I did not know what a masterclass was. 'Masterclass'. It was something my musician-friends spoke about, but I had never experienced myself.When the British Library organised a masterclass in creative writing with Prof Bill Herbert, I knew I had to enroll.Sometimes, there are many things about writing that you know. Rule #1: Show, don't tell. Rule#2: Always treat your first draft as what it is: a first draft. Rule#3: Read what you have written. Step out from your world to read. Rule #4: Understand the role of the senses while revealing character. Rule#5: Read aloud to taste the phrases you write and find out if they sound as good in reality as they do in your head.We know all these things.Yet, to sit there with other writers and listen to the same things again is rewarding. Each idea is a gentle reminder that the world gives you to bring back what you've forgotten, and reassure … [Read more...]
The Story-Catcher in Gangtok
Ebbani from Rey Valley International School was the first to arrive. "Thirteen more children are coming," she informed me.I was anxious, anxious enough to have considered (night before last) cancelling the whole thing. I had never dealt with such young children before, and the children from Rey Valley who were coming to Rachna Books were children from LKG, UKG, and Grade I.Finally, I loved how everything turned out. There were thirteen children in all, not the 14 that Ebbani expected, and each of them was special. I feel like such a foreigner; I remember so few of the names! Even so, I see their bright faces, looking up at me. I see how they respond to the cover of The Story-Catcher. I can see them imagining with me, contributing to my stories. And my heart warms.The entire concept of bringing children to a bookstore is charming. Every year, Rey Valley brings its children to the … [Read more...]
Parents and Kids Choice Awards
Second runner-up for the Parents and Kids Choice Awards among Indian books for the age-group 10-15! I'm thrilled! … [Read more...]
Five Problems with Good Books
1) I forget that I'm a writer. I pick up Harry Potter determined to see how J.K. Rowling weaves the magic she weaves. I decide that I will look at her techniques, the way she gets me involved in the story and how she slides in her humour. Five chapters - that's all it takes to get me so engrossed that I want to know what happens next (even though I know what happens next) and I don't look at anything else.2) I sometimes (often?) imagine meeting my favourite characters and talking to them - and then become woefully depressed when I realise I cannot. Anne Shirley - I want to meet her, I want her to be my kindred spirit, my bosom friend (even if I come second to Diana Barry). I want to visit Avonlea and walk Birch Path with her. I want to share the joy of the Lake of Shining Waters with her. Why can't I?3) I postpone everything. I can write later. I can work later. I can sleep later. … [Read more...]
Parents Kids Choice Awards
I'm thrilled to be shortlisted for the Parents Kids Choice Awards! Those who have already voted, thank you, and please spread the word (before the 6th of May). Those who have not, please do vote! Here is how - 1) Click on this link - http://www.rivokids.com/pkca 2) Go to I want to vote for Age group: 10 to 15 years 3) Click on The Story-Catcher among Indian writers 4) Vote for anything in the other categories. 5) Enter your details (name, email and city)The picture should help you too! … [Read more...]
Tolulope Popoola
"Your stories are too short." "I want to know more!" "What happens after that?" "I would have liked some more description so that we get to know the people and place better."It's not uncommon for me to get responses like this to my writing, and so I snapped up the term 'Flash Fiction' as soon as I came across it. "I write flash fiction," I tell myself (usually, no one else). "Not short stories; flash fiction."Having come across this delightful term not more than a few months ago, I began trawling the internet for famous writers of flash.And I came across one. I need to say nothing about her.Read Tolulope Popoola. It is almost addictive. The only thing that made me stop was ridiculously slow internet.A collection of her flash fiction is also available on Kindle. … [Read more...]
Yellow Shoes
Today is World Storytelling Day. Here is a story to celebrate the day! If you like it, use it. Read it out to children. Make them imagine and colour - spread the joy of storytelling! Alka sat down on the floor to tie her shoelaces. Weekends were fun. She could meet everyone, play Lock and Key and Polo and Crocodile-Crocodile and Zoop and...“It's time to throw away this terrible pair,” said Alka's mother, looking down at Alka's blue shoes – her favourite pair for running.“No, Mamma, please!” said Alka, looking up, alarmed. “Please, Mamma, it's my favourite pair, really! I'll never ever get a pair like this again! How will I play?”Her mother smiled. “But look at the state they're in, Alka, they're falling to bits. You can barely see that they were once blue, and the sole is completely torn!”“But they're my favourite pair ...”“All right, baby, I'll tell you what,” … [Read more...]
What I used to write …
I transcribed the story of the dame who hated plants some time ago, but found this in a drawer while I was hunting for inspiration - … [Read more...]
‘What happens next?’ at British Library
The afternoon's workshop at the British Library began with a presentation that helped the eight children understand the mood of terror. Sights and sounds, ghosts, enormous spiders, zombies, mummies and pirates found their way into ideas children expressed before they began to write.And then, I gave them their prompt - The crows cried out in the distance. Hundreds, thousands of crows perched on the roof of the old, empty house. Then, the door opened ...I was prepared for a creepy story. I got eight creepy stories.One wrote of the 'Door of No Return'. An old violinist opened the door ... A tremendous sound echoed. NEXT LEVEL! flashed the computer screen.Another wrote about three children being whisked away into a mirror in the haunted house. And then, the ghost of Mr Scribble Hopper wrote the names of the three children on a piece of paper listing the children he had killed.What … [Read more...]