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">We the people await your action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">Warm regards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Mainak Dhar</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-26193288333034321682012-12-29T20:07:00.001+08:002012-12-29T23:28:07.979+08:00A Girl Called Alice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are two things every writer yearns
to do. First, to connect with readers through his or her work in a way that
books cease being simply the product of the writer’s imagination, but something
that readers help shape and create through their feedback and interest. Second,
to work on books which seem to write themselves, where coming up with ideas and
writing, far from being a drudgery, is such a delight that it feels like the
book is writing itself- and the writer merely provides a means to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-01GFsSq9Cf4/UN7Zvy2gg_I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/juRqvk5Rkns/s1600/AliceinDeadland_600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-01GFsSq9Cf4/UN7Zvy2gg_I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/juRqvk5Rkns/s200/AliceinDeadland_600x900.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I count myself fortunate to have
experienced both through my Alice in Deadland books. Sometime in mid 2011, I
began writing Alice in Deadland, set in a post-apocalyptic Delhi known simply
as the Deadland, where human survivors struggle for survival against hordes of
undead creatures called Biters and mercenaries unleashed by a tyrannical
Central Committee seeking to enslave all remaining humans. I tried to weave a
tale about a young girl coping with the discovery of her destiny in a
post-apocalyptic land and through her adventures, understand the true nature of
the evil that threatens our freedom. In a nod to a favourite author of mine, I
tried to build in some elements of Lewis Carroll’s work. So Alice follows a
bunny eared Biter down a hole in the ground, triggering off her epic adventure
and her quest to discover what really brought about The Rising- the
catastrophic events that destroyed human civilization as we know it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAR8rT8qMos/UN7Zze5WfMI/AAAAAAAAAKE/G0L9uKBUciA/s1600/KillingGlass800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAR8rT8qMos/UN7Zze5WfMI/AAAAAAAAAKE/G0L9uKBUciA/s200/KillingGlass800.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
When I uploaded the Kindle version of
Alice in Deadland to Amazon, I was blown away by the reception. More than
50,000 readers bought the book in the first three months, and Alice in Deadland
went on to become the #1 Horror and Sci-Fi bestseller on Amazon. More than the
sales, what was amazing was the extent to which it connected with readers. In
those first three months, I received more than two hundred reader emails,
appreciating my work, describing how it struck a chord given the times we live
in, and finally, telling me to continue the story. I had never planned to make
a series of it, but as more and more readers wrote in, asking what happened
next to Alice, asking what the back story of some of the key characters was, I
got to work on the series. Through The Killing Glass (Book II) and Off With
Their Heads (a prequel) were next, and I have just finished Book III, titled
Hunting the Snark. The mere fact that the book has spawned a series that
currently stands at four books is to a large extent due to the encouragement I
got from readers to continue the series, but the role readers played in it goes
much deeper.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCmgrCp8amI/UN7Z-ZKUyTI/AAAAAAAAAKM/qvWYGzOKpbQ/s1600/OffWithTheirHeads1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCmgrCp8amI/UN7Z-ZKUyTI/AAAAAAAAAKM/qvWYGzOKpbQ/s200/OffWithTheirHeads1920.jpg" width="125" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: justify;">Some six months after uploading Alice in
Deadland, I started a </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/345795412099089/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: justify;">,
and over the last year or so, one of my most cherished achievements as a writer
has been the direct interaction with readers this group has enabled. Through
this group, I have got readers to help me on names (the title Off With their
Heads came from a reader), suggest what they would like to happen next and also
take that interaction into the `real’ world (one reader baked `Biter biscuits’
for a book club reading where she shared Alice in Deadland). I haven’t met any
of these readers in the `real’ world, but now they feel not like distant
readers who are statistics on a sales or royalty report, but individuals I
know, who are friends and partners in my writing process, and our relationship
goes beyond just the books I write. When my father fell ill and passed away in
May 2012, many of the readers kindly wrote in to give me strength and to share in
my grief.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is what writing should be- a writer
creating his work not in a vacuum, but with the constant interaction, interplay
and feedback from readers in real time. Where readers and writers interact on a
one on one basis to create work that delights both of them, and writing, far
from being a drudgery, is something one wakes up each morning charged up to do.
Now having written four books in the series, Alice is more than a character in
a book I once created- she feels like a real friend, someone I have a long
history with, and someone who has introduced me to some amazing people (my
readers). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I consider myself lucky to have
experienced this, and no matter what I go on to write in the future, or what
lies in store for my writing career, Alice in Deadland will always have a very
special place in my heart for enabling this. As a small tribute to my readers,
in Hunting the Snark most of the key characters who join Alice on her new quest
are modeled on readers from this Facebook group. These readers helped give me
the strength and encouragement to breathe life into a girl called Alice, and
now they get a chance to join her on her latest adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Along the way, Alice also helped me get closer to one of my all time favourite authors. I had built in references to some of Lewis Carroll's work in my Alice books, and now, Alice in Deadland is featured in the official website of the <a href="http://www.lewiscarroll.org/2012/11/04/darker-wonderlands-for-longer-nights/" target="_blank">Lewis Carroll Society of North America.</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s exciting is that Alice’s story is
far from fully told. She is set to help me meet many more new readers. In
January 2013, the Turkish translation will be released by <a href="http://www.elfyayinlari.com/anasayfa" target="_blank">Elf Yayinlari</a> and Alice goes back to the country where the story was set with the release of the Indian paperback edition by <a href="http://www.duckbill.in/" target="_blank">Duckbill</a>. I look forward to Alice introducing me to many new readers and to us continuing to breathe life together into this girl called Alice and her adventures.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-54899081936109355112012-12-15T12:10:00.001+08:002012-12-15T12:10:13.024+08:00The Doomsday Clock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday
several things happened that made me write this blog. First, I got a request to
write about the supposedly impending Doomsday by Bookchums.com, then my mother
in law of all people asked me if the world would indeed end on December the 21<sup>st</sup>.
Perhaps, having now written five novels about the end of the world as we know
it, they felt I had something to contribute to the hoopla about December 21,
2012. But then something happened that made me think about how they’re so
mistaken about the true nature of the Doomsday Clock humanity faces. A 20-year
old man shot dead twenty-seven people in the US, including twenty kids at their
school. As the father of a school-going child no older than many of the
victims, the incident really struck home for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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What
this incident teaches us is that the Doomsday Clock that we face is not
something that runs according to some ancient Mayan calendar, which itself I
suspect has been magnified by Hollywood, media hype and self-serving prophets
of doom. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It’s
within each of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
battle for survival we face is not against an impending zombie apocalypse,
arrival of aliens or meteors from space, but a battle to contain the evil that
lurks within the heart of each man. This battle will not be waged on a
media-hyped December 21<sup>st</sup>, but is waged, and won every single day.
Humanity will triumph over its Doomsday Clock when each of us can discover the
good and the love we are capable of, and keep the evil and hate that have been
our undoing throughout our history at bay. Doing that is a tougher battle than contending
with any horde of fictional zombies or aliens.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Today,
Doomsday came true for twenty innocent children, and with them, we all lost a
little bit in our battle against our collective Doomsday Clock. To the editor
who wanted the article (and to my mother in law), let’s focus on that inner battle
and forget about the hype of December 21.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-38772522202134726472012-10-05T19:09:00.000+08:002012-10-05T19:09:30.095+08:00Forever Young<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70i6UjnLhCo/UG6_pqxbhZI/AAAAAAAAAI0/8XIFYYplUaU/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70i6UjnLhCo/UG6_pqxbhZI/AAAAAAAAAI0/8XIFYYplUaU/s200/cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9.0pt;">In a couple of weeks, hordes of zombies will descend onto the
streets of New Delhi, wreaking bloody havoc and laying waste to the world as we
know it. At any rate, Zombiestan’s Indian edition will hit bookshelves courtesy
the fine folks at Duckbill. It’s always fun to be part of something new, and I
am very excited to be the first author on Duckbill’s list, and the hordes of
zombies, and my partnership with Duckbill, will further grow in the months to
come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">This blog is not about zombies per se (though I do spend more
time thinking about them than is perhaps good for any sane person) but about
some thoughts this launch triggered. I remember well a conversation with Sayoni
at Duckbill when I was first approached for Zombiestan rights about how
Duckbill was looking at it as part of their ‘Young Adult’ list. To be honest, I
never thought about Zombiestan as a YA novel. I wrote it the way it made sense
to me, and in a way that I thought was fun, but I clearly saw how it could
appeal to younger readers. And to readers with an appetite for suspension of
disbelief, larger than life adventure, and a healthy dose of mayhem. Readers
like me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-align: left;">When I
was asked to write this guest blog, I thought back to what I was doing when I
was myself a ‘Young Adult’. To be clear, I still am and will always be young
till I kick the bucket, it’s the ‘adult’ part that’s occasionally called into
question. Rewind the tape to the summer of 1985. I’m an eleven-year old living
at the time in Ottawa, Canada, juggling soccer practice, homework, mowing the
lawn and a crush on a pair of twin sisters (pretty complex, as you may
imagine). As I think back to those days, what stands out is how much of who I
have become was influenced by what I read. Two major influences acted upon me
that summer: an epic written by a master storyteller of the past, and a
sentence in an interview by a modern master storyteller. That was the summer I
read the entire Lord of the Rings series over the holidays and read an
interview by Stephen King in which he said that the moment someone paid you
even a cent for your writing, you were a professional writer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-align: left;">The
dream was born (perhaps it had always been there, but now it got a concrete
shape and direction) of being a writer. I wanted to create worlds, characters
and adventures like Tolkien. I wanted to throw a motley group of adventurers
into a fantastic quest and decide their fate. I wanted to hold readers in
thrall of what came next the way I had been. Tolkien showed me the dream, and
King showed me how to act on it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-align: left;">I had a
bunch of poems written that I had hidden away in my room. I took those poems,
stapled them together with solutions to the next term’s Maths textbook (having
guessed correctly that few people would pay me to read my poems alone), got my
older brother to make me a cover on his computer and sold my first ever ‘book’
to my classmates at 50 cents a copy. My first ‘royalty’ was $12.50, which I
spent on ice creams and comics, and when I came home, I remember telling my
mother that I had become a professional writer. She told me that I indeed had,
and that she looked forward to the day we would walk into a bookstore together
