4 Productive Things To Do When You Don't Feel Like Writing

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"Don't Feel Like Writing" not "Writer's Block"!

Yes. I don't believe in Writer's Block. I think it's pure laziness. It's a phase when we don't want to write, and it's okay. We are never short of ideas. We just don't want to think about them intently in that phase. Writing should come naturally with a sense of joy and fulfillment. When you can be the best version of you, uber creative! You can never deliver your best when your writing is forced.

However, you can still be productive (writing-wise) when not writing. Here are four things you should do when you don't feel like writing. These things may create certain circumstances that will prompt you to write.

Read Voraciously!

Reading is sheer pleasure and a learning experience. Yes. Don't read just for entertainment. Read to learn. Focus on your preferred genre but don't hesitate to try different genres. I have tried this, and it has surprised me pleasantly. I had never thought I would enjoy mythology or psychological thrillers, but now they are two of my favourite genres!

Don't push yourself to finish every book you pick even though you don't like it. I leave the book unfinished if it doesn't hook me in first 40-50 pages. and I don't feel guilty about it.

Think About Writing.

When we are not writing, we are thinking about writing. You know this, don't you? You can't help this random whirling in your mind. Just work on it. Try to make this whirling a little more productive.

Collect your thoughts and ideas. You can organize later. Jot down your ideas/beautiful lines that flash in your mind. No. Never trust your memory. Ideas often strike at odd hours and are ephemeral. Jot down immediately.

If you are a freelance writer, shape up your ideas and pitch them to different publications. Don't think about rejection. You won't get selected until you pitch. You will start writing zealously once you get an assignment!

Research.

Watch Movies.

As a writer, you can learn a lot from movies. Watch good movies. Watch. The expressions. The way a character reacts. The way the characters deliver their dialogues. The settings. For me, Star Movies Select is a beautiful discovery. It shows different movies. Book adaptations. Unreleased. It says, '365 days, 365 stories'. You don't have to watch this particular channel. Choose what works best for you.

Travel

I don't travel much but I know it boosts your creativity and imagination. It refreshes your thinking process and enthusiasm. So, if possible, travel.


So, I have shared my views. Now it's your turn. Add/remove. But share your views. Do you write daily? What do you do when not writing? How do you try to improve your creativity?

Spotlight: The Prince's Special Bride by Devika Fernando

Read some reviews:

Deepti Menon

Summerita Rhayne

Alina

The Story:

Marie doesn’t believe in fairytales and needs no handsome prince to rescue her from misery – but everything changes when she falls in love with Crown Prince Christian of Taragonia.

When his sister invites Marie to the palace, their lives collide and leave them both fighting their forbidden attraction.

Prince Christian has no place in his life for love or for a woman who doesn’t fit into the royal scheme of things. But vivacious Marie steals his heart and puts all he has lived for at stake. When the media gets wind of their affair, he has to make a difficult decision. 

Will the unlikely couple have a chance at a happy ending?

What interests me?

The genre - Romance - one of my favourite!

About The Author

Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Her trademark are sweet, yet deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a self-employed German web content writer, as a translator, and as a faithful servant to all the cats, dogs, fish and birds in her home. What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.

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This tornado giveaway is being conducted by The Book Club

Spotlight: The Face At The Window by Kiran Manral

Book Blurb:

What if at the end of one’s life, one realises that one has lived out a lie?

Mrs. McNally, a retired school teacher, living alone in a cottage at the foothills of the Himalayas, has secrets that if revealed could shatter the two people she cares about the most, her daughter Millie and her grand daughter Nina.

Torn by her desire to reveal the truth that could change Millie’s life, and the need to let things continue as they are, Mrs. McNally grapples not just with ghosts from her past, but also a strange, vicious presence in her house that seems to want something from her. Will she ever find the peace that eludes her, will she be rid of this entity haunting her house and, more importantly, will she find closure? A gently nuanced, layered story that deals with the lack of identity and an eternal finding of self, The Face at the Window holds a mirror to the fears we are all afraid to voice, the fear of ageing, the fear of not belonging, and above all, the fear of having no one to love you at the end of your life.

What interests me?

It's a spooky tale. And, the cover is intriguing, apt for this genre!

READ SOME REVIEWS​

​​Vikas Datta

Ava

Sukanya

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Get it @ Amazon India  Amazon.com  Amazon.co.uk

About Kiran Manral

I went from full time journalist to full time mommy to blogger to author. My blogs, www.thirtysixandcounting.wordpress.com and www.karmickids.blogspot.com, are both in Labnol's list of India's top blogs, but are sadly languishing neglected now. I was a blogger columnist with Tehelka Blogs on gender issues. I was also, professionally, India Cultural Lead and Trendspotter with CEB Iconoculture US and am currently Senior consultant with Vector Insights LLP.  Because I spend more time than is healthy on twitter, I got listed a non celebrity 'social media star' on twitter by the Times of India and IBN Live named me as among the 30 interesting Indian women to follow on twitter and among the top 10 Indian moms to follow on twitter for 2013. Sheroes also listed me as among the top 20 women influencers on twitter in 2014. (http://sheroes.in/articles/must-follo...) 

