On Writing

 

Writing, like any other art, is liberating. In fact, one might contest that it accords more freedom than other arts. It frees both the writer and his reader. A writer can traverse worlds beyond the ken of ordinary man. His imagination alone is his limitation. And, on the wings of a writer’s creativity, readers can transcend their mundane worlds.

It isn’t easy for a writer to take on flight of his imagination though. There are more obstacles to overcome than one. Impatience, fear, procrastination, and inhibitions are some of the many impediments on the rough path that a writer has to pass at times.

“Learn to labour and to wait” is H.W. Longfellow’s sound caveat: easy to remember, but difficult to practise. Fear can be crippling. It stems from many sources – lack of confidence in subject matter, paucity of inspiration, and failures, among other things. Again there are brickbats to face sometimes even after leaping over these hurdles.

Experiences have taught me that a writer has to be strong first to be able to enjoy the exhilarations of freedom. I have been trying to develop supreme confidence in myself and what I write and yet try to remain flexible enough to learn. I think I may never enjoy being a writer if I develop thick skin to criticism and brickbats. I’ll have to be wise enough to manoeuvre through them, or learn to see in their light, as situation might call for…

I hope there are many happy writing battles to win and that I live to share the curious stories about them.