and see my book there. Tolkien and King gave my dream a start, my mother took
it to the next level. When, seven years later, we did walk into a Delhi
bookshop and my mother proudly told the shopkeeper that I was the author of the
book he had on his shelves, she reminded me of my antics in the summer of ’85
(you see, I lived my dream of ‘publishing’ my first book, but my mother had to
deal with the aftermath- no pun intended- of the Maths teacher complaining
about how the kids all had ready made solutions to the next term’s work), and
told me something I will always remember. She said never stop dreaming, and
never stop thinking of making your dreams bigger. She’s no longer here, but
every time I publish a new book, I imagine her up there, pointing proudly down
to what her son is up to next.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-align: left;">So, if
you’re one of the YA readers who happens to pick up Zombiestan, never underestimate
where a bit of inspiration can take you. Never underestimate how powerful books
and words can be in shaping what you become. That’s one big reason I am such a
fan of Duckbill- because they are committed to get young readers to see new
dreams, to experience new worlds, and to once again, discover joy and
inspiration in the written word. And if you’re the parent of a young reader,
please help them discover the love of books. Let them see new dreams, inspire
them to act on them, and who knows, their dreams, like mine, may remain forever
young.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkFADTldPt4/UG6_ZY7ndyI/AAAAAAAAAIs/x7wrCvrXSX4/s200/duckbill.jpeg" width="138" /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">(This appeared as a guest blog for my Indian publishers of
Zombiestan, Duckbill. Do check out their site at <a href="http://www.duckbill.in/">www.duckbill.in</a>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-25624845274802016532012-06-03T01:29:00.001+08:002012-06-03T01:38:18.404+08:00From Son to Father....Part I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">William James once said that, "The greatest use of life is to spend it for
something that will outlast it". Over the years people have tried to
create monuments that were their effort at cheating their own mortality and
time- building giant statues, fancy palaces, and in more contemporary times,
leaving huge estates and bank balances. Whenever I see and hear of these
material tributes, I am always reminded of a favourite poem of my childhood,
Ozymandias by Shelley where a traveller encounters the broken remains of a
long-forgotten king's tribute to his own vanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So when it comes to doing something that acts both as a tribute from son to
father and symbolizes how I think my father would have liked his legacy to be
kept alive, I tend to shun these material and temporal tributes. Instead, I
want to focus on something that bound us- a belief in the power of ideas and
the power of the written word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So Phase I of my tribute is over. In one
stroke, it makes my father's words and ideas accessible to hundreds of millions of readers worldwide, and has two
major parts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The first part is digitizing and making
available on the Amazon Kindle store some of my father's books. I have started
with three books which I know he enjoyed the most, and will over time get to
others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2Yl22o_jX0/T8pEChJJplI/AAAAAAAAAIU/U_uYVwhLteo/s1600/cover+photo_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2Yl22o_jX0/T8pEChJJplI/AAAAAAAAAIU/U_uYVwhLteo/s200/cover+photo_edited-1.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qv7kg2c9zw4/T8pC1Cg_atI/AAAAAAAAAH0/8FYBeXmuGDo/s1600/I+Spy+Vol+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qv7kg2c9zw4/T8pC1Cg_atI/AAAAAAAAAH0/8FYBeXmuGDo/s200/I+Spy+Vol+1.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9W3UVtnFK2o/T8pDJfCWFcI/AAAAAAAAAH8/WzndZK-B7LQ/s1600/I+Spy+Vol+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9W3UVtnFK2o/T8pDJfCWFcI/AAAAAAAAAH8/WzndZK-B7LQ/s200/I+Spy+Vol+2.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The first is of course, his highest
selling and most controversial book- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Open-Secrets-Explosive-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B00888HWLQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338658607&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Open Secrets</span>.</a>
The #1 Indian non-fiction bestseller which is regarded as a seminal work in
security matters is now available to readers worldwide. My father used to tell
me with a chuckle that Open Secrets had earned him four death threats and six
threatened court cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Accompanying it is <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OPERATION-TRIPLE-REAL-STORY-ebook/dp/B0087MQ552/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338657876&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Operation XXX</a>,</span> which I know my father always smiled about because while
it was fiction, it held more than a kernel of truth in it. Third up is <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fulcrum-Evil-Qaeda-Nexus-ebook/dp/B0087MQ4U8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338657914&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Fulcrum of Ev</a>il</span>- a prescient treatise about how what the West takes to be its
allies in the War on Terror are sometimes its worst enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The second part has been collating some
of his essays into a series. The first four volumes in this series, titled `I,
Spy' are now up on the Kindle store- dealing with topical security issues, all
dealt with in the same penetrating and no-BS style my father was famous<span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">for. The first two of these, </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1024604902"><span style="font-size: large;">Warriors of
Allah</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Vol-Warrior-essays-ebook/dp/B00888HWB6/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338657971&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></a><span style="font-size: large;">and </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1024604911">Talibanized
Pakistan</a></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Vol-Talibanized-Pakistan-ebook/dp/B00889UA00/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338658098&sr=1-5" target="_blank"> </a>are already online, while Volumes 3 (China at Sea) and
4 (Whither Kashmir) will be up in a day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wVsRYo_vyk/T8pDbQdcZXI/AAAAAAAAAIE/gGuFeRkUsZo/s1600/I+Spy+Vol+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wVsRYo_vyk/T8pDbQdcZXI/AAAAAAAAAIE/gGuFeRkUsZo/s200/I+Spy+Vol+3.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wVsRYo_vyk/T8pDbQdcZXI/AAAAAAAAAIE/gGuFeRkUsZo/s1600/I+Spy+Vol+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pM-PhjgZEhU/T8pDlg5sctI/AAAAAAAAAIM/_PdyNGMGD0w/s1600/I+Spy+Vol+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pM-PhjgZEhU/T8pDlg5sctI/AAAAAAAAAIM/_PdyNGMGD0w/s200/I+Spy+Vol+4.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Phase II is going to be finishing the
unfinished manuscript that he left on his hard drive- but between a move to
Singapore for my family and a new assignment, I'll get around to that in a
couple of months. It's a story about human trafficking in the Indian
subcontinent, and knowing how my father never shied away from showing the true
nature of many of the people and institutions we trust, it'll take a courageous
publisher to pick it up.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Ever since I was a child, I
dreamed of being a writer, and have been blessed with the opportunity to be
that, but this first experience as a publisher is perhaps even more satisfying
as it allows me to start living up to my promise of keeping my father's legacy
alive in my own small way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
</div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-46567616379590544242012-05-20T16:45:00.000+08:002012-05-20T22:51:37.363+08:00My Father Maloy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBCS-yZ432Q/T7iulOb5vII/AAAAAAAAAHc/7M0jV24cZgo/s1600/Baba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBCS-yZ432Q/T7iulOb5vII/AAAAAAAAAHc/7M0jV24cZgo/s200/Baba.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">On the 19<sup>th</sup> of May at
5:10PM, Maloy Krishna Dhar, bestselling author, widely regarded strategic
expert and commentator, highly decorated police and intelligence officer, and
yes, my father, passed away after a month long battle that began with a stroke
and was compounded by renal and multi-organ failure. I was with him through all
those days and at the end. It is perhaps the way of the world that we spread
our wings and go far from our roots, but the one comfort I have is that I was
able to be with him, to talk to him, to remind him of all he has done for us,
and to thank him for all he has taught me. Most of all, I was able to tell him
what I had never told him- of just how remarkable his journey in life has been,
and of just how proud I feel to be his son.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Many people take such occasions to
mourn and cry. I feel the pain, having now lost both my parents, but Maloy
Krishna Dhar is not a man to be mourned and cried over. His life is one to be
celebrated and learned from. Dying is a biological inevitability, but what
matters is what one does with the time one is allotted. On that count, my
father led a life so full and so eventful that his life itself could make for a
bestselling book like the ones he authored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He began his life on July 13, 1939
in Mymensingh, now in Bangladesh, and had very happy memories of his childhood.
Those were however soon clouded when his father passed away when he was but a
child, and the Partition of the Indian subcontinent rent apart the world he
knew. In his book <i>Train to India</i>, he
recounts how he and his mother had come to India on a train amidst the communal
carnage, him carrying a small pocketknife in his attempt to protect his mother
from the marauding mobs. He saw the worst of man, saw people being killed in
front of him at such a tender age, and arrived in India without much to his
name. Many people in his position could have, and indeed did, settle for what
they assumed to be their lot- harbouring hatred from the bloodshed they saw,
and settling for whatever meager opportunities came their way. That was not the
path Maloy chose. He escaped his harsh surroundings, not physically at first,
but through his quest for knowledge, realizing that an education was the way he
could create a better life for himself and his mother. His love for learning
and letters was apparent in what he chose to learn- he studied Comparative
Literature in College, and would later tell me that reading classics from other
lands opened his mind and inspired him to raise his own game. He started his
working life as a journalist, and could certainly have had a comfortable life
compared to his childhood, but once again, Maloy made the leap that very few
others in his position would have. He appeared for the elite Indian Civil
Services Examination and was selected into the Indian Police Service in 1964.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">His early years, spent in Naxal
infested areas in East India (an issue we grapple with today, and on which he
had very insightful views) brought out many aspects of his remarkable
character. One, he was absolutely fearless. Many people try and judge what
position or point of view will bring them advantage. Maloy had a simple inner
compass of right and wrong, and would be guided by it, no matter the
consequences. My late maternal grandfather, himself a senior Police officer,
would tell me stories of how he saw the early career of his to be son-in-law
with a mixture of dread and undisguised admiration. Maloy was the kind of man
who once got into a jeep with a driver, and went after a man-eating tiger that
had come loose in the plantations. He once cornered and shot a dreaded outlaw
whom other officers would not touch because of his political connections. When
asked by others whether he realized what he had done, he said, `I shot the
bastard.’ That is the kind of man Maloy was. Second, for all his hard and
uncompromising exterior, he was a man of deep perception. Despite his mandate
being to stamp out Naxalites, he took the time to understand their root causes
and understood and empathized with why many of them chose the route they did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The next stage of his career took
him into an arena where he was to excel for almost 30 years. He was appointed
to the Intelligence Bureau, the Indian equivalent of the American FBI, though
with some of the external mandates the CIA has. His early years there, with a newly
married wife and young kids were in the troubled North-East of India, including
Nagaland, where I was born. That region at that time was seeing a violent
insurgency against Indian rule, and Maloy faced the challenge as he did every
other challenge in his life- with no fear, and with the greatest of empathy.
