Writing In Shackles

Writing is a serious occupation which like other occupations or professions demands constant learning, innovation and practice to make it better, more effective and impressive. Creative Writing or writing as a medium of artistic and poetic expression requires more than just a good thought/idea or a good story. It entails mastering the use of language, its twists and turns, its vocabulary, its sounds and rythms and so on. To grow and mature as a writer, one needs to challenge oneself with different styles of writing. Some of these involve writing under specific conditions and restrains, in other words a writer can definitely sharpen her skills through the use of certain restrictive writing challenges. Constrained Writing is a really useful literary technique that enables a writer to challenge herself, acting as a catalyst for greater range and a more flexible style. Under this technique the author is bound by a particular condition that forbids certain things or imposes a pattern. 

It involves writing within a restrictive framework for example writing devoid of a particular vowel(mostly e) or with a particular number of syllables or words that begin with a particular letter only. The restrictive format forces the writer to think out of the box, use uncommon words, employ greater creativity and innovate. It is an extremely effective technique which jolts the writer out of her comfort zone.

Some of the most popular forms of constrained writing are:

Lipograms- A particular letter is outlawed, mostly vowels, e.g. e
Haiku - Japanese poem which allows 3 lines having fixed no. of syllables
Palindrome - Word should read the same forward or backward eg radar.
Alliterative - Every word must start with same letter.

Aleatory - Writing must include a word given at random by the reader.

An aspiring writer must practice the various forms of Constrained Writing to exercise greater control, economy and creativity in her writings. Indeed several writers have made a name for themselves by publishing interesting and sometimes quirky literary works-. A few examples include 'Gadsby' by Earnest Vincent Wright which is a 50,000 word novel completely devoid of the letter 'e',  Le Train de Nulle Part (‘The Train From Nowhere’) by Michel Thaler is a 233 page novel that doesn't contain a single verb, and Never Again by Doug Nufer that does not repeat a single word. These are only a few examples in a long list of works that have used techniques of constrained writing. But, they prove that creativity can overcome all constraints. 

To conclude, it must be said that a writer can sharpen her skills even while working under limitations or even when bound by shackles. Such boundaries demand greater creativity and economy of style both of which are fodder for the writer. 

A Stroll in the Park. A Treat for the Senses.

"Let's take a walk in the lawn, shall we?".

"Thanks for coming along. Now, as you tread alongside me to the beautiful, sprawling garden decorating the main entrance of 4, Tolstoy Road, just feel the sounds, sights, smells and sensations that surround you. Feel the sand sifting beneath your feet on the red dusty path that leads to the lawn. Listen to the sound of the birds. Can you hear the 'cuck-oo cuck-oo' from the back and the chirping that envelopes your senses as you walk past the miniature white marble waterfall towards your right? Can you hear the faint splash of  water hitting the surface. The tuneful tweets of birds suddenly being overpowered by the roar of a bus racing outside on the main road? We are almost there inside the lawn. A  narrow, rugged stone path forays into the lawn. As you step on the harsh, coarse stone you can feel the irregular edges jutting out of the tile and pinching your feet. The lawn though is reasonably well manicured and maintained. On your left a green wall of small plants rise to your waist, and running perpendicular to it is a group of tall elms that stand firm forming a boundary. The fragrance of wet mud and frilly leaves fills your nostrils and the striking shades of green overwhelm your vision. 

As you step on the grass, feel the surface beneath. It is certainly softer, gentler than the rocky pathway, but it still feels rough under the hot, baking sun, that burns it. Can you feel the raging sun parching your neck and blazing your back? The grass burns too, it is a mix of gold and green waiting for a good shower to cool it down and quench its thirst. A modest breeze blowing across brings relief from the sun as it plays ever so slightly with your hair and flirts gently with your face. The leaves and branches sway languidly as it flows through them, it moves quietly like a whisper. Ever so often a car vrooms past the old, dilipidated house that stands behind the lawn, and the constant hum of an air conditioner adds a measure of mechanical to the natural."

THE BOOK THIEF By Marckus Zusack

The Book Thief is a superbly crafted masterpiece by author Markus Zusack. Using Death as the narrator, Zusack captures the human tragedy caused by the Nazi ideology in Hitler ruled Germany. Avoiding the previously well documented Jewish perspective the author focuses on the universality and uniformity of death which simply does not discriminate between jews and Germans or for that matter anyone. Its pain, its brutality and its devastation affects all. 

