It is easy to make things complicated...

"It is easy to make things complicated, but genius make things simple and short."

This is what inspires Dinesh Kumar, another prolific writer of our city, whose latest book "Marketing Channels" has just been published by Oxford University Press. 

My inspiration for writing has always been how to make things or thoughts, which look complicated or difficult to grasp at one go, simple, short, and easy. 

My best time for writing is from 6am to 9am. I just go to my study, sit on the comfortable chair, and start writing. 

Writing tips from an author

We spoke with Sangeet Sharma, an architect by profession, who has published six books including one of poetry, and is always bubbling with enthusiasm. Every time you meet him you can see that there is something brewing at the back of his mind, and at times creative flashes of his subconscious can be seen in his expressive eyes.

How do you get inspired to write? 

It is the journey of the writing which is so  inspiring. The commitment to the protagonist, the plot the streak of winning,  the unhindered imagination and the will to put on paper; the aspirations are so inspiring.  Moreover, many authors may deny, but all books are autobiographical to some extent. It is this thrill of putting into words the elements of personal experience which inspire you. 
Any specific moment when the streak of inspiration strikes you?

This inspiration can strike anytime. It could be In the middle of the night, at lunch, at work place, on while you are travelling and have time to think.  There is no fixed time and place for writing. The only longer time required on the desk is when I edit.

What is the best pose you strike before writing? 

I go straight on the computer and start writing. 

Well. What's your take on it? And what we are asking you is to write just 1000 words of short story, with clue to the story already there. Just click here for more details. 

How did the great authors produce great books?

Different writers get inspired differently.  Here's a melange of tips one can pick up from some of the greatest writers of our times. What suits you?  Or how you get down to the business of writing...share with us. 

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" author Truman Capote would do his first draft in longhand using pencil while lying down on the bed or a couch with cigarette and coffee.  He won't leave his bed even while preparing the final draft balancing his typewriter on his knees. 

Though Ernest Hemingway was  known for his love for Bacchus but would never write while drunk. He was a regular writer and would pen at least 500 words every day. 

However for James Joyce that was not the criteria, who always was proud of and happy if he could write down just a few sentences in a day.  

Another famous American writer Philip Roth would walk half a mile for every page he wrote, and kept a separate studio to focus on his writings. 

Great novels like 'Lolita', 'Pale Fire' came from the pen of Vladimir Nabokov who would write on index cards so that he could arrange them in order to create the right sequence for his novels.  

Today there are numerous videos full of mathematical jugglery on creating a great story, the writing courses, and what not available online...but to my mind, the best way is what suits you the most. 

Most important, however, is to sit down, take a paper and a pen, and start doodling with your idea. And what's more, we have already given you a clue to start with. You have to finish it in another 900 words. Click here.

It's not a ripple...but an Earthquake!

In an "Introduction to the 1997 Fish Anthology, Dog Days & Other Stories", the author, Joseph O’Connor, has great observation about the art of short story writing. What it can be? May be this would inspire few of the budding writers to try their hands on short story writing and send it across to CLS for the competition.  What O'Connor says is : 
"A short story is a glance at the miraculous. Joyce used a religious word. He called his stories ‘epiphanies’. A good short story is almost always about a moment of profound realization. Or a hint of that. A quiet bomb. There is a record by the American singer Tori Amos called Little Earthquakes. That’s a good metaphor for a short story. Often, a good short story will be a little earthquake."

Book Worm on the Prowl !

There had been lots of activities in the tricity and the most talked about was the 12th anniversary celebration of the British Council Library in the city.  The library members and youngsters from various schools and colleges participated in a painting competition to design a book cover for an Oliver Twist's Great Expectations or David Cooperfield's book. 

British Library has come up with a special offer for the members of the Chandigarh Literary Society too. 

CLS launches ‘Gift a Book’ programme

Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) has launched ‘Gift a Book’ programme to inculcate interest in book reading and make books accessible to certain specific sections of society who do not have the facility.

“Most of us have a large number of books lying around in our homes that we have already read which can be shared with others,” Ms Sumita Misra, president of CLS informed.

“The ‘Gift a Book’ is an initiative to share this treasure trove lying in our homes with children and others who do not have access to good literature,” she added.

CLS has identified several institutions where it would set up libraries, and to start with, CLS gifted a set of books contributed by its members to 'Snehalaya'.  Mr. K.K. Sharma, Advisor to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, commended CLS initiative and personally handed over the books to the inmates. 

In each of CLS get-togethers, a ‘Gift a Book’ desk would be set up where members and anyone can leave a book, which would be collected, and later delivered to the selected institution.

Sumita Misra hoped that the people of tri-city area would come forward and partner in this campaign, by sharing the books of literature, no text books, with others.  

An evening with Dinesh Raghuvanshi

On 4th May, CLS organised an evening with noted poet Dinesh Raghuvanshi at UT Guest House.  To the packed house, Dinesh recited his geet, ghazals, and kept the audience amused with his repartee. 

Mr. K.K. Sharma, Advisor to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh was the chief guest. Mr. Brijender Singh, Deputy Commissioner along with many litterateurs of the city were present. 

Dinesh is a prolific writer and has four anthologies to his credit, “Aasmaan Baaki Hai”, “Do Pal”, “Ankaha is se adhik hai”, and “Bachhe bat nahin karte”.  HIs ghazals have been sung by noted singers like Ghulam Ali and Jagjit Singh. 

Widely travelled, Dinesh Raghuvanshi  has been featured prominently on many television channels and is a most sought-after poet.  Born in Uttar Pradesh in village Kherpur in District Bulandshahar, Dinesh lives in Faridabad.