NeoBluePanther

Writing, Among Other Things

Category: Writing (Page 15 of 19)

Writing as a System – An Old Post Revisited

May 28, 2008 / / 3 Comments

The post that follows was written by me a few months back. While I sat down to write a new post today, I relaised that I had already written something like that a few months back. So, instead of writing the same thing, albeit in different words, I decided to simply repost the old post. I hope you like it.

Often, we, bloggers, and writers, complain about writer’s block. I don’t know about others but I have often complained about it in the past, and even written posts about it. That was until I realized that there was no point complaining about it. One either has to overcome it or, allow oneself to be beaten by it.

While I was thinking about it, I thought of another thing. The whole process of writing can be be seen as a system.

Writing as a system

Taking this approach, it is easy to see that whatever we write is basically based on three inputs. The first is our LIFE. Over a period of time we go through many experiences and these not only affect the way we think, but also, the way we write and the things we write about. Therefore, living a full life and going through many experiences in life can enhance one’s writing as one will have a first-hand knowledge of the things he or she is writing about.

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Talent, Hard Work and Jeffrey Archer…

May 23, 2008 / / 1 Comment

Good Writing, unlike many other things, never goes out of fashion – neither do good writers. Jeffrey Archer, or Lord Jeffrey Archer, as he is now known, is on a visit to India – his first official one. He had never toured India before because, as he said, he had never received an invitation to do so before. I am glad he did now.

Living in a small town has many upsides, and anything that has an upside is sure to have a downside. The downside of living in a small town is that small towns usually do not form a part of any celebrity tours. It’s no different this time, and Jeffrey Archer will not be coming to my town.

So, the only thing I can do is watch him on TV, and I did that yesterday. From the advice he gave to the young writers in the crowd, he seemed like a very practical man. But, I did not agree with everything he said on the show.

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4000 Entrecard Credits Giveaway Contest!!!

May 3, 2008 / / 27 Comments

I am sure you know what Entrecard is. If you don’t then, maybe, you should stop reading this post, and do a google search for Entrecard.

But, if you do know about entrecard, and use it, then this post might be of a little interest to you. After using Entrecard for a few days, I have come to the conclusion that I do not have the time, or the patience, to drop  enough Entrecards every day.

So, though I like the idea, I have decided not to use Entrecard as much as I have in the past couple of weeks. And if I am not going to use them, the 4,000 Entrecard credits I have are not of much use to me. Therefore – as seems to be the current fashion – I have decided to hold a contest and give away the 4,000 credits.

Earlier, I was thinking of dividing the credits into smaller portions and distributing them among many people. But, then, I felt that reducing the number of credits, might make the contest less attractive to some. So, the 4,000 credits are going to go to one lucky person ( I hope winninig 4,000 entrecard credits makes you feel lucky enough).

The winner will be chosen by a random draw…and there are three ways to enter the draw:

1) Leaving a comment on this post –  1 entry.

2) Subscribing to the RSS feed via e-mail – 3 entries.

3) Writing a post about the contest on your blog – 7 entries.

The contest is open till the midnight of 13th May, 2008 ( Indian standard time). You can do one, or two, or all three of the above activities, but one activity can be done only once per person.

Since this is the first ever contest of any kind on this blog, I am really looking forward to the response this gets. Best of Luck!

 

Writer's Block – A Myth

April 24, 2008 / / 8 Comments

 Can't Write

Anyone who has ever tried to write is sure to have come across these two words – Writer’s Block!

What is Writer’s Block?

The Free Dictionary defines it as “the inability to write”. But, come to think of it, what exactly does “inability to write” mean?  Does it mean something is wrong with your hands, and you can’t hold a pen or type? Or, you have a brain disorder that prevents you from stringing words together?

I don’t think anyone who has used the words Writer’s Block has used them in the sense implied in questions above. So, if your fingers can type (or write, as the case may be), and your brain can think coherently, what does Writer’s Block mean?

There was a time when I , myself, used to complain about Writer’s Block a lot. Then, I came across this article that said if you want to write, quit complaining and just write. And since then, I have stopped complaining about Writer’s Block and I feel, so should everyone else.

Complaining about Writer’s Block is like walking into your office on a Monday morning, and saying, “I can’t work”. Of course, no one ever says that. What they say, instead, is : ” I don’t feel like working today.”

So, when we – who write – complain about Writer’s Block, we should say , “I don’t want to write,” instead of “I can’t write.” Because if you really want to write, there is no reason you can’t. Don’t you agree?

Do you call yourself a Writer?

April 18, 2008 / / 18 Comments

I have always wanted to be  Writer. Ok! maybe not always. There was a time – long gone by – when I wanted to be a private detective; reading all those Hardy Boys books was bound to have some effect on a young and impressionable mind.

But, off late, the desire to be a writer has burnt strong in my heart. So, I was wondering, what the definition of a  writer is. Here is what the Free dictionary has to say :

“One who writes, especially as an occupation.”

That is a very basic definition, but even in this very basic definition, we have a contradiction.

I blog, therefore, I do write albeit every now and then. But, it is not my occupation, nor is my writing a source of my bread and butter. So am I a writer?

I don’t know.

Does blogging give a person the right to call himself a writer. Or, is there some other condition that a person must fulfill before he earns the tag of a writer. Maybe, having a published work is that condition. But with online publishing becoming so easy (a blog could be called an online publication), we enter into another grey zone.

So, let me ask you : What is your definition of a writer?

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