Sujoy Ghosh's Blog: My Voice - Posts Tagged "writing"
Introspection Of The Writing Process
Whenever I read or see an interview of an author or a poet, almost always there is a question about the writing process and techniques. Frankly, a number of good writers are able to deconstruct their process to the bare bones. I won’t lie, I am jealous.
A few years back, I was at Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street, London. Behind the eye-catching red door was the home of arguably the most iconic English writer since Shakespeare. For me, personally, it was a pilgrimage. In the considerable time Dickens spent there, he struggled with health and financial issues. I was trying to understand his writing process from the prism of the humble residence and his difficult life. In my opinion, it was his personal experiences which enriched his writing. It was his struggles which shaped his writing process. It took time but the legacy will probably survive till the end of the time.
Dickens mostly wrote in a serialized manner. There was strict adherence to a routine. He dedicated hours to his writing and walked through the streets of the city while taking breaks. Without the strict routine, Dickens would have struggled to meet the demands of the publisher within the defined timelines. This formulaic manner of writing was a product of the time he lived in and he somehow managed to make it work for himself. To give characters arcs and define plot lines, Dickens largely relied on rough outlines and short notes. In his process there was a certain rhythm and high level planning backed by rich human experience and some brilliant writing skills.
Unfortunately, I had a rather privileged life and never pursuit writing beyond a hobby. I work in corporate as a technical manager in reputed IT consultancy. But I love writing, probably way more than reading.
When I imagine a story, I visualize the images which act as plot points and pivots of this story. The first act of writing is define the outline of the story. Then I spend some time drawing a back story for each of the primary characters. In these two steps, I compile the bible of the story. Then the writing begins. Once I have completed the first draft, I take a few weeks off and revisit the first draft. In this revision, I identify ideas which need to be dumped and plot points which need to be fleshed out. These notes act as the foundation for the second draft. The process repeats till as a reader I am not satisfied. This Agile method works for me. Probably has something to do with my long experience in IT sector.
I think identifying a writing process is a personal and intimate aspect of writing. It works well when the process comes organically to the writer; rather than being taught in a classroom or influenced by a blog post. And eventually it boils down to the relationship between the writer and the audience. The legacy of writer is built upon that relationship.
Stay blessed.
A few years back, I was at Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street, London. Behind the eye-catching red door was the home of arguably the most iconic English writer since Shakespeare. For me, personally, it was a pilgrimage. In the considerable time Dickens spent there, he struggled with health and financial issues. I was trying to understand his writing process from the prism of the humble residence and his difficult life. In my opinion, it was his personal experiences which enriched his writing. It was his struggles which shaped his writing process. It took time but the legacy will probably survive till the end of the time.
Dickens mostly wrote in a serialized manner. There was strict adherence to a routine. He dedicated hours to his writing and walked through the streets of the city while taking breaks. Without the strict routine, Dickens would have struggled to meet the demands of the publisher within the defined timelines. This formulaic manner of writing was a product of the time he lived in and he somehow managed to make it work for himself. To give characters arcs and define plot lines, Dickens largely relied on rough outlines and short notes. In his process there was a certain rhythm and high level planning backed by rich human experience and some brilliant writing skills.
Unfortunately, I had a rather privileged life and never pursuit writing beyond a hobby. I work in corporate as a technical manager in reputed IT consultancy. But I love writing, probably way more than reading.
When I imagine a story, I visualize the images which act as plot points and pivots of this story. The first act of writing is define the outline of the story. Then I spend some time drawing a back story for each of the primary characters. In these two steps, I compile the bible of the story. Then the writing begins. Once I have completed the first draft, I take a few weeks off and revisit the first draft. In this revision, I identify ideas which need to be dumped and plot points which need to be fleshed out. These notes act as the foundation for the second draft. The process repeats till as a reader I am not satisfied. This Agile method works for me. Probably has something to do with my long experience in IT sector.
