This is not an article about anything but a simple message; I thought I must share it with you all. For the first six months that I received the Parthas newsletter I was a silent spectator. There was nothing, I could do as my contribution. Then I thought I could share some of my collections of quotes, trivia quiz and jokes. Then for another five months I did not do anything except that. But in all those five months I had the urge to write an article like our Editor, Prasad or Mukund. But the lack of confidence in me prevented from doing so. As my urge grew more and more I realized that it is not confidence that is lacking but something more serious. To be precise, some deficiency I thought. May be some sort of phobia. Then I realized that I am suffering from language fear or Engli-phobia.
Like every one else I have also been a regular reader of The Hindu for many years now. But all these years I only kept myself abreast with the news or world events or sports and failed to realize that the object of reading is also to develop the language proficiency. Now that I want to write a piece or a paragraph on something, I know where I stand. Grammar is in a miserable state; words are not coming out for the fact and fear that I might misuse them and I have the feeling now, that I will have to start from the beginning. All these years have been colossal waste and I am happy to realize that now - better late than never. Here I remember Editor’s paternal grandfather. He was really great.
Well, you might ask what do I do with my business correspondence and how do I cope? To be very honest there were not too many occasions and nowadays we have at our disposal many other modes of communication available that are quick and cost effective. The only letters I send often are the ones to my customers are nothing but reminder letters asking them to pay their long outstanding dues. Even for that I have a standard format that I had drafted (very effective) some 10 years ago and all I need to do is to change the address and the amount.
Who can forget their first experience with anything? I for one will never forget the experiences that I had with my first writing. On that evening after a nice and fresh bath I sat in front of the system, perfect in all respects with all the tips and substance that I had thought out and was ready to go. If only things were so easy. Almost 45 minutes passed, I was not even close to typing down one paragraph and though I had so much to explain, I could not put anything in words. I understood the gravity of the situation that I was in and abandoned my writing at that point to concentrate more on brushing up on a few composition lessons. Now, I am at a stage of revival of my English knowledge (was there any? I do not even remember) and may be after some working on simple English writing skills, I will feel more comfortable
Similar is the case with my Hindi talking fluency. Once upon a time my north Indian friends initially never believed I was a Madarasi. I was so fluent. (But poor in reading and writing) Now suddenly, I fear that I have lost that proficiency. In recent times, I have not spoken to any one in Hindi. I had no means to test my retentive power. Then after some days I heard the front door bell ringing and found our area Gurkha standing to collect that month’s salary. I greeted him, offered a cup of tea and spoke to him in Hindi for a while, just about everything in general. I under stood from his look that he was surprised, not because I was talking in Hindi but because I had never spoken to him before, though I had seen him for years. I am sure he would not have had the slightest clue about my intentions of talking with him. To an extent I was happy that even after such a long period I could speak though with bit of stuttering. I have also decided to watch the DD National as and when I get time, for that morning program of interviews, disclosures and any other chat that no one would watch, just to keep in touch with the Hindi language. While all others disgrace DD, I have found one reason to watch it.
Shri Parthasarathy is a great guide and motivator. He never gives up anything that easily and that can be seen from the fact that he keeps on prodding everyone, month after month, with the sentence “that you have nothing to lose except your inhibitions.” which has almost become a mission statement or motto of Partha's Newsletter. Honestly, if I am fully uninhibited, the editor was responsible.
In continuation of the Editor’s objective to persuade others to take part in the Newsletter and in order to support the Editor’s effort to motivate others in writing by way of contributions or at least in the form of feedbacks I am enclosing an email that I received. I hope it will do a great deal in helping others who are on the threshold of writing and are yet to get rid of their inhibitions.
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW...NOW, JUST WHAT IS THAT?
By Kimberly Ripley
"I'm too old to start something new." "I can't go back to college now."
"How can I convince an editor that even though I have no published clips, I DO know how to write?"
Stop looking at age as a deterrent! In fact, you should regard your more "mature" years as a gift—especially with regard to freelance writing.
The three statements above are examples of typical fears I have watched new writers encounter. There was a time when these thoughts crossed my own mind. Some folks seem to believe that they must be 21 in order to start a new career. And many of them assume that, to become a successful freelance writer, they must go back to school and take a few college courses.
Let's get a couple of things clear. You can become a successful freelance writer if you are 21. However, in my humble opinion, you have a much better shot at it if you are 38 or 47 or 64!
Why? The answer is so simple! Exactly how much life has the typical 21--year old experienced? Now what about that 38--year old? I mean in no way to berate the college years or social years a young person has endured and enjoyed. I simply mean to point out that life—and the many years of living it—add up to a great deal in the success of a freelance writer.
Many of you have undoubtedly published a few articles or short stories. And I know for a fact that some of you have published books. So you have a passion and an ability to write. Starting your career a little later in life has so many advantages!
You have lived and experienced things that kids just out of college cannot fathom. And you have lived through a range of emotions and trials that kid that age merely read about in books and magazines. So get the notion out of your head that you are at a disadvantage if you are not 21, svelte, and highly fashionable!
Now, about those college courses: I am a strong advocate of ANY form of continuing education. However, as a mother of five, a wife, and a caretaker of an 83--year old mother--in--law, I know how hard it can be to drive over to the community college three nights a week and take a class in Creative Writing.
This isn't necessary! By all means, if you have the time and the resources, and you feel you'd do yourself a service by brushing up on a grammar or composition class, then go for it! But don't assume, because you can't, that you are at another disadvantage. There are so many ways to further your education, to brush up on needed skills, and to promote and enhance your career as a freelance writer.
Draw on your years in the work force—whether it's been in the food preparation industry or a retail outlet. You've certainly met some interesting people and learned a few unusual things. These can all be fodder for your writing.
You get the point. Make a list of the many attributes your life has afforded you. They need not be spectacular. In fact, part of achieving success as a freelance writer entails finding fascination in the simplest of things.
No, age is most certainly NOT a deterrent. Take pride in your age. Take pride in the life you've lived. Turn your experiences into income as a successful freelance writer!
Kimberly Ripley is an award--winning freelance writer and author of four books. She lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with her husband, five children and mother-in-law...all inspirations for her writing
Sudarshan
December 2002
Editor's note: Thank you, Sudarshan for an inspiring piece. Prasad has shown that any incident in our life can be converted to an interesting article. We may not all have the gift of the pen. But writing is not very different from speaking except that it is more formal. Perhaps it needs a greater discipline. Aldous Huxley wrote "Everyone's memory is his private literature." And all of us have reams of literature within us. Prasad motivated me to write articles based on incidents in my life and I am happy to have motivated Amritha and Sudarshan. All others, see what Longfellow says and start writing from your heart.