I am on the Planning Board of the Kumaon Literary Festival, Chair of the Women Unlimited Series of the Taj Colloquium, Mentor with Sheroes.in and Qween and on the Advisory Board of Literature Studio. My debut novel, The Reluctant Detective, was published by Westland in 2011. My second novel, Once Upon A Crush,published by Leadstart, was released in May 2014. My third book, All Aboard, was published by Penguin in 2015, as was Karmic Kids, my first non fiction book, published by Hay House in 2015 as well. My fourth fiction work, The Face At the Window, was published by Amaryllis in March 2016.  Most importantly, I have recently declared my body a 100% Nutella free zone. 

This book tour is conducted by The Book Club. Check out all the Books for #TornadoGiveaway 3 HERE

Book Review: A Pound of Flesh by Mukul Deva

Finished "Pound of Flesh" by Mukul Deva (Westland Books). It's my first book by the author and my new experiment with the genre that's crime fiction.

Pamela Stewart, a young american lawyer vanishes from the airport without any trace, while her friends, Jasmine and Rekha, are frantically looking for her. Retired Inspector General of Police Ravinder Singh Gill knows that he has only hours to track down and recover the missing girl, Pamela, his daughter Jasmine’s college-mate and friend. As he digs deeper he realizes that Pamela is not the only girl who is missing.

The book is a chase against kidnapping, human trafficking and organ harvesting racket. This dark and dangerous world belongs to Harpal Singh and skillfully executed by SK who hates Ravinder for killing his father. The battle becomes intensely personal for SK aka The Hammer, when he realizes that Pamela is the friend of Ravinder’s daughter. Also, can Mandeep, a surgeon, Ravinder Gill's future son-in-law and Harpal's son, be involved in this murky web of crime?

The story line is strong (a little filmy). Mukul Deva is a well known experienced author so writing is obviously neat but it's not very tricky as I had expected for a crime fiction. From the very first chapter we know who is Pamela and who kidnapped her and why. The book is written in multiple Point of View, so it didn't create intrigue that was required for this genre. Also, I thought the pace was a little slow, however, it picks up as the story goes deeper, and the chase gets exciting and tense.

There are so many characters as a crime fiction demands perhaps. Characters are well defined. SK is one spontaneous character, moves of SHO Chetan creates intrigue. The anxiety of characters (For their different reasons) is expressed well.

There is a light touch of romance (Jasmine and Mandeep) and family drama too as sub-plots. As I said the pace is slow; seems like a long read as some unnecessary descriptions fill the pages which was not required for this genre.

Overall, for me, it was an average read. You may like it if you enjoy reading crime fiction.


I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Book, a Lovely Haven

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The bookworm in me

Creeps inside books

Oh, so much solace!

The ocean of words, lovely stories

She drowns; evolves at the same time

Listening to the characters

Walking with them, silently

A sense of togetherness

A sense of solitude too

Lost in a secret that unravels slowly

She finds excitement

Book, a lovely haven

Filled with love, joy, confusion and grief

Zephyr of emotions cause

So much chaos in her mind

Who cares about the mayhem outside?

Cocooned in the warmth of fragrant pages
For a book lover,

No other safe zone.

Written for Adite Banerjie's latest book, No Safe Zone contest (promoted by The Book Club). You can get the book HERE or HERE 

Book Review: A Forgotten Affair by Kanchana Banerjee

Finished reading 'A Forgotten Affair' by Kanchana Banerjee (Harper Collins India). I received this lovely book from Writer's Melon for an honest review.

A Forgotten Affair is an intriguing story of Sagarika who met a terrible accident, and wakes up after prolonged coma only to realize that her mind is blank with no memory of her past. Now her life depends on Rishab, a wealthy man, who claims to be her husband.

It seems that Rishab is trying to hide something as he clearly avoids discussing Sagarika's past as if he doesn't want her to regain her memory and past. Why?

A new city, new house, new phone, a stranger as her husband; Sagarika's life is like a slate that has been wiped off. What remains with her are some flashes, an unknown yet familiar face of a man, a whiff of male perfume that drive her crazy. As she struggles to find her real identity, life unveils some shocking realities.

Seems intriguing? Yes, it is! Go, read the book to know more. You won't be disappointed.

Ms. Kanchana is an experienced writer, and it reflects in her writing even though it's her first book. Writing is neat. Narration is crisp.