I think identifying a writing process is a personal and intimate aspect of writing. It works well when the process comes organically to the writer; rather than being taught in a classroom or influenced by a blog post. And eventually it boils down to the relationship between the writer and the audience. The legacy of writer is built upon that relationship.
Stay blessed.
Author Notes | Memorable Opening Lines
“Call me Ishmael.”
First three words from Herman Melville’s iconic classic Moby Dick doesn’t tell you much about the setting of the voyage the reader is about the embark upon. However, it grabs the attention of every reader’s passive attention to the voice of the novelist. It has been over seventeen decades. The Great American Novel has seen Civil War, two World Wars, Civil Rights Movement and era of Technology; the universal popularity of Moby Dick has reached new heights. It is still one of the most widely read book in United States.
Opening lines seldom introduce the reader to the story. They introduce the reader to the writer. Opening lines might not tell anything about the journey, it does help you understand the person who is holding your hand during the ride.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Charles Dickens’ lines in A Tale Of Two Cities is a master class in writing a memorable opening line. It is philosophical and poetic. It reveals the grain of the writer. The repetitiveness of the phrase ‘it was the’ brings about a rhythm to the prose and the closing phrase brings out the beauty of it. There is a dichotomy in the contrasting meaning of the part sentences (example: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times). The opening lines of this Victorian novel is almost like a stanza of a song.
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
Imagine reading this. George Orwell in his book 1984 juxtaposed the absurdities to unsettle the reader. This is a great example where writer did introduced the reader to the writer. Written in ’48, Orwell chose a time in future which was not too far away where the reader is immune to the consequences and not too close where the reader feels the narrative unrealistic or conspiratorial.
There are no rules which dictate how an Opening Line has to be written. Some great books have ordinary opening lines. Some mediocre books chance upon something really brilliant. In the end, the success of a book lies in the ability of the writer to build upon the narrative once the reader gets over the opening line.
~S
First three words from Herman Melville’s iconic classic Moby Dick doesn’t tell you much about the setting of the voyage the reader is about the embark upon. However, it grabs the attention of every reader’s passive attention to the voice of the novelist. It has been over seventeen decades. The Great American Novel has seen Civil War, two World Wars, Civil Rights Movement and era of Technology; the universal popularity of Moby Dick has reached new heights. It is still one of the most widely read book in United States.
Opening lines seldom introduce the reader to the story. They introduce the reader to the writer. Opening lines might not tell anything about the journey, it does help you understand the person who is holding your hand during the ride.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Charles Dickens’ lines in A Tale Of Two Cities is a master class in writing a memorable opening line. It is philosophical and poetic. It reveals the grain of the writer. The repetitiveness of the phrase ‘it was the’ brings about a rhythm to the prose and the closing phrase brings out the beauty of it. There is a dichotomy in the contrasting meaning of the part sentences (example: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times). The opening lines of this Victorian novel is almost like a stanza of a song.
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
Imagine reading this. George Orwell in his book 1984 juxtaposed the absurdities to unsettle the reader. This is a great example where writer did introduced the reader to the writer. Written in ’48, Orwell chose a time in future which was not too far away where the reader is immune to the consequences and not too close where the reader feels the narrative unrealistic or conspiratorial.
There are no rules which dictate how an Opening Line has to be written. Some great books have ordinary opening lines. Some mediocre books chance upon something really brilliant. In the end, the success of a book lies in the ability of the writer to build upon the narrative once the reader gets over the opening line.
~S
My Voice
Author Goodreads Blog:
Born in Allahabad, into a Bengali middle-class family, unassuming management consultant Sujoy is an author with a thing for ordinary people struck in extraordinary situations.
He ...more
Born in Allahabad, into a Bengali middle-class family, unassuming management consultant Sujoy is an author with a thing for ordinary people struck in extraordinary situations.
He ...more
- Sujoy Ghosh's profile
- 18 followers