That combination made him life-long friends among those who could have been
enemies. He did not talk much about his work, but growing up in Delhi, I would
meet visitors from Nagaland and Manipur who would tell me that Maloy was the
first and perhaps only government officer they trusted. He would always play it
straight, never try and manipulate them and what endeared him to them was the
fact that he was utterly without fear. I remember a story of how he once
supposedly went into a village known to harbor insurgents, alone and with only
his personal sidearm, and drank the local brew with the headman, trying to
understand why they were supporting them, and how he could help act as a bridge
to end the violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As I was growing up, my father’s
work often played at the center stage of some of the most turbulent times in India’s
history, though often I was too young at that time to realize what was
happening. He handled the terrorism desk for years, handling the Khalistan
separatist movement, and later the Pakistan sponsored terror in Kashmir and
beyond. Again, it is amazing the respect he garnered through his approach to
work and life. As he lay critically ill, one of the calls I got was from a man
who was once a Khalistani separatist and later joined the mainstream political
process. He told me about how many people in Punjab would miss him terribly,
because in the midst of a terrible crisis with excesses committed on both sides,
he was a rare officer. A man who was willing to listen and empathize without
shooting first, yet also a man without fear. One story of my father’s from this
period, which he recounted later in one of his books, was of the terror siege
at the Golden Temple that came to known as Operation Black Thunder. He pleaded
to not deploy crushing force that would have led to high collateral damage but
instead had trusted men on the inside whom he wanted to supply. As a senior IPS
officer, he could have delegated the terribly dangerous task, but he dressed up
as a fruit seller, with a basket of fruit on his head concealing weapons and
walked into a complex with hundreds of heavily armed terrorists to get the
weapons to his men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The twilight of his career was
mirrored by personal tragedy as my mother, Sunanda, was diagnosed with Cancer
and passed away in 2001 after a five-year battle. Maloy stood by her, shared
her pain and her triumphs. He had once told me that my mother had been his
first and only love. He perhaps never really recovered from her loss and today;
my one consolation is that the two of them are reunited. For a man whom many
saw as a hard-nosed officer, he kept every single letter my mother wrote to him
and left them for me in a large bundle, with instructions to burn with him at
his cremation. He loved as he lived, fully and sparing nothing of himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In his final days in service, his
inner compass and values were tested as perhaps never before. In investigating
the espionage case affecting India’s Space Programme, he had leads pointing in
uncomfortable directions for the powers that be. He was under huge pressure to
ignore the evidence, and since I was grown up, he explained the situation to me
along with my mother, and told me that `Son, I may suffer and you and your
mother may also have some inconvenience, but I cannot do what is not right.’ He
persisted, faced a lot of pressure and retired one step shy of the top job in
the Intelligence Bureau, but never buckled under the pressure he faced or
recanted the evidence he had. A lot of it he later wrote about in his books.
Interestingly enough, nobody has come forth to challenge those facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">With his career ending on a
bitter-sweet note, and devastated by the death of my mother, Maloy could have
settled for the retirement that most other senior officers do. Evenings at
clubs, meet old friends, try and wrangle for some government junket. Instead he
went back to his original love of literature and continued his fight for what
he believed in by reinventing himself as a writer. His first novel, Bitter
Harvest, chronicled the tough times he saw in Punjab during the insurgency and
was highly praised for the sensitive portrayal of what common people went
through, often tormented by policemen and terrorists alike. His biggest
bestseller came in the from of <i>Open
Secrets</i>- a first of its kind- a no-holds barred chronicle of his career as
an Intelligence Officer, laying bare the political machinations that often
prevent our forces from doing what is right. It sparked intense debate with its
plea to free our intelligence services from their political masters and to
truly empower them to serve and protect the people, not the politicians in
power. It was as fearless a salvo, if not more, than the one he fired as a
young officer to fell the politically connected outlaw. He laid out what he
believed in, not hesitating to name names, and challenged those who disputed
the facts to engage in debate. Suffice to say, nobody took him up on it. Open
Secrets remained the #1 Non-Fiction bestseller in India for many months and
still is regarded as a seminal work, the first of its kind in India. His later
work covered other aspects of his work, some in fictional garb like <i>Operation XXX</i>, the story of a deep cover
agent, <i>We The People</i>, a brutal expose
of our electoral politics, and some that will act as a guidebook for future
intelligence operatives such as his work on Intelligence Tradecraft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">He started his website,
<a href="http://maloykrishnadhar.com/">maloykrishnadhar.com</a>, which I will maintain and continue, where he posted typically
brutally incisive views on the state of our nation and politics. A man like him
got respect from everyone, admiration from many, and brickbats from some who
didn’t like his direct and uncompromising approach. He shrugged off all those
brickbats and just kept doing and writing what he believed to be right and
just. His expertise and views were widely sought after and we used to often
joke about his celebrity status with news channels vying to interview him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In his last years, his writing
turned more introspective and he wrote <i>Train
to India,</i> published by Penguin India, where he chronicled his early life
and through the eyes of a young boy, the cataclysmic changes Bengal saw during
and after Partition. He has an unfinished book on his computer, which I have
promised that I will see through, an expose of the human trafficking that
plagues the subcontinent, often with the active connivance of people in
positions of power. Till he was conscious in hospital, his mind was sharp and
active. He would ask me to send updates to his friends on Facebook, asking me
if he could Facetime with Aadi (oh yes, that was another aspect of his
reinvention- he was more tech savvy than most people a third his age) or
Twitter. He was perhaps not the most demonstrative of men, but in his final
days, as we often chatted, he told me that he was proud of the man I had
become. Coming from my father, I needed no fancy prose or declarations of love-
that was the ultimate accolade I could have ever hoped to earn- to be a
fraction of the man he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">73 years cannot be summed up in one
note, and a man like my father cannot be reduced to one eulogy, but as a
writer, perhaps this is the best tribute I can pay to him. When a man like him
passes, I don’t want legions of crying and babbling people (no matter how good
their intentions). In many ways, Maloy was a man born in the wrong century. His
courage, his strict code of honour, his sense of what was right and wrong and
acting on that irrespective of the cost or risk, would have made him right at
home in the company of legendary warriors of yore like the Norsemen or Mongols.
When one of their mighty warriors passed, people did not cry, but they
celebrated their life, their battles won, and their legend lived on in song and
in the hearts of future generations. I was lucky to have been a part of his
journey and his legend will live on in my heart and my words and in what I in
turn pass on to my son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Maloy Krishna Dhar wore many hats-
journalist, policeman, spy, author, husband, father- but the simple summation
of my father Maloy was that he was a real man- the sort we should all be lucky
enough to have in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Goodbye, Baba. You are now with the
love of your life, but your spirit and values continue to burn in me, and I
will in my own way ensure that your legend lives on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-86745043198306566572012-03-26T23:47:00.006+08:002012-04-01T15:43:28.387+08:00CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: 7 LESSONS I LEARNED IN THE SEVENTH GRADE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> 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mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Every writer (and indeed anyone who creates something new- a game, a software, a painting, an app) has their own journey, but one thing binds us all- the joy we feel in creating something new and then forming connections with others through our work. As I became a professional writer I learnt that creating something is not enough- you need to be able to reach potential readers and have them discover you. That was a lesson also cemented in my day job in the corporate world as a marketer. Often people scoff at creative folks talking about the business side of it, but the way I look at, creativity and entrepreneurship are two sides of the same coin. No great idea can get anywhere without the drive, passion and initiative to put it in front of potential users. That’s what makes the difference between creating something purely for the pleasure of creating it and creating something that actually connects with and makes a difference to potential readers and users. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>I have had numerous influences and experiences that have shaped my view of what I call `Creative Entrepreneurship’ but the foundations of my core beliefs go way back- to when I was in the seventh grade.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>That was when I self-published my first book. My first book was a collection of my poems bundled with solutions to problems from the coming term’s Maths textbook that I sold to my classmates. The lessons I learned then still hold true today, and while my writing journey has taken me far from that day, when as an eleven year old, I triumphantly held aloft my first book, even today I realize that the basics of what it takes to be a successful Creative Entrepreneur haven’t changed all that much. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>These lessons were field tested most recently when in February 2011 I took a leap into the unknown by putting up my work on the Amazon Kindle store, self-publishing some of my backlist as ebooks to reach new readers, and gradually writing all new novels that were uploaded straight to the Kindle without even looking for a `traditional’ publisher. Till then, I had been the literary equivalent of a `salaryman’- writing for publishers in India, with predictable advances, publicity departments to help me out, editing and design resources of the publishers- and indeed, royalty checks that dutifully arrived once a year. Digital publishing was the equivalent of the Wild West for me- there was nobody to help me with covers, designs or publicity. I not only had to write, but also take care of the entire business aspect of it. And while I could get paid every month, there was no guaranteed advance and certainly no guarantee that I would see a cent of profit. To make matters worse, I was a totally unknown name to American readers, but that did not faze me. If anything, I figured that I had nothing to lose and I took the plunge. Whenever I felt any self-doubt, I’d remind myself of that cocky eleven year old who published a book, and the lessons I learned all those years back.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><o:p><span> </span></o:p><b><span>1. Embrace what makes you different</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Often, new writers wonder whether there is a formula for success, or which genre they should write in to maximize chances of success. The short answer is- write what you are passionate about and what makes you unique. Marketing 101 says that any brand will succeed when it’s differentiated, not when it tries to ape other more successful brands. The same goes for writing or creativity- don’t rush to write stories because others have succeeded in a similar genre. Instead, embrace what makes you special and unique. I was a geek in Grade 7. I’d come first in class, but was pretty introverted. But when I self-published, I turned that to my advantage. Girls may not have been lining up to be friends with me, but when it came to solving problems in class, I was the person they’d bet on. Fast forward more than two decades- I was well-published in India by majors like Random House, but in finding an international audience, I discovered the amazing opportunity the Kindle provided and decided to self-publish my upcoming work on the Kindle. I wondered for some time whether I should try and write something that would be more `relatable’ for Western readers, but then remembered this lesson and instead of fighting what made me different, embraced it. My first break out success, <a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Vimana_Aug11.html">Vimana</a>, is a science-fiction thriller springboarding off Hindu mythology. There are a lot of global themes there, but the core of it is the whole idea of ancient gods in their flying machines (vimanas) as related in Indian epics, a field where I could contribute some unique ideas given my Indian background. My biggest bestseller to date, <a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Alice_Dec11.html">Alice in Deadland</a> is a dystopian thriller set in New Delhi, a city I spent much of my childhood in. Ditto for <a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Zombiestan_Aug11.html">Zombiestan</a>, a bestselling zombie thriller set in India. So ask yourself what life experiences, backgrounds or ideas make you unique, and don’t be ashamed to make that the cornerstone of what makes your creativity different. Embrace your diversity and individuality, don’t try and be another member of a large herd.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><span>2. First appearances do count.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>That’s a cliché, but when it comes to books, it’s true. I still meet self-published writers who say that they will invest in a professional cover when they are more successful. To me, that’s a bit of circular logic- you will increase your chances of being successful if you have a professional cover. To be clear, for me the definition of a professional cover is not necessarily one for which you’ve paid a lot of money to someone. That is a means to the end. A professional cover is one which when put side by side with the bestselling books in your genre will not disadvantage your work in the eyes of potential readers. If you really want to be successful at self-publishing, ask yourself whether your covers can meet that benchmark, and if not- then either polish up your design skills or invest in the best cover designer you can afford. Back in Grade 7, I obviously had no money to create a cover, but I did have an older brother in High School. So I told him what I was doing, and in return for doing his share of cleaning the snow off the driveway (this was in Ottawa in the winter, so it was a significant payment!), he designed a cover for me on his computer and printed it out. When I showed my book to my classmates, their `oohs’ and `wows’ when they saw the cover told me I had made the sale. Even if you don’t write, whatever your creative field, whether you paint, write code or make new apps- the `user interface’ ie. What the user sees when he/she first is presented with your creation will determine whether they click through/pick up your offering or pass on to other options.