Reflections from ages past...

I am sick... and I don't mean it in the emotional sort of way! I am sick as in, I am sniffling and coughing my way to glory here and if that's not bad enough, my time in front of the system is being cut short a little because of this. Not that I'm complaining... staring at the screen when your head feels like it's at the center of the Earth isn't the best feeling, let me assure you that!

And so, you ask me why I'm writing an entry when I'm feeling so bad? Well... sometimes, there are things you wish to share with the world and sickness or physical incapacity hardly is an obstacle.

Image by 27147 via Flickr

Yesterday, when I was off visiting a relative with my entire family (and when I was a little better), we had to stop by a bakery store to pick up something for the hosts. And so, my grandpa and I got off the car and walked into the store. This store is near my old school and so, there were so many memories that washed over me as I walked along the same road I had used for nearly twelve years of my life... As soon as we got inside, I saw cream-buns stacked in rows, inviting those who saw them to buy them.

As soon as I saw those delectable pastries, unbeknownst to me, I smiled as I remembered how as a small girl of seven, I would travel with my darling grandpa on a journey from my school back home... a journey that would have been a trivial one for anyone else... but for me, it was something that was a magnificent thing in itself... the sights and the sounds of everything around me, holding onto my grandpa's hands as he led me through the dangerous roads, my young eyes taking everything in through the glasses that did little to hide the world around me... only making it clearer... And then as we passed the pastry shop, I would involuntarily stop and tug at my grandpa's hand and he would stop and turn around to see me stare at the cream-buns...my eyes wide with excitement as I would imagine their sugary taste on my tongue. And my grandpa would smile as he would oblige my unspoken desires and get me a couple of the coveted pastries and all would be well in the world as we'd trudge along again, with an additional spring in my steps as I would try to make the journey as short as possible... I needed to eat the cream-buns as soon as possible!

And now, as I turned to watch my grandpa ask for what he wanted to the shopkeeper, I couldn't help but notice that his face is more lined with wrinkles of the ages that has passed since I was a little girl of seven. He can't walk as fast and somehow, everything about him has taken on a slow pace that belies his age. But I could not help but smile... as I smile now, typing this out in my room....I love my family! It's an emotion that I cannot completely display... In the little things that we do for each other, I can see my love clearly reflected back to me. And for that, I am thankful!

I'm Pooped... but grateful!

Today, on my second day to college, I had to attend my first lab session. And this is all I've to say! I'm so tired that I can't seem to feel my feet at all! Phew! And combine a thirty minute walk to that and an empty stomach back home, you'll mildly get the picture of what I mean people. But you know... I somehow am grateful for all I have. I've loving parents who've never left me wanting anything... I've a handful of true friends who're there for me whenever I need them and loads of things in my life that makes my existence so enjoyable as a whole!

I'm glad people... for all those experiences that were enjoyable. I'm also thankful for all those that weren't, because without those, I wouldn't have learnt some of the most valuable lessons of my life. And I'm thankful for all the people in my life and I pray that all those who I've met and those that I shall meet in the future have the best that is ordained for them and that all creatures great and small don't feel the burden of my existence that much!

Phew! That felt great! And a special thank you to all those who actually read my blog! LOL Love you people!

Well, now I need to fix up a mini-project, complete my Lab report and try studying for a test on Wednesday (and it hasn't even been a week! That HOD is the closest people are ever going to get to Morgoth, I tell you!). But hey! I'll survive! =D

Thoughts from a writer's diary

I'm an avid reader and writer (ahem... you can hide the sniggers there, people!:P) of Fan-Fiction.

And before people go tutting away to glory telling things like Fan-Fiction is so un-original, I'd like to tell them this; It takes a heck a lot more of creativity to actually write a good fan-fic. That's because there are greater number of constraints on the writer to stay true to the orginal writer's canon. (And no... it's not something that blows things up! Oye Ve! :D)

And well... ever since I started college, I'm finding it extremely difficult to actually update my stories on a weekly basis! But I do manage to sneak a chapter up every three weeks or so... And since I'm really particular about the way I present my story and how it unfolds itself, I tend to take my time in reading through the draft and making a million changes before I actually post it! And well... I was doing this when I came across some of my creations from the past (read: 'ancient' past) and it suddenly occurred to me how I have evolved as a writer!

Some of my oldest stories strike me as such immature ramblings of a child fantasizing about a world she so dearly wants to be a part of... a world where she doesn't have to sit alone and wile away her time to nothingness... a world where she's surrounded by her idols and they're actually her friends and treat her as their equals (I would positively die if Hotohori were to propose to me! Ai Eärendil!).

And so, it's understandable that some of that unbridled enthusiasm leaks onto the story like how Orange juice stains your old Polaroids in a weird tone of Sepia.

I hope there are many other similar writers out there... and well... this post is dedicated to all you folks!

And for those who're about to let the world in on your first fan-fic, congratulations! It doesn't take much guts to actually start a story. But to actually publish it online, where the whole world can give you a piece of their mind... it's plain scary in the beginning! And it takes a helluva lot of courage to actually attempt this leap!

And here are some tips for all aspiring 'fan-fic' writers out there! (Please note that I'm no expert in the art of writing... I'm learning this art as I go. And well... sharing some of my pointers does NOT make me authoritative in judging other people and their writings!)

• Don't worry too much about your chapters and how it sounds... if the english is appropriate enough! The main objective is to present a story and what's the fun in doing it if nobody understands what you've written! Sure that doesn't mean that typos and spelling mistakes are okay... but hey! Writers are human beings as well! And a couple of typos is not going to bring about the end of the world! But... when you write a story on Tolkien's Lord of The Rings completely in SMS language, believe me... unless it's a parody and a sarcastic dig on the present generation's dependence on the Mobile phone, you're not going to fool anyone!
  
  
• Get the whole scene preplanned in your head. This is not the same as getting the whole story planned. You can have a skeletal plan all made up. And you can add interesting flourishes to the bold strokes. This really helps if you have a vague idea and are not sure where you're heading. You can always come up with brilliant sub-plots as you write! But the main plot has to be thoroughly thought out and should not be weak! And yep! That means you don't end up in some weird parallel universe and every single hot guy there falls head over heels for you - unless there's a greater plan!
  
  
• A writer's journey as a...well...writer is quite akin to how a tree grows. The bark still has the rings from the past. And in the same way, each of the stories is a remnant of the past. And one should never forget these remnants. In my case, I marvel at how childish my plots have been and how my style of narration has evolved over time.
  
  
• Never write stories for the sake of (positive) reviews alone! Sure! Getting reviews that praise you is always such an encouraging factor. But that's not the reason we write stories! We write to make ourselves happy. And well... nobody's going to spout out a classic on the first try. Criticisms are meant to help the writer. And as for the flames (read harsh feedback that hardly points out the mistakes)... no 'real' good writer/critic would flame another writer's work. So, if you were to get 'flames', you can always ignore them!
  

And if there's still doubts gnawing your mind, do let me know! It takes a lot of courage to publish one's works online. And doing that is always winning half the battle! So, go for it, my fledgling writer friends! Ganbatte!