In some other context, we were recently discussing the art of writing. Goa often forgets how important writing can be for any society. But more so the memories from our tiny but historic region, which interacts with the rest of the globe, has seen lots of migration, is home to so many languages, has endured dramatically different sets of rulers, and so on.
This discussion arose over the writing of Isabel Santa Rita Vas. The lady better known as the teacher and professor of English for long years, and a mentor of youngsters in English drama, recently wrote an article titled 'I Count My Life By Houses'.
In this piece, she describes the homes she lived through, particularly one located near an old bridge in Panaji. It's a charming story, not just about homes. It looks at the times that Goa knew in past decades, people who lived then, trends from those times and so much more.
Everyone who read it, loved it.
So one thought of asking Ms Vas (she hates to be called "Doctor"), a few questions: What triggered her to write this story? Was it a thought, a memory, someone's comment, something unrelated that she had read? Or did it pop up subconsciously?
There are other questions one can think off too: Does one write first and then find a suitable place to slot it (get it published)? Or do you think of something only when an opportunity comes up?
Of course, there can be no cut-and-dry answers. But getting suitable themes to write can be a challenge for most writers, especially earlier on, when just getting started. (Less so if it's non-fiction, i guess.)
If you write, what is your experience here?
When writing non-fiction it's easier, as suggested above. This is true of whether one is doing a news report, a news-feature, interview, book review or magazine article. You generally write on what is topical, what's in the news, or what's on your mind.
Topicality decides things for you.
Yet, you cannot just try to keep up with the D'Souzas and the Kamats and keep writing exactly the same what everyone else is writing about. That would be boring. Especially as a freelancer or columnist, you would end up only trailing the work the others have already done, and the reader would find you dated.
You can't expect a reader to go through eight or ten other versions of the same story, and then find yours to be the most illuminating. Sorry, that won't happen.
But there are other ways out. Sometimes, stories fall into your lap. This is why it is important to make your work visible, to let others know that you are in the writing "business".
Once, an old schoolmate of mine insisted that I meet up with some British young women, who were staying in the village and "looking after pets". The description he cryptically gave made me feel that I was going to encounter another of those boring, PRish stories. One meant to stoke the ego of someone who was possibly bored with life and had nothing better to do.
I could have not been more wrong. What I encountered, just at another end of my own village, was the precursor of the International Animal Rescue. This group since got renamed and reshaped. This story brought in the chance to capture some fascinating photos and tell a charming story. It involved young British women, who were recuperating after volunteer work at the 1995 Kobe earthquake, and had decided to do something for street strays in Goa. The rest of the story is well known. This was almost three decades ago.
Versions of this story must have got used half a dozen times, including in an overseas publication or two. It was that kind of a charming story that falls in one's lap only very occasionally.
Another such case came in the form of a book. A colleague mentioned that someone he knew wanted a publisher for his boss' upcoming book. This struck me as a boring commercial job, the kind of which you do merely to earn some money, and not because you have your heart into it. Again, one couldn't be more wrong. It turned out into a charming story, written by the businessman concerned, who put his heart and soul into writing the autobiography.
Some thought we had ghost-written the book. This was far from true. Apart from suggesting that the author "write from his heart", and editing the language, the work was all done by the author himself. You never know when you can encounter a good story.
Another principle that really works: write about something you know well, feel strongly about. Write from your heart.
In one online network, I decided to write -- honestly and bluntly -- about my alma mater. It was a story about how my mum, on her return back to Goa, had given some talk about nursing as a career in the school next door. This lead to a whole series of girls (about a dozen, at least), opting for a career in nursing at St Martha's in Bengaluru, and doing well for themselves in life. The more one dug up, the more one learnt. There was even a six-decade-old letter from Mum asking the nuns at Bengaluru to accommodate the first student. Other schoolmates who read it, found it an interesting story. Even more surprisingly, I was myself surprised!
Sometimes, you can find the tools to carry out your work. The Right to Information Act (and also Assembly questions) allowed us to undertake work which might have otherwise been impossible.
Together with an RTI activist from Kerala, one managed to dig out the story of how 16 out of 31 costly Sea Harrier naval crafts had crashed, mostly off the Goa coast, without taking part in even a single battle. Then, there was a detailed set of shocking info about tourist deaths in Goa. During one 1990s tourist season, some 45 to 50 had died. You don't expect healthy middle-aged tourists visiting Goa to cop it in such large numbers. This turned into an article co-authored with a colleague for the front page cover-story of a now-defunct smaller national newspaper.
So many 'stories' came up via friends of a friend. Online experiences turned into columns. Books brought in tonnes of ideas, and an understanding of Goa that made reviewing pleasurable. Interviewing helped both to educate oneself, and also to uncover new sides to Goa and her people which we otherwise would have not known.
You might not realise the worth of the article you're writing, till someone gives you feedback about it. This happens often.
Also, if you keep writing over a long period of time, it all adds up. The worth of your work becomes apparent. Today, thanks to the internet, it is often possible to come across something one had written years ago. It might surprise you how well you made your point, even if you didn't see it that way, then.
In a word, if you write (or are thinking of) don't give up. Just feed your creativity. The rest of the things will quickly fall in place. Writing can be an immensely creative activity. If you like it, go for it. Other things will work themselves out. Keep the faith.
