tales of Suchita

Suchita, I want to give you a treatise on writing. I think you’re ready to hear what I have to say. And maybe it’ll help you write better.

• Every story you write, big or small, for yourself or the world or your sister, explores a singular emotion and relationship. Find that, keep that front and centre in your mind.

• There is a certain surrender of your ego that you have to practice when you write. While the story you write is first and foremost for you, it is also about somebody else. Writing isn’t to appease the ego. There are better/faster ways of doing that. Writing is to allow the deep well of love and tears inside you to breathe.

• There will always be one person who will read what you write: you. So this fear “no one” will read is baseless and untrue.

• Jealousy is seductive but ultimately gives you nothing. Your A and someone else’s A is not going to tally. Trying will only sap you of your energy.

• You don’t need discipline or free time or notes or for the stars to align to write. You need intention. If you hold it with deep reverence, life will align around you to help you.

• Putting your work out for public consumption is like sending out a prayer. When you don’t stop praying, why do you stop posting?

• You know the best way for you to start writing? It is to write as soon as you get inspiration. Don’t plan or strategize. You lose so much energy in writing your plans. Begin writing and plan when you’re doing other things.

• You try to control your process too much. You think its because you want to be prepared or you cannot write without a plot. Truth is, you’re simply afraid of the chaos and making mistakes. You’re smart enough to find your way out of it.

• You write because it makes you happy. And that’s your biggest fear: what if you mess it up and disappoint yourself. Well, what’s a harder disappointment to swallow: stopping or completing imperfectly?

This is for you darling: focus on what’s important. Everything else is just noise.

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For Letter N, written as part of #BlogchatterA2Z