The beauty of this book lies in the extremely intimate and sensitive handling of the tragedy, a tightly knit plot and beautifully sketched characters that stay with you even after the final page. The fine combination of these elements make The Book Thief a wonderfully compelling read. Written with great simplicity, the story captures the personal pain and loss felt by the characters in the most poignant and powerful way. Despite the atmosphere of pending doom and gloom, the story never burdens the reader and instead offers some truly touching moments of tenderness, friendship, love and humanity. The book uplifts in moments like these, yet its most powerful statement is in death, particularly at the very end. The ending simply melts the heart and stirs the soul. It takes you in its grip and doesn't let go till the very last word. The Book Thief has several intertwined themes yet perhaps its most prominent one is that of the capacity of the human race for the good and at the same time, the very ugly. 

All said and done, The Book Thief is a mesmerising, absorbing and satisfying read. One of the very best I have read in a long time. It is a book that everyone, those who simply love to read and those who enjoy the beauty and joy of good literature, must read.

The Writer's Fear Factor

Let me begin by making a confession- I have always wanted to be a writer and that despite my aspirations and noble intent, the very thought of picking up the pen and putting words on paper  has filled me with a strange trepidation. I do not know why the thought of writing paralyses me but I have always wanted to know. I think I may have finally stumbled on something that explains the fear of writing. Actually, I found it in one of the books I recently read. But, before I go ahead, did I tell you that one of the tips you can give to a budding writer is to read as much as possible? Well...I know where's that coming from but really if reading made one a writer, I have read enough to publish a novel by now. But, sadly that's really not the case cause here I am struggling to put together a few lines on my poor, lonely, rather impoverished blog. So, do read but don't forget to write. 

Coming back to the fear of writing, the truth is that no writer escapes it. Infact, if you were to believe Ralph Keyes who has written the book 'The Courage to Write' writers are actually terrorised by the prospect of writing. Now who would have thought that! I don't know, but I can surely empathise. You see, writing is far from being a pleasant experience. a writer would do anything to procrastinate or delay the actual writing. She would spend days or months in research, wait for the right season, the perfect setting, a particular type of paper, the ideal sequence of omens and so on and so forth all just to buy some more time to fight the writing demons. 

It is actually the nature of their job. Just imagine having to speak or sing or perform in front of thousands. Now, what if that performance is recorded and shown for several days to more and more people. If it was good and likeable maybe you'll enjoy the appreciation but what if it was something controversial, something embarrassing? This my dear reader is the state of a writer. her work is not a performance that plays out for a few minutes and then ends and disappears from public memory. A book or a piece of writing stays on, it is there, a part of history, a record, a concrete entity that will be read, re-read, scrutinised, analysed, deconstructed and god knows what else by hundreds and thousands of people for years to come. So, when a writer puts her work in the public domain she is baring a part of her to the reading public. She has no idea what the readers would think of her work. Would they, the readers, figure out that the author has revealed a part of her in her writing. That her writing is a reflection of the writer's ideology, her personality, her own fears, insecurities which she has wrapped in the guise of her characters. Or if the writer's conviction is missing, would the readers see through the fake, pretentious job done by the writer.  There's only one way of knowing and that is to write and publish your work.

It is a fact that readers like those writers who write with conviction, who pour their heart in every word they write and do not hold back from expressing something merely because it is disturbing. Writers who play safe often fail to touch the chord in their readers' heart. However, this is precisely what petrifies the writer. in her pursuit of honesty, of conviction, of genuineness, the writer may reveal parts of her or her life that deserve a private sanctity. By bringing out truth the writer may end up hurting people around her, jeprodizing  relationships and alienating herself. 

The fear of public scrutiny, of revealing too much and being found out become a writer's fear factor. 

 TRAVELLING AT K.G. MARG

A Walk in the Crowd

Sixty Seconds, yes, a single minute at the K.G. Marg, one of the main arterial roads that lead into and out from the iconic Connaught Place in Lutyen’s Delhi is enough to tell you that this is no ordinary place, rather, it possesses a sense of urgency and an air of self importance which hard to miss.

