Raising the profile of South Asian writers since 2007
In late November when my husband, Anudit, and I were attending a relative’s memorial service, I kept thinking about how little we know people. Our understanding of fellow human beings is often based on what we have in common or the relationship we share with them. My husband’s great aunt, in whose honour the memorial …
I was excited but nervous about having the first fifty pages of my novel-in-progress reviewed by the novelist Jacqui Lofthouse, founder of The Writing Coach, a mentoring organisation for writers. This was the rather generous prize for winning The Asian Writer’s 2012 short story competition. Parts of my novel had been reviewed in writing workshops, …
by Khuram Shahzad It would be most unfair to say that only one book has made me the awful writer that I am. It’s always the amalgamation of pretty colours that makes that one horrid colour. If I had to name one book which has had the most influence on me, this accolade should go …
With the launch of The Flying Man (Headline) this January, Roopa Farooki has published five novels in five years – here are her tips on how she starts a novel, and how she manages to finish what she starts! What inspires you to write? Like many writers, I am inspired by what is closest to …
Do you find yourself procrastinating or writing endlessly; yet never getting anything completed? Follow seven steps to manage your time more effectively. Start by noting how you spend your time. Are you checking emails instead of writing? Are you spending too much time in rewriting? This step will help you to identify those things that …
STARBUCKS, near the corner of Albert Square is crowded with people taking a break from their office work; smart men and women reading a book or a newspaper. There were many strangely named coffees and at the beginning I was confused; espresso, cappuccino, caramel macchiato- all expensively priced. The cups would be too big for …
by Jacqui Lofthouse There are many stages of the editing process – which may be one reason why many writers find editing a confusing and occasionally frustrating process. So often, we enjoy the first rush of enthusiasm that seizes us when we begin writing a book, but it is more difficult to keep that verve …
When Abhijit Dasgupta dreamt of writing a novel he never thought the process of getting an agent would take him on such a journey; addicted to that Send button he queried no less than a thousand agents. And rejection was going to hinder him.
Part two of top ten writing tips with Jacqui Lofthouse.
by Jacqui Lofthouse 1. Set aside a regular time each week for your writing and make it sacred. Even if you can only find a single time slot, for example Sunday evening, put it in the diary and make it A FIXTURE. Tell everybody you know that you’re busy and honour this time. It may …