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><span>3. Make the gatekeeper your friend.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Some self-published writers assume that not going through traditional publishers means that they have bypassed so-called `gatekeepers’ that stand between them and their readers. Here’s a dose of reality- there will always be gatekeepers. Review sites and blogs play that role, as do Amazon reader reviews. Don’t fight gatekeepers, make them your friends. Back in Grade 7, the biggest gatekeeper I had never counted on was my Maths teacher. When she learnt of what I had done, she was quite pissed off, and had a chat with me. She appreciated my aptitude and my enterprise but was worried that it would lead my classmates to take the easy way out and not study for themselves. That made sense to me. So for the next term, I asked her to share the test questions for the past couple of years, and I solved them and put out a new version which was more of a workbook- a compendium of past questions, blank spaces for students to solve them, and answers at the back. My teacher thought it would be good practice and would not come in the way of coursework, and while it meant some of my classmates seeking an easy way out didn’t buy it, it was more than compensated for by the fact that my teacher endorsed it, and even let me put up my cover on the school noticeboard. My gatekeeper had become my biggest advertiser. When I get a negative review today, I never react emotionally, but understand whether there is something I can do better. When any reader writes in, I write a response within the day. When a publisher rejects me, I never burn bridges. Even if I got a form rejection letter, I write a long, personal letter back to the editor thanking them for their time, and more than once, I have got feedback in return which has helped me strengthen my work. Now I am in the curious situation of being commissioned to write novels by publishers in India who had rejected my first novel, and a reader who had once written in with some criticism became a good pen-friend (or it’s digital equivalent) and recommended my novel onto one of his friends, who turned out to be the biggest book blogger in India, for review. It’s a small world, and those who appear to be gatekeepers may sometimes open up opportunities later- so never fight them. Learn from what they are telling you, never burn bridges, and even if you really disagree, don’t create a public spectacle.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><span>4. Create and monetize a portfolio of work.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Writing one book is much easier than truly becoming a writer over the long term and as the cliché goes, the best marketing strategy is often to get the next book out there. However, for me, it’s not just having more books out there- but how you can use your portfolio of work deliberately to achieve more success by monetizing them. In Grade 7, I was really into writing poetry, but figured (correctly so) that not too many of my classmates would be willing to pay to read my poetry. So when I put out my first book, I bundled some of my poems with the Maths solutions. My classmates bought the book for the Maths, but inevitably many of them read my poems. And guess what, by the time I was ready with the next term’s edition, a few of them were actually requesting new poems to be included. The other lesson learnt of course was that writing poetry had its fringe benefits in impressing girls, but that’s another story for another day. Not much has changed- and I am still learning on how best to leverage my portfolio of work. I regularly `tag on’ excerpts of another book to my bestselling titles, and when <a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Alice_Dec11.html">Alice in Deadland</a> was climbing the bestselling charts, a mere mention of my other titles on its Amazon home page increased their sales by a multiple of two. The key is to keep experimenting and learning- the difference between being a Creative Entrepreneur and a Salaryman is that there is no company manual, there are no `best practices’. You need to learn what works, sometimes adapting from what others have done, and sometimes trying out your own ideas. The business side comes in when I keep a running tally of every single promotion and ad I’ve run- so that I keep seeing the ROI behind them and fine tune my future plans. Contrast that to a corporate day job- I need not write any recos, I need not ask for anyone’s permission, I need not make any Power Point slides. That’s what makes it so much fun!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><span>5. Keep practicing your craft.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>In his book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell concludes that you need 10,000 hours of practice to really excel at anything. Even if you dedicate three hours a day to writing (and I know that is a lot for most people), that means you need to keep doing that non-stop for 9 years to really start mastering writing. I think there’s a way to short-circuit that- and that is to inject a bit of your passion for writing and self-publishing into everything you do. In school, even after my early experiments with self-publishing, I had been bitten by the writing and publishing bug, and would try and recreate that in everything I did. So even a minor school report became an event- with a designed color cover and neatly typed and formatted interior. I remember a teacher asking me why I was putting so much effort into it, and I told her that I imagined every report was a book I was writing. So even when I was not `writing a book’, I was practicing my craft. My day job today is in the corporate world, and how I bring the craft into my day job is to banish Power Point as much as possible. I don’t try and hide behind slide transitions and fancy pictures, but communicate everything I want in simple writing. Trainings I give take the form of a talk and a single typed sheet. That keeps me sharp in communicating what I want through the written word, and ironically, perhaps helps me do better, because what makes me unique (see lesson 1) is that I’m not just another cubicle dweller, but one who is a professional writer, and I am embracing that- so that even when I am not `writing a book’, I am writing and perfecting my ability to communicate and persuade through the written word.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><span>6. Re-invest for future success.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Being a Creative Entrepreneur means running a business, and for any business to thrive, you need to invest in future success, not just fret about short-term sales or profits. That means re-investing some of what you gain for future growth. In Grade 7, I earned the princely sum of $12.50 from my first edition (a quarter a copy with 50 copies sold), and I spent a dollar on a big stapler, so that next time the book would be more stable and not risk falling apart as it did the first time around with small staples. Today I reinvest 25-30% of everything I earn every month from Kindle sales- into booking blog sponsorships/Facebook advertising, getting professional cover designs and so on. I have a spreadsheet where I keep a tally, and like any business, I started off not fretting about my investments in the first few months. So in Months 1-3, I actually spent more than I earned, but by looking at my sales momentum, I knew I should hang on and I recovered all my investments by the fifth month, and now every month, I am nicely profitable. So don’t give up too soon or think too short term. Treat it like any business- define your investment appetite (for me the worst case was to not be profitable at the end of year 1) and spend for future growth.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><b><span>7. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Creating something gives an artist joy, but being a Creative Entrepreneur is never worth it unless it helps you retain that sense of joy. The biggest tragedy is when a passionate writer or creative brain becomes a pessimistic, nervous wreck when it comes to being an entrepreneur. The key to me is to enjoy the fruits of my writing, to remind myself that my writing helps me pay back into things that bring joy into my life. In Grade 7, I splurged on ice cream and comics and treated my parents to a chocolate. Today, I reframe every cent I earn in terms of what I can do for my family. Last December, my wife and I were planning a vacation for our anniversary, and when she said that the suite at the resort I was suggesting was expensive, I said that it was just four days of royalty from Kindle sales. Moments that like make me realize that my writing is not just feeding my passion or my desire to be read, but in a very real way is helping me create special moments and joy for those who matter most to me. That inspiration is what every Creative Entrepreneur needs to keep going.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In hindsight, my latest experience as a Creative Entrepreneur should not have come as any surprise to me. After all, everything I needed to know I had already learned in Grade 7, when perhaps without realizing it, I took the first steps in this journey. Some years later, while in college studying Economics, I wrote two books on Economic History. My Professors were not amused but as in Grade 7, I fully co-opted them by getting them to write endorsements for my books. I also had learned an important lesson by then- if you got good enough grades, everybody was willing to cut you some slack and let you fool around a bit (In Grade 7, while I was publishing my first book, I also went through two years of school with an imaginary friend called Freddy). The other lesson I learned, which should technically be lesson #8 (but why mess with the catchy branding of 7 lessons in 7</span><sup style="font-weight: normal; ">th</sup><span> Grade?) is to <b>never seek permission to dream</b>. If I had asked anyone whether I should publish a book in Grade 7 or a couple of books in college, I imagine a lot of people- teachers, fellow students, perhaps even relatives, would have called me nuts. The Creative Entrepreneur does not just dream about creating something and then ask for permission- he goes ahead and makes it happen. Seeking permission is for the salaryman, not the Creative Entrepreneur. Similarly, when I started my self-publishing experiment with digital books, there was a lot to dissuade me if I had bothered to ask. Most self-published authors sold no more than a handful of books, most made no money, and to top it all, in my first month, I sold a grand total of 118 ebooks. Instead of the 118 absolute number I focused on the fact that sales were growing 40% each week and soldiered on.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>As I celebrate my first anniversary of self-publishing on the Kindle, I look forward to the future with renewed confidence. In the last year, I’ve sold well over 100,000 ebooks on the Kindle (supposedly becoming one of only about thirty indie authors in the world to ever do so and according to the <a href="http://ereadercorral.com/uncategorized/top-35-indie-authors-of-2011/">E-Reader Corral Blog</a> was among the Top 20 self-published writers globally in 2011). From tentatively uploading a couple of old novels, over the last 12 months I have put up three totally original novels (<a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Zombiestan_Aug11.html">Zombiestan</a>, <a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Alice_Dec11.html">Alice in Deadland</a> and Through The Looking Glass- the sequel to Alice in Deadland) without even submitting to a publisher. I say all that not to become complacent, because that’s not what I do or how I’m built. Instead I use every little stepping-stone and every little victory to gather the courage to dream bigger.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>That little stapled collection of poems and Maths solutions has come a long way, and there’s much more to come. Watch this space....</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><o:p><span><i>(This is an updated and modified version of a guest post I had contributed to fellow author and friend David Gaughran's excellent blog, <a href="http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/7-lessons-in-self-publishing-i-learnt-in-the-7th-grade-guest-post-by-mainak-dhar/">Let's Get Digital</a>). </i></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><o:p><span> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><o:p><span> </span></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-50657431377938966742012-03-01T15:15:00.010+08:002012-03-01T16:04:22.181+08:00The Real Heroes behind the Fictional Heroine<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I recently got a very perceptive message from a reader (thanks, Max Zaoui!) that got me thinking about the underlying themes and motivations behind </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my novel, </span></span><a href="http://www.mainakdhar.com/Alice_Dec11.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alice in Deadland</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></div><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyeSZeEbVVE/T08i6QJfsLI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/lJwIsUlSe7g/s200/AliceinDeadland_Glendon.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714824836318998706" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He asked whether, being Indian, my view of freedom and struggle against tyranny that permeates the story owed</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> anything to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">India’s own struggle for freedom against colonial occupation earlier in the 20</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> century.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That probably had something to do with it, and certainly some aspects of the `rule’ of the Central Committee in Alice in Deadland eg. Using local forces who later mutiny against their foreign masters, using tac</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tics of dividing and conquering, the economic drain of resources to the Mainland- do all owe something to the historical realities of colonial rule India experienced.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">However for me, the connection to the freedom struggle waged by India is not just somethi</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ng to be learnt in abstract terms through history books, but something that was much more personal. My grandfather, S.C De Chowdhury, lived through those times, and his story is one that would be fitting material for any no</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">vel.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He was a brilliant student, despite being from a very modest background (often studying under streetlights at night), and being a young man at a time when the Quit India Movement was in full flow, took part in protests and agitations against British rule. He was imprisoned and wrote his university exams in prison (incidentally, standing first in the university!) and spent quite some time in and out of prison. When India did get its independence, he decided to join the government of Free India and was a member of the first batch of Indian Police Service officers of independent India, serving till he retired at a very senior level.