A couple of weeks ago, I found myself thinking – an online writing programme is not a lit fest. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to invite people who would be able to do something entirely new? What could I do to bring in a new kind of story?
And here was my answer: a workshop on science stories conducted by a NASA scientist.
What are characters, really? Mysterious beings, figments of our imagination.
How do writers create characters? Why are some characters so memorable? What makes them unique?
Sophie will also be dealing with representation, addressing the need to be more inclusive in our stories. We’ll discuss ideas and explore techniques and activities that will help us imagine and create characters that stay with us long after we close the book.
Explore poetry, write engaging stories, learn about mood, structure and technique, and understand the process of publishing during this 12-week online creative writing programme.
Create compelling characters, explore genres, and learn about structure and technique at this 12-week online creative writing programme for tweens.
During this reading programme, participants will read, write, draw, colour, think and have fun!
I’ve been conducting reading programmes for eight years now and I promise that they’ll be full of laughter and excitement. We will read four books together - Trouble with Magic, Shrinking Vanita, The Sheep-Pig and Manya Learns to Roar
What does a reading programme involve?
Essentially, reading.
As there are four books spread across 12 sessions, we take roughly three sessions per book. Naturally, this means that we do not read the entire book together. We read excerpts from the books together during each session, and then the children read in their own time before the following class. During each online interaction, we do not just read; we also imagine, create, play and talk. We do activities around the books and try to think about what will happen next. We review books, discussing which ones we like more and why.
Detective stories are thrilling. Whether you read Secret Seven and Five Find-Outers and Dog or Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, a story about an investigator solving a crime is always gripping. What about in the 21st century? What other kinds of detective stories can we write?
These were the questions I had in mind when I invited Shweta to come talk to us. Among other things, she will discuss:
What is a cyber investigator?
How do I write a story about a cyber detective?
What do we mean by digital forensics?
This 6-week online reading programme is for ages 7-8. The four books we will read are Maya in a Mess, Spellbound, The Absent Author (A to Z Mysteries Book 1) and Book Uncle and Me.
This 6-week online reading programme is for ages 9 and 10. The three books we will read are The Mystery of the Secret Hair Oil Formula, Flying with Grandpa and Wisha Wozzariter. The focus of the programme is to read, share ideas and opinions, and explore a little creative writing.
The past is full of secrets. Pirates, shipwrecks and treasure make for thrilling stories. What pirates ruled the waters off the Malabar coast? What tales can we write about them?
This writing workshop on historical fiction will be conducted by historian Dr Radhika Seshan, former Head of the Department of History, Savitribai Phule Pune University. It is a guest session for participants at my online creative writing programmes, but is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee of ₹400.
Tanvi Bhat is a children's book illustrator and author who has created books for publishers like Pratham Books, Duckbill and Tulika Books, to name a few. She likes working with watercolours and gouache when making pictures, and scribbling on scraps of paper that she's constantly losing when she writes.
With her, participants will learn to look at illustration through the lens of storytelling. The visuals often weave a story of their own - how do they do that? Planning, pagination, characters and background design are important. How can we bring them into the illustration process?
This 12-week online creative writing programme is for ages 9 to 11. We will explore poetry, prose and drama together. The fee includes 12 online interactions and access to a private forum, where participants share their work and receive detailed feedback several times a week.
The second edition of my online creative writing programme for ages 12 to 14 is here! The fee includes twelve online interactions and access to a private, secure forum where participants share their work and receive feedback several times a week.
This 6-week online reading programme is for ages 7 and 8. The four books we will read are The Monster Hunters, Bookasura, Esio Trot and At Least a Fish (Zain & Ana Book 1).
This 6-week online reading programme is for ages 9 and 10. Together, we will read Moin and the Monster, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Very Glum Life of Tootoolu Toop. As we read, we will also explore several elements of creative writing, including plot, structure and technique.
This is a special weekend batch of my online reading programme for ages 7 and 8. The four books we will read are The Monster Hunters, Bookasura, Esio Trot and At Least a Fish (Zain & Ana Book 1).
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS BATCH.
My regular reading programme for ages seven and eight goes on! During this programme, we have 12 online interactions, during which we read excerpts from five books. We also do activities around reading, creative writing, and life skills.
This time, we will read five books - Sandy to the Rescue, The Chocolate Touch, and a three-in-one collection, The Absolutely True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev.
My regular reading programme for ages nine and ten goes on! This programme combines the concept of a book club with an introduction to creative writing. During the 12 online interactions, we read excerpts from three books and do activities of all kinds. Every two weeks, one class is devoted to creative writing.
This time's books are - Karma Meets a Zombie, The Hodgeheg, and When the World Went Dark.
With a story that's endearing as it is thought-provoking, The Best Idea of All is a delightful chapter book that is perfect for readers graduating from picture books.
Join us for the official launch on Saturday at 11:00 AM and have a lively interaction with author Varsha Seshan about water conservation, colours, and everything in between!
The special weekend batch of my online reading programme for ages seven and eight is back! In this programme, we have eight online interactions, during which we read excerpts from five books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills.
This time, we will read five books - Sandy to the Rescue, The Chocolate Touch, and a three-in-one collection, The Absolutely True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev.
The Clockwala's Clues has been shortlisted for the Neev Book Award for Emerging Readers 2021! Join us for a panel discussion on 'Growing Boundaries: Relationships, Neighbourhoods and Questions'.
This panel is part of a larger event - the announcement of the Neev Book Awards 2021. It begins with a keynote address by Ruskin Bond and ends with the award ceremony.
Writing nonfiction usually involves a certain amount of research, whether we're writing book reviews or travelogues. Does research have to be daunting and dull? What kind of research is required when we create brochures or photo essays? What do we need to do to prepare for an interview?
As this is a guest session at my writing programme, participants who are part of my current batches will be part of it at no additional cost. However, this session is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
The next writing workshop is here! It will be conducted by Lav Kanoi - actor and musician, writer and translator, anthropologist and academic. Lav is currently doing his PhD at Yale. He is an experienced translator and has published translations from Latin to English, and from Bengali and English to Hindi.
Why do we tell stories out loud? How does one read a script? And how does one script a story? These are some of the questions Lav will address.
'Staging a Script' is a guest session at my writing programme, and those who are part of my current batches will join it at no additional cost. However, this session is also open to non-participants on payment of a fee.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME! But they're open for the December edition. Scroll down to learn more!
At this programme, we have twelve online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read The Vampire Boy, Cricket for the Crocodile, Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Masters #1) and Rattu & Poorie's Adventures in History - 1857.
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS READING PROGRAMME! But they're open for the December edition. Scroll down to learn more!
The weekend batch of my online reading programme for ages seven and eight continues! At this programme, we have eight online interactions, during which we read excerpts from four books. We also do activities based on reading, creative writing, and linking books to life skills. Do note that there are only nine seats per batch!
This time, we will read The Vampire Boy, Cricket for the Crocodile, Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Masters #1) and Rattu & Poorie's Adventures in History - 1857.
