Wednesday, March 18, 2009

To My Writer Friends....

I’ve been moved to write. Sometimes these moments come and if I ignore it. I would lose it forever. So here goes....
What got the wheel turning or the thinking started was when I wrote in my previous blog about the limiting quality of words...I, for some bizarre reason thought words were so limiting. The language of the tongue, so to speak, is so restrictive.
But then I realised it’s also probably because of my lack of dexterity with words. I can’t seem to twist and turn them. To stretch and compress them. To make pudding and sand castles at the same time, with words.
I have seen some do it. Of course! A lot of them do it. All those Dead Poets did it. All the Dead Writers did it. Not to mention the living and the known. All the names on our libraries and bookshelves have all done it.
But I am curiously inspired by them, the lesser known ones. The aspirants. The teachers who never won. The fiercely insecure and utterly brilliant. The passionate and the driven. The procrastinators and the lily-livered geniuses.
I know some such. And one is an old friend who just completed the first draft of a novel. Of which I am reading chapter by chapter. The more I read the more I am convinced this is a narcissistic exercise for me because the pleasure I derive is that of the author himself. Complete with the sense of achievement but sans the insecurity and defensiveness. For some outrageous reason I feel a part of the process of creating this masterpiece. I am bulging with pride for being that reader who is privileged for being the first one to be reading, what could be a remarkable piece of prose, which just wouldn’t be ignored.
But then that is what every insignificant stay-at-home mom would feel when entrusted with a task such as this. Firstly she’s so taken aback for having been chosen from among the multitude to read the work. (She allows herself the luxury to imagine that it is because of some merit of hers...which, what and how, she can’t remember. But she is hoping against hope that there is some such reason.)
Dear Writer friends,
You have all enriched my life just being a part of it. It just moves me to tears, to think that I have all of you in my phone list and to have been able to rub shoulders with you. What more to have you as friends. My deepest hope and prayer for you all is that, you never abandon this path you have chosen for yourself. You are destined to spin yarns, weave poetry, expel your shadows and shun the ghosts that haunt you.
Like a good friend once told me you need to be either ecstatically happy or miserably sad to be able to write. Therefore I wish you much misery and senseless joy. I wish you madness and discipline. I wish you devotion and detachment. If that’s what it takes for you to set the pen moving. This could be your path to salvation. Therefore I wish you a good journey. God speed!

10 comments:

neeraj_only said...

good blog entry from you :)

without any doubt "writing" is an art. Earlier, i used to think only "writers" have that art. But this art is evenly distributed , i accept this after going through "so many" good blogs.

I am happily surprised "everyone" has distinct style of writing. And they are able to make "sand castles" and "pudding" at the same time using so many beautiful words.
Long live "bloggers".

Shalini George said...

thankyou neeraj,
that was encouraging. Stay happy!

Unknown said...

Nice piece of work, this one, Shalini! It has been enlightening. I am not, and never have, as far I can recall, felt like a miserable rat. Neither do i experience bouts of unbounded ecstasy. Precisely why, i can;t write as well as some of my friends do, U included.
Do keep doing what God has ordained you to do for humankind. Keep Writing!!
Cheers!!!

Shalini George said...

Don dearest,
I don't think I can write either. Not ordained.Just encouraging the other ordained....;-)

Quicksilver said...

"...you need to be either ecstatically happy or miserably sad to be able to write." This is so true. I loved this post. And, i think its proof enough that you can write, wonderfully well that too ;)

Shalini George said...

hey there!
Thankyou for that. Hope you'll be around....

Razzer said...

Heyyyyy...I dont care wot u wrte.. Im already biased towards u. I like everything u write.
;-0

After a long time. Howz u?
Ill be back.
be good.

Anand. :-)

pradeep said...

great words ...keep writing

mikimbizii said...

I just loved this post ! It echoes my exact feeling though I wouldnt have been able to express it as beautifully as you've done here. And about stretching and compressing words and making sand castles ... I think you've gone way beyond sandcastles and have created an entire wonderland with your words , the way you string them into flowing garlands and mould them into dreamy mountains, profound valleys and a sea of emotions..... You are awsome! not just your writings but you - Shalini. You simply rock !! , though I always think of grabbing the phone and dialling your number some sort of reverant fear keeps me back. One day when I can master that I'll call you. :)

Shalini George said...

Blessed Easter TO you, Miki!
Don't be silly! Just grab the phone and call. Can't wait to hear from my fAV BLOGGER.