</span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmb-iuxZLoI/T08jhszVyHI/AAAAAAAAAGc/uCTNeB2K1fU/s200/WP_000001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714825514025601138" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He passed away a few years ago, and to some extent, Alice in Deadland was a testimony to this real life hero I had known. His life brought out important themes explored in Alice in Deadland. First, the fact that no matter how young, or how poor, or how weak you seem, you are always strong enough to stand up against tyranny, for that strength has to come from within. Second, it is always a tough journey to make from being a rebel and a revolutionary to actually being part of creating a new regime and system from the inside. And as happened in India’s case, once the hard-fought freedom was won, the rebels and revolutionaries who had sacrificed much to earn that quickly got sidelined by the politicians who were basking in reflected glory. That second theme is something that I am dedicating the sequel, Through the Killing Glass, to exploring.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As an aside, an insight into the spirit that he carried well into his old age comes from a personal anecdote. It was his 80</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">th </span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">birthday, and the whole family had gathered in Calcutta to celebrate. I was in Business School at that time and had joined them. He pulled me and my Mom aside and said that he was really bored by all the fussing over him and what he really wanted was a beer. So as the rest of the clan did whatever people do in such large family gatherings, we sat on the roof, drank beer and he told us old war stories.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There was a second, more immediate spark for Alice in Deadland. When I had begun writing it, the first rumblings of the series of uprisings that have come to be called the Arab Spring had begun. As someone who passionately believes in individual freedom of expression and choice, it was really inspiring to see common people from all walks of life join together to overthrow long-standing tyrannies. </span></span></p><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vg2U0B8y0Z0/T08kxFnnkLI/AAAAAAAAAGo/-AfDe1ETXt8/s200/TIME-MAGAZINE2-446x307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714826877896986802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 138px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There were several thousand unsung heroes of this revolution, but they all brought to life many of the same struggles, and sacrifices that my own grandfather and his generation experienced in India. Each and every one of those faceless and nameless protestors was no less a hero than anything I could conjure up as a writer in my tale Alice in Deadland, for they all shared something in common with Alice- the belief that freedom was something worth fighting, and dying for.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While Alice is a heroine I hope readers admire, I do hope they realize that in this case, the real life heroes behind his heroine are perhaps much more inspiring.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Keep reading and I'll keep writing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mainak</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">By the way for the next couple of weeks, I and a few fellow authors are part of a Kindle Fire Giveaway on the <a href="http://fireapps.blogspot.com/">Kindle Fire Department blog</a>. Do visit this wonderful site for information on Kindle Fire apps and the latest Kindle books and stand a chance to win a new Kindle Fire.</span></p><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhI7QsBO1DQ/T08nIACHliI/AAAAAAAAAG0/wVlW7iSSRJI/s200/flyer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714829470557771298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-20123237108206933692012-02-12T23:35:00.005+08:002012-02-12T23:53:56.283+08:00From Book to Bollywood<div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone has their list of things to do before they kick the bucket and I'm no exception. If anything, my list of things to do which at that time seemed unachievable started early when as a precocious (well, my mother may have had other adjectives to describe me!) ten year old, I'd proclaim my ambition to be a writer. As things turned out, the writer part did come true, but there was another item on my list which I've had for some time now. That was the desire to have one of my books made into a movie. I guess that's a secret wish for most writers because one of the biggest motivators for a writer is reaching people with one's ideas, and in today's popular culture, nothing touches people with the kind of reach and impact that movies do. Of course, going from a book to movie is such a seemingly impossible dream that few writers (including myself) would verbalize that wish, for fear of it seeming outlandish.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, not quite so outlandish any more, I guess. Some of my close friends and family have known for some time that something's been afoot, and now that it's all done and sealed and finally feels real (can't get more real than a contract and a cheque, I guess), thought I'd share with the broader world.</div><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 200px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgauu5kKJHA/TzfdfXOgXXI/AAAAAAAAAF0/QENt5CyV4Ag/s200/herogiri-cover_front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708274583595933042" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of my novels, Herogiri, is headed to Bollywood.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A production house has bought the feature film rights to Herogiri. The process itself was fairly nail-biting, with the initial excitement ("Are you kidding? They want to make a movie out of my book?) giving way to months of protracted negotiations ("Do I really care about Clause 1.23 as long as they make a movie and pay me?") where thankfully, I was in good hands with my publishers, </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Random House, and their lawyers ensuring I got the best possible deal.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uz4jC_Plf_w/Tzfe1ukBhSI/AAAAAAAAAGA/_gLYKJjb7Tg/s200/mr-india.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708276067328951586" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The end result is something I'm really excited about at several levels. Of course, the no-brainer is the excitement of seeing my book come to life on the big screen. The production house has paid for outright movie rights, not an option, so it's very likely they will make a movie soon enough, which means I may not have to wait several years to see Arnab Bannerjee's exploits make the leap from my head to paper and now to screen. Finally, am excited that the rights have been bought by Anil Kapoor Film Productions. Mr. Kapoor, of course is a childhood icon for many of us, and it is fitting that he gets the rights for Herogiri, a superhero tale set in modern India, since he was the star of the first real Indian superhero blockbuster in Mr. India.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, I have my wish-list for who I think would be just perfect for the roles of Arnab, Mishti, Jayantada and the other characters I breathed life into starting with some scribbles on the back of a boarding pass on a flight to Sydney some three years ago. And of course, I'm sure Mr. Kapoor and his executives will figure all that out without my gratuitous advice. But, Mr. Kapoor, if you're reading this, do a long-standing fan a favour and star as Khan Chacha- that would truly be the icing on the cake!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mainak</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-21532061107943608022011-11-09T23:44:00.004+08:002011-11-09T23:59:24.924+08:00Reliving a history that never was...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sW17GlhI3Rw/TrqhLvtMxcI/AAAAAAAAAFM/VfD2qSb9jSo/s1600/9789380828473.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sW17GlhI3Rw/TrqhLvtMxcI/AAAAAAAAAFM/VfD2qSb9jSo/s400/9789380828473.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673023903783241154" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">When I was in school, History was by far my most beloved subject, and I still remember reading about past battles, conquests and empires- all wonderful fodder for an already overactive imagination. The best thing about being a writer is that you can pretty much create the world you want, populate it with characters of your making and then let the story unfold. When I began writing, I always had in the back of my mind that one day, I'd combine my love of History and writing- and this month, the result sees the light of day. My novel, Hindustaan has just been released- and will over December be making its way to your friendly neighbourhood book-shop in India courtesy my publishers Vitasta and Times Book Group, which is marketing it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">In writing Hindustaan, rather than just picking up a historical period to set the story in, I thought I'd have a bit more fun and throw in what is perhaps one of the coolest `what ifs' of Indian history.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b>What would India be like if it had never been conquered by the British?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Here's a litte bit about Hindustaan to give you a feel of what went into the story:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">Till the 17th century, one superpower accounted for almost a quarter of the world’s income- the same share as that of the United States today. That superpower was what we know today as India under the Mughal Empire. Years of internal strife, attacks by Afghan raiders and finally conquest by the British led to the decline and destruction of this mighty empire.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><div style="text-align: justify;">But what if India had never been conquered by the British? What if it remained a mighty and prosperous nation under the rule of the Mughal Empire?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A nation known as Hindustaan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dilli, 1857. The Mughal Empire is at the peak of its power and is gearing up to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of its victory over the British, an occasion where the popular Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar is widely expected to announce his successor. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Empire is thrown into sudden chaos when the Emperor is assassinated and a new regime seizes power in a bloody coup. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this maelstrom, three unlikely companions find themselves thrown together by fate. Ranveer, a young officer in the elite Mughal cavalry, who is now hunted by the very Empire he served; Theo, a rakish English traveller with a mysterious past and Maya, a beautiful and spirited Princess they rescue. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Together, they embark on a series of dramatic adventures across Hindustaan. A journey that takes them from bloody skirmishes with Afghan raiders, rescue missions in remote forts, joining a coalition of rulers who band together against the new despotic regime to protect their independence, and finally back into the heart of Dilli for a dramatic mission.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The stage is set for a monumental struggle that will decide not just their fate, but that of the whole of Hindustaan.</div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Just got my first copy and as usual, am flipping through it, looking at the cover, re-reading portions- a dozen or more times a day, and living the best part of being a writer- finally seeing what was an idea in the back of your mind come to life.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">While it works it's way to bookstores, anyone interested in Hindustaan could just get it from my <a href="http://www.vitastapublishing.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=236&category_id=9&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1">publishers' website</a> . </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What other `what ifs' in history would you find interesting to have a story set in? Let me know, and I'll add it to the ideas circulating in my head for my next effort in the genre…..</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Keep reading, and I'll keep writing…</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mainak</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-35694775051944752582011-10-20T19:44:00.005+08:002011-10-20T20:06:21.936+08:00Of lost wisdom (teeth) and being neighbours with Stephen King & George R.R.Martin<div style="text-align: justify;">Am back to Scribbles after ages- and you have my tooth (or rather what used to be my tooth) to thank for it. After several weeks of excruciating pain, finally gave into the inevitable and went to the dentist today to have an errant wisdom tooth taken out. Suffice to say, it wasn't much fun, and has left me looking a bit like the elephant man with a swollen face and in a fair bit of pain. To add insult to injury, the doctor informed me that at my `age' (hey, I insist that I refuse to grow up, even if I happen to grow old) the operation would be tougher since the roots would be more difficult to take out. Not wanting to add antibiotic and painkiller addled thoughts to my WIP novel, thought I'd at least write a bit here.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, what's up? In real estate, they say that location is everything, and pretty much the same goes for books. If your books happen to be displayed or shelved near a bestseller or a big name, chances of it being noticed grow exponentially. Now whether a reader just notices it, or goes ahead and picks it up, and ultimately buys it (or in the digital equivalent, clicks the book's page and then clicks the 'buy' button), depends on the stopping power of the cover and how well the book's contents lead to closing the same, but being in the consideration set is half the battle won. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So my agony (real and also admittedly exaggerated to express what I consider very well-deserved outrage at having my mouth poked, drilled and cut open and at being called old) was considerably soothed when I found who my neighbours on Amazon are. In my last post I had mentioned my upcoming books, and one of them is the science-fiction thriller, Vimana. The paperback comes out courtesy the fine folks at Penguin India in March'2012, but I've had the ebook up on Amazon for a little while. So this afternoon, when I checked the Amazon charts I caused myself a fair bit of discomfort in trying to whoop for joy (given how numb my face was after the anasthesia) when I saw the Amazon science fiction bestseller lists. It's right here for all of you to share in- your's truly at #7, two `houses' ahead of Stephen King and three `houses' away from George R.R Martin. Couldn't have hoped for better neighbours, especially since these are two authors I love.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BebGOJ4oZzE/TqAODDAOFDI/AAAAAAAAAEs/m3EDMBncbfU/s1600/photo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BebGOJ4oZzE/TqAODDAOFDI/AAAAAAAAAEs/m3EDMBncbfU/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665543776740709426" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, I just hope more such moments won't require the loss of more teeth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keep reading, and I'll keep writing</div><div style="text-align: justify;">cheers</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mainak</div></div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-50961818405307666592011-08-08T20:32:00.007+08:002011-08-08T20:54:24.828+08:00Perspiration versus Inspiration…..