Word Lust

03/09/2024

In a world where borders divide and conflicts scar our souls, The Herald of Change and Other Stories shines a light on the resilience of the human spirit. This collection of eight stories is a journey through history, hope and the undying courage of those who refuse to be broken.

From rekindling lost connections across nations to a young girl defying all odds with her unbreakable spirit, and a man playing a game where every move is a gamble between war and peace—each story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, there is light.

This book is a tribute to the silent heroes who endure, resist and hope. Get ready to be inspired by their stories.

Join me on this journey of courage and change. Let’s spread the word and celebrate the indomitable will of humanity together.

https://www.amazon.in/Herald-Change-Other-Stories-Tribute/dp/B0DFGXY2K2

17/11/2023

Nitish Raj and I will discuss the evolving landscape of short fiction, dissecting the shifts in themes, styles and reader expectations, at the Literary Mirror's annual literary festival The Lit Fest 2023.

13/04/2021

Well done Sanhita Baruah

New Release at Oxford Bookstore- The Art of Letting go by author Sanhita Baruah is now available at Oxford Bookstore.
Sanhita Baruah

11/04/2021

Shrutee Choudhary 👌🏻

Shrutee Choudhary

17/06/2017

GUIDE TO RUSSIAN NAMES

Ah Russian novels! What a glorious tradition! The names—Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekov, Sholokov, Pasternak, Nabokov, Solzhenitsyn—they roll off our tongues, like drumbeats under a stormy sky.

But to properly appreciate Russian novels, you must know the following:

Russian names have 3 parts: First name, Patronymic, Last name / Surname

So Ivan Yurievic Kolarov is a guy called Ivan, who is the son of someone called Yuri, who both have a surname called Kolarov.

The female patronymic would be Yurievna (Natalia Yurievna), sister of Ivan, daughter of old Yuri.

First names have dimunitives (nicknames, short, used with affection). Ivan could be at some point Vanya, Vanyusha, Vanka. Alexander could be Sasha, Sanya, Shurik, Shura…

Shasha could refer to a man, Aleksandr or a woman, Aleksandra.

When people address each other, they could do so by just the surname, just the first name, or by first name and patronymic. “Ivan Yurievic, can you get me a cup of tea?’

So Yuri, Yura, Yurochka, Yuri Andreyevich and Zhivago are all the same person.

One other thing – 19th century Russia had a strong French influence, so sometimes they could use foreign (non-Russian) names. So Elena might shed her delicate Odenburg shawl, wear a Parisian dress, and become Helen at some point. Elisaveta could be Elisabeth, or even Betsy!

So our if friend Ivan, (son of Yuri) himself has a son called Yuri, then the boy would be called Yuri Ivanovic Kolarov, son of Ivan Yurievic Kolarov. Pay close attention, because one of them is going to kill the other at some point, and you want to know which vic did away with the other.

Russian novels usually have a long cast of characters and family tree etc. right at the beginning. Bookmark this page, for you’re going to need it!

28/05/2017

But hardly any word is more unnerving yet more urgently needed today than mercy — a word steeped in scripture yet almost biologically encoded into human nature; a word deceptive in its seeming softness, for beneath its surface radiance lurks a dark core: the very concept of mercy only exists because of and as a counterpoint to our capacity for cruelty. Mercy is the conscious choice to be kind when one can be cruel — without cruelty, there is no mercy.

- Anne Lamott.

26/05/2017

But not all men say, "Not all men say 'Not all men say'".

26/05/2017

26/05/2017

“One must give himself completely to his art and not hold back. Throw caution to the wind. Embrace the muse. Make love to your art.”
- Harley King

20/05/2017

All of them!

17/05/2017

Writing a good query letter
Synopses, blurbs, and query letters are the bane of most writers. If you’re querying agents or traditional publishers, it’s difficult to stand out in the slush pile.
The basic structure of a query letter is:
• Opening: One to two sentences describing the book, including the title, genre, and comparative titles in the market.
• Middle paragraphs: Plot details (don’t leave cliffhangers) and the literary merits of the manuscript.
• Ending: Short author bio, social media links, writing awards, and experience or credentials.
That’s it? Yep, that’s it—and that’s why it’s so hard to draw attention. One page is barely enough room to get the basics in, never mind highlight yourself. Some things that can help, though, are advance praise from other prominent authors, best-seller status, and successful previous publications.
It’s a hard sell. There is no such thing as a “perfect” query letter because every writer is different, every book is different, and every agent/publisher who is reading the letter is different. Have you figured out any tips to writing query letters?
This blog article (not mine!) offers some excellent additional suggestions:
http://www.livewritethrive.com/…/why-did-i-get-a-no-the-do…/

Insights, inspiration, and practical advice for writers

15/05/2017

VS Naipaul’s Rules for Beginners

1. Do not write long sentences. A sentence should not have more than ten or twelve words.

2. Each sentence should make a clear statement. It should add to the statement that went before. A good paragraph is a series of clear, linked statements.

3. Do not use big words. If your computer tells you that your average word is more than five letters long, there is something wrong. The use of small words compels you to think about what you are writing. Even difficult ideas can be broken down into small words.

4. Never use words whose meaning you are not sure of. If you break this rule you should look for other work.

5. The beginner should avoid using adjectives, except those of colour, size and number. Use as few adverbs as possible.

6. Avoid the abstract. Always go for the concrete.

7. Every day, for six months at least, practice writing in this way. Small words; short, clear, concrete sentences. It may be awkward, but it’s training you in the use of language. It may even be getting rid of the bad language habits you picked up at the university. You may go beyond these rules after you have thoroughly understood and mastered them.