Located in the heart of New Delhi the K.G. Marg may be seen as a microcosm of Delhi’s macrocosm. Like the city, it is an eclectic blend of history and modernity, of the haves and the have nots and of sights and sounds that amuse as well as exhaust. The K.G. Marg is a major business hub which is evident from the monstrous buildings that flank the road on both sides. Based inside these towers are offices of some of the most famous corporate houses providingemployment to a huge number of young hopefuls who dressed smartly in formal attires with a glimmer of anticipation and a sense of expectation can be seen moving around. However, hidden behind their bright countenance is the sheer burden and pressure to make it big in life. They are part of a rat race, they know it yet their spirits are resilient. This in a way is the image of the Indian youth, burdened with hope and aspirations of her parents but dogged in her determination to succeed.

Intersecting the K.G. Marg is the Tolstoy Road and it is this road that lends the urban chaos some charm and a sense of relative peace and order. The Tolstoy Road is covered on both sides with a carpet of grass and a canopy of leaves that spread over the sturdy trees. And, through this curtain of greenery one can have a glimpse of history. Because situated here are some of the oldest bungalows in Delhi. Standing rather shyly, behind the trees and manicured lawns, they are clearly relics of the past. These houses are a legacy of the British era with arcs and pillars, and large windows adorning their façade. Though now lonely and sad, it is not difficult to imagine the joys, the passions, the pains, the intrigues and the sounds that had once breathed life into these forsaken custodians of the past.

Moving away from the busy, crowded and noisy main road one can find peace and comfort in the small lanes that cut across them. As you walk through these lanes an interesting sight greets you. If you watch the walls that stand beside the lane you may see tiles bearing images of gods, goddesses and iconic figures decorating them. For those who may not be aware, Indian men have the distinct habit of relieving themselves against public walls. Of course, the more desolate the place the better and these quiet lanes attract them like bees to flowers. Having images of deities apparently discourages them from carrying out their sinister plans. From the clean air and the pleasant fragrance, I must say the idea seems to have worked.

Finally, a word about the food. Well, there are a number of small eating counters or stalls in the vicinity serving a wide range of food items from sandwiches to noodles to Indian gravies, to juices, cigarettes and so on. Though some eateries, particularly those around the office complexes are very busy through the day, the quality of the food should not be judged by the numbers eating there. Most people eat here because one the food is cheap and two there are limited options available. I tasted Egg Biryani from the heavily crowded and chaotic food stall at the Atul Grove Road. It’s one of their most popular dishes but I simply found it too spicy and greasy for my taste. Having said that the hoards of young people didn’t seem to mind or care.

Working Out! The High before the Low...

Have you ever worked out? I mean at a gym? If you have and more importantly with a certain amount of passion and expectation than I am sure you'll understand the feelings I am going to share with you over the next few lines.

Working out or Body Building or Weight training, (it really doesn't matter what you name it)  is an addiction. It is a kind of intoxication, because it truly has the ability to give you a high. The kind of high that I doubt even the strongest of alcohol could match. To see your body transform into a toned, muscular specimen under the constant tension of pulling, lifting and pumping iron is an incredible feeling. As sweat drips through every pore of the body, as blood rushes through every vein and adrenaline fuels every nerve with strength and raw untamed energy, the bodybuilder experiences absolute bliss. In that moment, as you view your body in the mirror and admire every little swell of the muscle, there's only you and your body and everything else becomes insignificant.

Sadly however, nothing lasts forever, certainly not bliss. The old saying of what goes up must come down, comes true to haunt the bodybuilder. Because, the orgasmic high of bulging, pumped up muscles is very soon replaced by the depressing sight of the same rock hard tissues turning soft and limp. This happens when the swollen muscles  relax and return to their shy, timid self. This fall from the high of pumping iron is every bodybuilder's tragedy and the sole reason that keeps him/her honest day in and day out. It keeps them gorging on those high protein diets and gulping down scoops of expensive protein powder. The bodybuilder goes through the pain, the sweat and the struggle every day only to experience that feeling again. Eventually, he finds that this is no more about body building or staying in shape rather this is his life and he must commit to it-mind, body and soul- to maintain it and perhaps more importantly never to lose it.

This then is the vicious cycle of Working Out. You work hard, you get a high, then you lose it and then must work even harder to get more of it. The moment you stop, you fall.