<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have been maintaining radio silence on my blog for a while now- and for a very good reason. As far as my writing goes, I have been very busy- though not in writing alone (as in the inspiration of the creative process most people associate with writing) but in the hard slog of getting ideas to readers through the publishing process- the perspiration that most readers will never see.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now it’s all pretty much sorted out for the next 18 months or so, and I can once again focus on writing some new stuff- and also take a bit of a breather from writing. The total time I devote to writing is roughly 30-45 minutes each day (With a full-time day job and a family, that’s all I want to take away for my writing) and when I’m traveling on work roughly twice a month when I get a flurry of writing done in flights, hotels and airports. It may not sound like much, but if one sticks to it in a disciplined way, it all adds up. 45 mins each day, every day, writing on average 600-750 words a day means I can write more than 250000 words a year (or more since I get much more written on holidays and when I’m traveling)- at roughly 70000 words a novel- that’s three books a year.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That’s the core insight behind this post- about how, as in many things in life- work, relationships, losing weight etc- discipline and perspiration is sometimes more important than one isolated stroke of genius. No idea, no matter how brilliant, counts for much unless a writer can slog away day by day, page by page, to bring it to life in the form of a book. Then of course, comes the perspiration that goes into putting all that inspiration into a masterplan of what gets published when, and by whom. So I’ve spent the last two months polishing off some ongoing novels, and closing open loops on all my projects on hand that will be published for the next 12-18 months. A friend messaged me on Facebook yesterday asking which book of mine was next. To her, and to all of you, here’s the calendar of what you can expect to see.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OND11: Hindustaan</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a historical thriller published by Vitasta Publishing. A sneak peek:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Till the 17</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> century, one superpower accounted for almost a quarter of the world’s income- the same share as the United States today. That superpower was what we know today as India under the Mughal Empire. Years of internal strife, attacks by Afghan raiders and finally conquest by the British led to the decline and destruction of this mighty empire.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But what if India had never been conquered by the British? What if it remained a mighty and prosperous nation under the rule of the Mughal Empire?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A nation known as Hindustaan.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dilli, 1857. The Mughal Empire is at the peak of its power and is gearing up to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of its victory over the British, an occasion where the popular Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar is widely expected to announce his successor.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Empire is thrown into sudden chaos when the Emperor is assassinated and a new regime seizes power in a bloody coup.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In this maelstrom, three unlikely companions find themselves thrown together by fate. Ranveer, a young officer in the elite Mughal cavalry, who is now hunted by the very Empire he served; Theo, a rakish English traveller with a mysterious past and Maya, a beautiful and spirited Princess they rescue.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Together, they embark on a series of dramatic adventures across Hindustaan. A journey that takes them from bloody skirmishes with Afghan raiders, rescue missions in remote forts, joining a coalition of rulers who band together against the new despotic regime to protect their independence, and finally back into the heart of Dilli for a dramatic final mission.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The stage is set for a monumental struggle that will decide not just their fate, but that of the whole of Hindustaan.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family:";"></span></span><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">JFM12: Vimana</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a science fiction thriller published by Penguin India. A sneak peek:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'Gods' fought a terrible war in our skies 15,000 years ago. They have returned to finish it.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ancient texts refer to 'Gods' flying in craft called vimanas and waging war with what sound like nuclear weapons. These accounts are today classified as myth or legend.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What if they turned out to be real?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vimana is an edge-of your seat sci-fi technothriller about a young college student who stumbles upon an ancient war between good and evil. A war that we thought was merely a part of our ancient myths and legends, but unknown to us, is still being waged everyday in our skies. He discovers his hidden destiny is to join the forces of light in bringing this war to a conclusion. At stake will be the continued existence of the human race.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Star Wars meets Transformers in this exciting new thriller that will keep all science fiction fans satisfied.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">AMJ12 (or perhaps earlier): Zombiestan</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, a thriller published by Severed Press, a cool Australian publisher specializing in horror. A brief summary:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The War on Terror just took a terrifying new turn.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It began with stories of undead Taliban rampaging through Afghan villages, and faster than anyone could have anticipated; the darkness spreads through the world. In a world laid waste by this new terror, four unlikely companions have been thrown together- a seventeen year old boy dealing with the loss of his family, a US Navy SEAL trying to get back home, an aging, lonely writer with nobody to live for, and a young girl trying to keep her three year old brother safe.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When they discover that the smallest amongst them holds the key to removing the scourge that threatens to destroy their world, they begin an epic journey to a rumoured safe zone high in the Himalayas. A journey that will pit them against their own worst fears and the most terrible dangers- both human and undead.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A journey through a wasteland now known as Zombiestan.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In addition to these, there is a non-fiction title which I am about to sign with Random House, which should be released in 2012. Again, it’s early in the process so will share details later.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In case you can’t wait or don’t want to kill any trees by buying the paperbacks when they come our, thanks to the wonders of ebooks, all three titles are already up on the Kindle store (the cool process of e-publishing is huge fun- and the way books are increasingly reaching readers through the web and ebooks deserves another post all of it's own). Just click on the covers below:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005D0QPOW"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYelFp-YxBQ/Tj_aadHQEXI/AAAAAAAAAEM/fchMu0keGG4/s200/Hindustaan%2Bfinal%2Bcover%2Bfor%2Binsertion.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638465406517645682" style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004USLKF2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cIfTmvgwMM/Tj_aaAiGKoI/AAAAAAAAAEE/xx4fZRk6L88/s200/Vimana%2Bcover%2Bfor%2Binsertion.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638465398845614722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px; " /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055KTC2M"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4K1ty2EiXus/Tj_aaIPqoiI/AAAAAAAAAD8/gJJEGeEmJwk/s200/zombiestan-cover%2B600x900.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638465400915796514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px; " /></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, that’s it- over the next 12-18 months, the perspiration of the last couple of months will see four new books out. Sounds like a lot, but remember the 45 minutes each day add up- that’s the power of perspiration!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now for a well-deserved (at least I think so) break from writing for a week- when I will polish up my website which is way out of date. Then back to my keyboard- because I do have another flash of inspiration I need to get perspiring on!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 13pt; "><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep reading, and I’ll keep writing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mainak</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> -http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-52154390415594256842011-05-01T09:39:00.008+08:002011-05-01T15:24:13.779+08:00So you want to write? 7 tips for the aspiring writer<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">I got in touch with an old friend on email a few days ago, and it was wonderful catching up after more than ten years. One thing we chatted about a lot was writing. He has just started writing the first draft of his first novel and wanted some tips on how to take it forward. In particular, he had no idea of how to get it published and also how to actually see it through and finish it, given the demands of his day job. Should he take time off? Did I know any publishers who could help him? As if on cue, the same day, I received an email from a reader who has also finished his novel and is now `in the market', asking for advice on how to find a publisher. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am hardly an expert on the subject, but as they say, have been there and done that, so thought I'd share some thoughts for anyone wanting to dip their toes into the sometimes little understood world of professional writing. Note the emphasis on professional- if writing is a hobby you want to pursue, scribbling poems or stories for your own satisfaction, go ahead- but if you want to actually be published, and pursue it as a professional ie. where someone pays you to do it, it's a whole different ball game. Here are five tips for my friends and anyone else who wants to write for a living. Even if you don't have any intention of writing, I hope it helps to demystify the world of writing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>1. Don't give up your day job…yet.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sometimes people believe that being a published author must mean you earn millions. If only. The reality is that of course some authors do get huge advances and sell millions, but for the vast majority of writers, writing is something they have to do on top of their day jobs. So, if you're starting out on writing, don't go and piss off your Boss at your day job- you may need to keep that job after all. Also, if you know a writer, cut him/her some slack and buy the drinks once in a while- they aren't as rich as you may think. I said `yet' because, while certainly your first novel won't earn you a huge bundle (unless you are exceptionally lucky and exceptionally good), it all adds up. You keep earning royalties years later, you sell subsidiary rights, you sell movie rights, you sell language rights, you put your ebooks up on Amazon, and yes, you write more books- and soon, you discover that you've entered a virtuous cycle where your earnings go up exponentially every year. You may not be able to leave your day job anytime soon, but there is light at the end of the tunnel- just have realistic expectations as you start off, and hang in there for the long run.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>2. Don't pay a cent to get published- that's not how it works</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A very common pitfall for the young writer desperate to get their work in print is that they get taken for a ride. By unscrupulous agents who charge `reading' fees, and by publishers who ask the authors to pay for the `privilege' of being published. Sure there will be those wolves out there- but that's not how the real world of publishing works. Have pride in your work, and have pride in wanting to be a professional writer. If all you want is to somehow see your book in print, go ahead, but if you want to create a writing career, stay away from these offers. You hire an agent by paying a % of sales to sell your work- no self-respecting agent will charge you to just take you on- but take a % once you've sold your work. No self-respecting publisher will charge you to publish your work- that's called vanity publishing, your book will likely never be seen in a store (what's their incentive? They've already made their profit) and they will never market it. If you do find that getting a traditional publisher is tough- don't fall for this- self-publish or go digital - just put it up on the Kindle store. The latter costs next to nothing, and the former, even if there are some start up costs, the profit is all yours. Nowadays, with the digital book market exploding, it's fast becoming a great option for new authors to go digital first and then get spotted by traditional publishers- and for many, to create a lucrative career self-publishing digitally. Just go to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-summary-page.html?ie=UTF8&ld=AZFooterSelfPublish&topic=200260520">Amazon.com</a> and see how you could self-publish the old fashioned way or straight to Kindle.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>3. You have to create time to write</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A common question is how I `find time' to write. Look, I have the same 24 hour day as everyone else, and I have a day job and a family. So, nobody gives me extra time to write. Like any other writer, I have to create that time, and if you want to write professionally, you need to decide where your writing can fit into your schedule. I do thirty minutes of writing every night, and get a lot of writing done in planes and hotels when I'm traveling on work. Other writers will have their own code. But just remember, if you want to write for a living, you need to make conscious trade-offs. In my case, missing airline food may not be much of a trade-off, but given that we all have finite time every day, realize that there will be things you will not be able to do because you are writing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>4. Be persistent</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Writing a novel can be a daunting task. Even if you are disciplined enough to write every day for an hour, it will probably take you three months of writing every day to finish a full length novel. Throw in the reality that you probably won't write every single day, the editing, the proof-reading, and from the time you have that brilliant idea, it's probably six to nine months later that you even have something that can be called a manuscript, forget getting it published. That takes a long term commitment to it- and the only way to do it is to get disciplined. When I start any project, I create a spreadsheet, where I track progress I make every day in terms of storyline and words written- doesn't sound exceptionally creative or sexy, does it? But having it down on paper in front of me every day keeps me disciplined. At any point in time, I have a three year pipeline of projects with a CPS on when I start on the next book, when I edit the one I am on etc…..it changes, but it keeps me grounded. Again, makes it hardly seem like a creative pursuit, but if you want to write professionally, at some level, you need to start thinking of it as a business and drive it with the same discipline. Otherwise, you'll never last.