English
It all started when I was six and my sister moved to the city for college. Unable to understand the need for a good education at such a tender age, I was furious with my parents for this decision, and spent days in solitary confinement in my room, which once used to be ours. During those years, amidst all the merriment of sisterhood, there were days when she was very infuriating and I wished that she would just disappear. The lonely days in my room made me feel guilty about my wish, and with no one to talk to, I started pouring my six year old emotions into a journal. As I reminisce, I find it rather amusing how a moment of deep impact, regardless of age, can drive us to do the unimaginable. I probably would have lifted my pencil to draw than write, had my sister been around.
One of my most precious memories is of my mother telling us delightful fairy tales and fables. These stories transported me to a world of make-believe and I remember creating characters and narrating my own stories to my mother and sister, in the few words I had learnt to speak. I do not recall receiving toys as birthday gifts from my parents, because every year books would be gift wrapped and placed on our nightstands. It was almost as if we were forced to read, however over the years I found it was the most enjoyable experience. My sister and I had a special nook in our room, which was cosy beyond words, and we would curl up in snug blankets and devour our books. Perhaps this was a parenting strategy adopted by our parents so that we would not be boisterous children.
One of my prized possessions as a child was the Enid Blyton book series, and I was addicted to Noddy, Famous Five and the Secret Seven Series. I asked my mother once the meaning of “Leave something for someone, but don’t leave someone for something” (Blyton n.p.) and she gave me an exquisite example that always remains etched in my heart, that we should never give up on our relationships. I cleverly reminded her of this quote, when I felt that my sister had abandoned me, and it took her a while to pacify me. With growing age, I started appreciating other works of other writers like Jane Eyre, Mark Twain, C.S Lewis, Thomas Hardy, Ernest Hemingway and even poems of Yeats and Eliot.
My years at university were even more intriguing as I chose to pursue undergraduate studies in English, with considerable support from my family. The wide range of literary works exposed me to what I would term as a whole new universe. I was able to understand and appreciate different writing styles and techniques and even develop my own flair. However, it was during these years, I was unable to write much. It were almost as if my imagination had become dry. Writing is such a solitary pursuit, in which you let your imagination run wild, so it is easy to lose it, especially when the page is blank and your muse is not getting the action it needs. I always used to write at night – it was the soundless time in which I found my mind racing with images, ideas, quotes and plots. My written work was not given much consideration and appreciation in college, and I was getting more used to criticism and rejection. My mind was mostly restless, not being able to comprehend what was happening to my writing and I used to read about the life of other writers and their challenges. Apart from reading the assigned literary work, I also tried my hand at reading and writing about global issues. Possibly this was the phase in which I was uncovering my identity as a writer.
A turn of events brought me back on feet when an article I had written on ‘Women Empowerment’ was selected to be published in a journal. In the course of my undergraduate and graduate studies I continued to write many articles, some of which were published in prominent magazines and journals. I am currently writing a book which is to be published soon and plan to pursue a doctorate degree. In all these years as writer I have realized that writing cannot be taught, it can only be learnt. To become a writer one has to be able to listen wisely, look closely, read avidly, live passionately and write endlessly, as Pablo Picasso said “Inspiration does exist, but it must find your working.”
Works cited
"A Quote by Enid Blyton." Goodreads. Web. 28 June 2015.
"The Quotations Page: Quote from Pablo Picasso." The Quotations Page. Web. 28 June 2015.