The book has been told in third person omniscient (Not multiple) point of view - something I don't enjoy much as it affects the unpredictability of the story. The book has an intriguing start but after some time everything becomes so easy while it was supposed to be complex. However, it doesn't affect your reading experience; it still remains engaging.

The author has sketched the character skillfully especially Rishab.

Rishab never screamed. He could spew venom in a cold, firm and barely audible voice.

But, sometimes, I felt that characters, except Rishab, accept unfairness very easily. They don't try enough. The characters, including Sagarika, don't fight. However, I loved the way Sagarika's character transforms eventually.

I liked the end - very satisfying. And, for a change, epilogue in this book is significant. But, I missed an important element here - a gap that remains unanswered.

Overall, for me it was an interesting and engrossing read. If you like reading modern romance (this book is not that typical girl meets boy romance) and women fiction, you will like this book for sure. Go for it!

  

Book Review: The Secret Diary of Kasturba by Neelima Dalmia Adhar

Finished reading "The Secret Dairy of Kasturba" by Neelima Dalmia Adhar (Westland Books).

About the author:

Neelima Dalmia Adhar divides her time between writing and pursuing her interest in Poetry, Hindu Philosophy and the Paranormal. Her first book, a one-of-its-kind biography on her father titled Father Dearest, the life and Times of RK Dalmia, is a widely acclaimed bestseller that made it to several international lists and earned her critical acclaim. Her second book, Merchants of Death, a highly controversial work of fiction also rode the bestseller charts for a sustained period of time.

The book says some intriguing things:

"I don't know what evil resides in me" he wrote to a friend, "I have a streak of cruelty in me that compels people to attempt the impossible in order to please me."

He is the Mahatma, a man the world venerates as a prophet of peace, but for Kasturba, the child bride who married the boy next door, Mohandas was a sexually driven, self righteous, and over bearing husband.

The Secret Dairy of Kasturba is a brave attempt by the author. This book voices Kartuba's feeling. How she managed with a dominating husband who was loving but couldn't trust her. Supportive but unreasonable at times.

The book begins with Kasturba on her death bed, and it beautifully moves towards her birth, carefree childhood, early marriage full of romance, and then her tough married life and motherhood. The language is crisp and beautiful (two words, Sweet and Beloved, were repetitive and a little irritating, but considering the setting and the time, I thought it was okay). I loved the way Kasturba expresses her anger and frustration wordlessly. Just screaming inwardly. We all do that, sometimes.

"Why was he embarking on a journey of penance and celibacy oblivious of the people he would inadvertently victimize, wound and mutilate on the way. Who has given you the authority to enforce a ruling on me that affects me with such a cruel, brutal force, without my consent? Who?

While the book is skillfully crafted, certain things bothered me. Firstly, the Point of View. The book is written in diary form thus in the first person, but it is omniscient, seemed more or less Mahatma Gandhi's biography. I understand that people tell us about certain incidents (thus we know about those incidents even when we are not present there), but it was odd to read some intimate moments of her son's life from Kasturba's point of view which I doubt he would have told her.

Then, the author has mentioned 'a lone, naked bulb suspended from a frayed wire from the ceiling lights up the dingy room'. I don't think in the year 1885, in India, in a town like Rajkot, in a brothel, we can expect/imagine a wired bulb (electricity, precisely). 

But, as I have said before, this book is boldly and beautifully crafted, so such thoughts didn't affect my reading but it did stir a thought.

The book is enlightening and shocking at times. Kasturba's anxiety and longing for her sons are nicely expressed. For me, reading this book was a learning experience. In my opinion, The Secret Diary of Kasturba is a must read for any book lover.


I thank Westland Books for sending me the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Writing Romance? Four Things To Avoid.

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Romance novels. They bring a smile on my face. Yes, it’s my favourite genre, but even though I am an avid reader, I can’t read any random romance. Even your favourite genre cannot guarantee entertainment, sometimes.

A reader’s perspective is closely related to a writer’s writing. They go hand in hand. As I was writing my first novel, We Will Meet Again – a love story, I tried to think as a reader, and tried my best to avoid things that I may not like as a reader. I think it worked!

If you are a first-time writer, and writing romance, there are chances that editors and even readers don’t take your work seriously. It’s not to discourage you, but to make you familiar with the fact. I have seen readers dismissing this genre right away. Maybe, they are prejudice against few things (in romance) that don’t go well with their tastes.

What could possibly go wrong? 

Read the full article HERE

If you like reading mature love stories, you will like my book, We Will Meet Again. It's not about insta-love. It's about growing in a relationship. It's not mushy. It's about strong and relatable characters.

You can get my book here @ a super discount! Or get it from Amazon. Or enter giveaway on Goodreads. 

A Gift, So Precious!

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A gift, so precious

I lost, hues of life faded

Frozen black and white

Vast emptiness ahead,

Endless path, going nowhere

Where shall I find it?

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