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>5. Read</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's a truism that to write well, it helps if you read, since that helps open your mind to new ideas and inspiration. But if you want to write professionally, reading takes on a new dimension. It's a part of understanding the landscape and the competition. So you must read, but if you want to write professionally, read in a deliberate way. As you get started on a project, ask yourself, who are the bestselling authors in the genre? Study their craft, understand what works in the genre, and importantly, what doesn't. The point is to get a better understanding of what ideas have already been used, what unwritten conventions of the genre are, and also to think through what will set you apart. Also, read up on writing. Seriously. If you want to be a professional writer, it's not enough to pretend raw talent will get you by. Imagine you're pretty strong and fit, but would you step in the ring with a professional boxer. No, right? Same thing here. Writing, especially fiction, is in equal parts talent and imagination, and also crafting and technique. Some books I've found useful:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Fiction-Passion-Purpose-Techniques/dp/158297506X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304219780&sr=1-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Fire in Fiction</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure-3rd/dp/193290736X/ref=pd_sim_b_78"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Writer's Journey</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-10th-Anniversary-Memoir-Craft/dp/1439156816/ref=pd_sim_b_35">On writing by Stephen King</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>6. </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><b> Be professional</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">If you want to be a professional writer, act like one. Just as you know what professionalism is at your workplace, you need to behave like one when it comes to writing. Even if you've not sold your first novel, act like a professional writer. If you act like someone for whom writing is a hobby to indulge in your spare time, you won't last. The reason is that you are dealing with people- agents, publishers- for whom <i><b>this</b></i> is their day job. A few thought:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">- <b>Get an agent:</b> Especially if you're writing fiction, it can be daunting to wade through how to even get into the consideration set of big publishers. When I started out, I didn't know any better and would send out submissions to publisher after publisher, many of whom probably never even read them. Most big publishers won't even look at unsolicited submissions, simply because they get thousands and prefer to work with established authors on their list or through agents. It makes good business sense for them- established agents help do quality control. Read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/2011-Writers-Market-Robert-Brewer/dp/1582979480/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304227922&sr=8-1">Writer's Market </a> to see agents for different markets and genres, and if you're interested, I work with an amazing duo called Jay and Priya at <a href="http://www.jacaranda-press.com/">Jacaranda</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">- <b>Deliver your commitments and understand the production process</b>: When you're asked to submit drafts by a date, beat it; when you have to show up for an interview, make the time. Most of us are not JK Rowling or Stephen King, so being easy to work with and dependable are things that will make publishers want to keep working with you. Also producing a book is like producing any other product- it involves numerous steps (design, proofing, printing, distribution)- take the time to work with your publisher to understand it and where you fit in and what you need to deliver in. A lesson in humility- yes, you write the book, but once it enters production, you're not at the centre of the world any more- dozens of people and suppliers have to work to a tight CPS to ensure the book hits stores on time- understand and respect the timelines v/s playing prima donna (no, you're probably not big enough to claim you have `Writer's Block' so cannot deliver on time), and the publishers will respect you and be more open to working with you in future.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><b>- Have a financial game plan:</b> Man, I am making this sound boring, right? But if you want to write professionally, this is important. Don't hope to make big money early on- for a new writer, the unwritten rule is that the first advance gets invested in publicity, but over time, map out how much you make and when you really start making money. If you have a day job like me, a good rule of thumb may be that what you earn from writing can be reinvested for the first couple of years- to get publicity, to buy books, to travel- but at least for me, ensure that it doesn't bite into what I get from my day job- then, it's all purely incremental. And over time, as you start getting into a virtuous cycle that I mentioned earlier, you'll see more and more profit. Get your own gameplan that works for your circumstances and track it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><b>7. Pay it forward</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">The great thing about writing is that you aren't competing with anyone except perhaps yourself. Readers buy dozens of books every year, and every bookstore has dozens of authors in every genre- so it is never a zero sum game. For you to win as a professional writer, nobody has to lose. So, as you progress in your journey and learn more about what works- pass it on- the best thing you can do as a writer is to help another one succeed. I firmly believe what goes around comes around and if you selflessly help others, then opportunities will open up for you where none existed. That's the nature of the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">Also, even as you succeed, don't forget those who helped you when you were not as successful- I still am thankful to Renu at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.vitastapublishing.com">Vitasta Publishing</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"> for giving me a big break with Line of Control and even though now I have books with Random House out and Penguin in the works, she is on my list of publishers for my books in the pipeline. As with most things, being a decent human being is perhaps more important than being successful for it's own sake and don't forget that as your writing career progresses.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;">Phew, that was a bit- but haven't written on the blog for some time- being busy with a new novel, and with a vacation coming up, won't be writing for a week or more. Hope this demystifies the writer's life a bit- may not be as glamourous as many imagine, but then, I hope it gives some concrete tips and ideas for any of you starting out on writing. If you're thinking of dipping your toes into the world of writing, don't hesitate, dive right in- it may seem like hard work, but like anything else, all you need is your passion and knowing a bit of the rules of the game.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Keep reading and I'll keep writing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mainak</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-34028107013955986862011-04-09T20:43:00.002+08:002011-04-09T20:48:02.718+08:00Those who forget history….<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the genres I love reading is historical fiction, and I have eagerly devoured the works of writers like Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell, Robert Harris and others. Whether it’s the Roman Empire, the exploits of Atilla or Genghis, the World Wars or the Crusades- almost all major historical events and characters in the West have been immortalized and often brought to life for new generations through fiction. That was perhaps why I loved History as a subject in school- if you look beyond it as a collection of dates and events, it helps you get a glimpse of what life and people were like in a totally different age, and good historical fiction helps bring those to life in a way bland statistics and dates can never do.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Given the rich history we have in India, it’s always been a question in my mind as to why we don’t have more books offering fictional accounts of our history or heritage. There are some notable examples like the Great Indian Novel or Empires of the Indus, but by and large many of the most important and interesting aspects of our history are left alone by writers- such as the Mughal Era, the 1857 Revolt, the freedom struggle and so on.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small; "> Imagine a novel about what actually happened to the Harappan civilization? What would have happened if the British had never conquered India? What if Subhas Chandra Bose had lived? What if the 1857 Revolt had succeeded? All questions that would provide wonderful material for any novelist and would certainly be something I would love to read- but all subjects that, among others, seem to be taboo for Indian writers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Perhaps it’s to do with the fact that as a people, we have a pretty poor sense of history- and are very quick to consign history or historical figures to the realm of myth or religion. And once you do that, given all the special interest groups in our country, it becomes very difficult to write anything that contradicts or even throws a new fictional light on some of the characters and events we have chosen to deify. So Bernard Cornwell can easily write a novel like The Fort where some of the leading lights of the American Revolution are shown in a less than flattering light, but imagine if an Indian writer were to produce a novel about some of the leaders of our freedom struggle or the 1857 Mutiny. We either seem to get sugar-coated Bollywood fantasy like Mangal Pandey or hagiography, never anything that provokes- and if anyone does try, we have the usual cast of characters calling for book bans and burning.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For the world’s largest democracy, that’s one area where as a reader I find ourselves really lacking in terms of having a true democracy of ideas. And as a writer, I itch to get around to doing something about it. As I write this post, I think perhaps I will. Watch this space….</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep reading, and I’ll keep writing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small; ">Mainak</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-2320936782032728442011-03-31T13:50:00.002+08:002011-03-31T13:53:45.658+08:00Fact is indeed stranger than fiction<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">This is an idea for a thriller.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">In the late 1960s, a young Army Officer of 28 joins with like-minded young officers to overthrow the King in their Middle Eastern country. He seeks to establish a modern republic in the place of the corrupt and archaic monarchy. The British Secret Intelligence Service organizes a plan to depose this new leader by using a group of mercenaries and ex-SAS soldiers but at the last minute, the US Government asks them to back down, since they feel that this new, young leader is someone they can work with to act as a counterfoil to Soviet ambitions in the Middle East.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and it is but a matter of time before this young leader transforms into a despot. He surrounds himself with cronies, amasses great wealth, and starts harbouring delusions of global influence and power. With no checks and balances to rein him in, he starts supporting terror groups around the world, including a bizarre plan to train Australian Aborigines to wage a war of terror against the Australian government. In general, his behaviour does not win him too many friends and the same US Government which had let him stay in power now finds itself on a collision course with this dictator. There are several skirmishes in the sea off the coast of this country, and after this leader is found guilty of sponsoring deadly terror attacks against US interests, the </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">US</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, which at the beginning of his career had literally saved him by asking the British to put on hold their plot, launches air strikes against him to kill him. The dictator escapes unhurt, but his adopted infant daughter is killed, sparking an even more intense period of confrontation. His secret services fund and launch several more terror attacks against the West, including the bombing of an airliner that kills hundreds.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">With the world changed after the collapse of the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Soviet Union</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, 9/11 and the War on Terror, the dictator realizes that his days may be numbered and he starts to make peace with the West. He pays $10 Million to each family bereaved in the airliner bombing, and opens up lucrative oil contracts to Western companies. The same British SAS, which at the beginning of his career, was planned to be used to remove him, now comes to his country to train his elite forces. He even gives a speech at the UN General Assembly, and his westernized son is paraded as the new face of his nation, someone the West `can do business with.’</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">An uprising in his country and his brutal crackdown on civilians suddenly brings him to a collision course with the West again, and the US and NATO decide to support the rebels and start an air campaign against his forces. In a twist of fate, one of the leaders of the rebels fighting under Western air cover is a member of Al Qaeda who has spent time at </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Guantanamo</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">, and the government special forces fighting him have been trained by the British SAS.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">If I were to send this to a publisher as the synopsis of a new novel, they would most likely laugh at me and reject it- calling it too convoluted and with too many implausible plot twists. However, this is not something I’ve conjured up in my imagination- this is the true story of Gaddafi and his love-hate relationship with the West. You won’t get this story from a Tom Clancy or Frederick Forsyth thriller, you just need to turn on CNN. When reality is as screwed up and convoluted as this, I wonder what fiction writers can possibly bring to the table?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Keep reading, and I’ll keep writing,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Mainak</span></span></p></span>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-15890226217574512562011-03-27T13:04:00.003+08:002011-03-27T14:13:14.999+08:00Lessons in Rejection….Life lessons I learnt from my collection of rejection letters<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Being rejected is an intrinsic part of the human experience. Whether it's being denied a treat when we were kids, to being turned down by the object of our affection in school, to not getting into the college we wanted, not getting the job, not getting the promotion, not getting credit…I could go on and on, but you get the picture, don't you? We all know what being rejected feels like, and in ways big and small, we face rejection every day. However, what makes a writer's life unique is that a writer faces rejection hundreds of times more than the average person. Simply because a writer has to deal with that dreaded part of becoming a published author- rejection letters.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's a myth that bestselling authors are somehow immune to this. Margaret Mitchell got 38 rejections before a publisher bought Gone with the Wind. Stephen King had so many that he put the bundle up on a spike in his room. For the most part, what the new writer gets is a `form' rejection letter, an impersonal, sterile, often two or three- line rejection of all the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into a book. The rare editor sends a personal note, and an even rarer breed actually offers suggestions to improve the work before re-submitting. When you're starting out in your writing career, getting a rejection letter can be a nerve-wracking experience. There's nothing impersonal about it for the writer- it's a simple and often brutal rejection of one's labour of love. It crushes egos and makes one really question oneself. I've had more than my fair share of rejection letters, and now I think I'm old (was about to add `and wise' but then realized that adjective should not be loosely used, especially in my case!) enough to look back and realize that while the frequent rejection may be tough to deal with at the time, those rejection letters have taught me several lessons. Lessons that have made me a better writer, and a better person. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Am sharing those with you. Even if you've never written anything other than a shopping list and never received a rejection letter in your life, I think these lessons hold relevance for a lot of us, no matter what we do with our lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>1. Balance</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The first lesson is something we often forget. No matter how important something seems at the time (and selling the first novel is about as important as it gets to an aspiring author), and no matter how hard rejection in it is, we always need to remember that our lives don't revolve around that one thing. There are other things that could give us joy and support, if only we looked. So when my first novel was not going anywhere, I moped about in near-depression for some time, but then realized all the wonderful things I was lucky enough to have- a very supportive and loving wife, a job I liked, some good friends; and used all of them as a support system while I kept at it. It's the same even if you don't write- a bad meeting or a promotion delayed at work can seem crushing, but don't bring let that disappointment darken other things in your life- your family, your kids, your hobbies. Instead, use them to brighten your mood and give you strength while you deal with that rejection.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>2. Empathy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When I got `form' rejection letters, I would curse the Editors of big publishing houses for being heartless creatures, sitting in their ivory towers, passing judgements on writers without even having the decency to tell them why their work was being rejected. That was till I was first published by one of the `Big 6'- Random House. I realized then that their Editors, PR people and others were not faceless ogres but perfectly decent, nice people. People with families. People with jobs to do. That was when I got some insights into why they send out those `form' letters. They deal with huge numbers of submissions every day, and especially in a tough economic environment, with pressures on the bottom line, they, like any other business, prioritize their proven `brands'- their current list of bestsellers, and so betting on new, unknown authors is a big risk. I didn't have to like it, but at least it made sense. I then put myself in a different context where I perhaps do the same. In my job, I interview perhaps 50 or more people every year, with the ability to decide whether we offer them a job or not. Those are all young, eager, smart people, and yet I have to reject several of them. In a way, to them, I am no different from the Editor sending a `form' rejection letter to a new writer. My writing experience has made this an integral part of my values- I always try and put myself in the other person's shoes before I judge anyone.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>3. Humility</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As a young writer, it's tempting to rail against the rejection and say that the Editor just didn't see the brilliance of the writing or the ingenious plot. The harsh reality is that most early work is rejected because it actually is not competitive enough. I still remember one of my early rejection letters was not a `form' letter, but a very personal letter from the Editor saying she saw potential in the idea but the characters were not fleshed out enough. I took it very personally, and refused to act on it. A couple of years later, when there was enough distance between the experience, I went back to the letter and to my manuscript and saw indeed that what at that time had seemed a perfect submission, now with more writing experience behind me, seemed inadequate, and the Editor had been spot on. I revised the work, and the novel is now in it's third print run. Lesson learnt for me- if only I had taken it to heart a couple of years earlier. When you get rejected, don't assume the other person is missing something, have the humility to introspect and see what you can do better.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>4. Persistence</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">No writer, no matter how famous he/she may be today, would have gotten there unless they had persisted through early rejections. There's a lesson there for all of us, one which I have tried to bring to life in my own way. I've learnt to focus not on the setbacks, but on the ultimate end goal I want to get to, so that I don't get bogged down by disappointment, but keep going towards my goal. I used to keep my rejection letters. A few years ago, I threw them all away. There's nothing to be gained by reliving disappointment. Instead what I do now is that whenever I start work on a new book, I make a draft (and it is usually pretty ugly, given how well I draw) cover with the title and my name on it and stick it next to my bed. When I go to bed, and wake up, the thing I see is what the book will look like when it's published, and not just ideas in my head or on my computer. There may be setbacks along the way, but as long as I keep focused on that end, it does wonders for motivation and the ability to keep going. I've learnt to use the same thinking (of visualizing success) in other aspects of my life- including my day job. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As I said, we all face rejection, perhaps writers face it more often than others, and we all learn our lessons from it. Nowadays, I don't get `form' rejection letters, not because I don't get rejected at times, but because I have a great agent who deals with publishers and then passes on the bad news in a very nice way. But the same lessons keep me going as a writer, and I realize, have helped shape who I am as a person.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As I was thinking of this, my three year old son was calling me to watch his cartoon with him. I started saying `no' and then looking at the disappointment on his face, realized I was giving him a `form' rejection letter. I told him Daddy had some work to finish and I would be with him in five minutes. He smiled back at me. As soon as I press 'Publish' on this post, I'm going to go over and watch Mickey with him, thanking my rejection letters once again for yet another lesson in rejection.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Keep reading, and I'll keep writing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mainak</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-23624504071709460112011-03-25T13:57:00.004+08:002011-03-25T23:43:06.629+08:00The Lust of the Mohicans...and other scribblings on editing<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">F</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">irst of all, a disclaimer that I mean no disrespect to James Fenimore Cooper’s classic. The Last of the Mohicans was one my favourite novels when I first read it more than 20 years ago, and even today, that same well worn copy occupies pride of place on my bookshelf. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, as I was drudging through editing my latest book, my mind wandered and I reminded myself to pay attention and thank God for what I have today- spell checks, auto-corrections and Find & Replace. Mr. Cooper had none of those, and a single substituted letter could have given a whole new dimension to his novel. To be honest, it may have made it even more likely for me as a fourteen year old boy to pick it up, but I doubt it would have enjoyed the stature it enjoys today (then again, you never know!).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Back to the point- editing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When non-writers think of writing, they think it’s a lot of creative joy and then the glory of seeing books in print and on bookshelves. They totally miss a critical, and at least for me, not a very fun part of it- editing. That’s when you re-read every single word a few times over, discover all the places you screwed up, learn that you somehow changed a character’s name mid-way through the creative haze (am being charitable- I just couldn’t make head or tale of my handwritten notes), and realize that when you thought you were on a roll, your grammar was worse than a Grade 1 dropout. Okay, am being harsh, but for someone who loves the creative part of writing, and like any other writer, loves enjoying the end result, the editing process is a bit of drudge. Having worked in the corporate sector for over 15 years, I keep reminding myself that I don’t have to enjoy something to have to do it well. A poorly edited book, no matter how brilliant the idea is a bit like producing a shampoo bottle with a brilliant product inside but a cap that falls off the moment you touch it and the brand name spelt wrongly. If that’s a bizarre analogy, cut me some slack- I worked on Hair Care for 13 years! So it has to be done, and this is how I have learnt over the years to make peace with the editing process:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Make it real</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The first thing I do when I finish a draft of a book is to print it out, staple the pages together and slap a cover on it. Usually a horrible hand drawn cover (and believe me, I can’t draw). What that does is that at one stroke it transforms a correction process on a laptop screen to the first time I hold `my book’ in my hand. That works wonders for motivation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Get a trusted second opinion</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don’t know about other writers, but I love what I write. My reasoning is simple, if I don’t believe in and love what I do, why should even a single reader believe in me enough to pay good money to read my work? But what that means is that I may be blind to all the times I do screw up, and again, like all writers and their first drafts, those exist galore. So what I do when I finish my first draft is that I run it by my wife. She’s not a writer or an editor, but a voracious reader, and someone I can trust totally to be both brutally honest and amazingly supportive all at the same time. So that becomes not just an editing exercise, but a cross between editing and market research. It helps me uncover misses, and also sometimes points me in directions I may not have thought of. Most of all, it makes editing fun- since I am sharing my labour of love with the person I trust most.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Put some distance between us</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I do get so immersed in my books sometimes that I dream of plot lines and twists and wake up itching to write it down. The downside of being so immersed in something is that you lose objectivity and find it hard to look at your work dispassionately. So after the first edit, I take a break of a couple of weeks. I read a lot of classics in the genre I’m writing, I start scribbling ideas for my next book, and only then do I get back to a second round of editing with a fresh mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was about to press `Post’ and then I stopped myself and edited what I’d written once before posting it. You know what they say about old habits….<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep reading, and I’ll keep writing.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mainak</span></span></p>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693205634463605917.post-4181034989849837862011-03-25T00:00:00.000+08:002011-03-25T00:10:56.555+08:00A post of firsts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Welcome to Scribbles! For the first ever post on this blog, thought it appropriate to start with a post about 'firsts' in my writing. But everyone writes about their first book. first review and all the cool stuff. This is a post about some of the `firsts' that may not be as glamorous but still make me who I am as a writer, and to some extent, a person.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>My first 'publication'</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now I don't remember when I first felt that way, but as long as I can remember, one thought had somehow firmly entrenched itself in my mind- I was born to write. So in Grade 7, I solved that term's Maths textbook problems and stapled the solutions with my poems (figuring nobody would pay money for my poems alone!) and then sold them to my classmates at 50 cents a copy. Earned enough to splurge on ice cream and comics for many weeks to come. And most of all, for the first time ever, saw my name on the 'cover' of a 'book'.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>The first thing my first publisher told me</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Are you serious?"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This was Mr. Khosla, a wonderful old man who ran Khosla Publishing, a pretty well known academic publisher in Delhi, when I went to his office as a 2nd year college student, telling him I had a book on Economics I wanted to publish. Am I grateful he took me seriously. Probably helped that my Mom had gone along with me!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>The first thing I did with my first royalty cheque</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brought a huge box of pastries for Mr. Khosla and his family and then went out and partied with my Mom, gorging on junk food and laughing ourselves silly. Then spent a bit of it on cigarettes (which when I was in college, was a carefully hidden secret from my parents).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>What I did with my first rejection letter</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Can't even remember which publisher it was from, but I was young, and was trying to sell my first novel. Got what I now recognize as a `form' rejection letter, and was naive enough to write back to them thanking them for the reply and asking if they had any tips on how I could improve my chances. Needless to say, never got a reply.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep reading, and I'll keep writing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mainak</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>-http://www.blogger.com/profile/16597921993372403526noreply@blogger.com2