Posts tagged as:

writing

Writing From The Soul

by Dr.Mani on June 24, 2010

RE-TWEET IT!

We’ve heard about ‘writing from the heart’ – but from the soul?

As a young teenager, Harold Robbins was one of my favorite authors. Everything about his writing was stark, visceral and brazen. Reading it was gut-wrenching, and often deeply disturbing.

Talent like Robbins’ is rare. And when I started writing a lot myself, it became apparent why. Writing from the heart, exploring painful or controversial themes, and doing it in a candid, open and forthright manner leaves the writer exposed.

Vulnerable.

Defenceless.

My good friend and professional writer, Becky Blanton, calls this kind of writing “getting past the gatekeeper”.

Great writing that speaks to wide audiences, and does it in an intensely personal way, requires slipping words, thoughts and feelings past that wary, watchful guard living inside your head.

That’s not easy.

Yet, it’s only that kind of writing that can hope to resonate with a reader’s emotions.

Today, by sheer accident, I stumbled onto a blog that’s crafted by a master wordsmith. And – for the first time ever in 15 years of Web surfing – I found myself engrossed in her fabulous writing… for well over an hour!

It began when I set out to help Veena get her third graders teaching aids. Through Padmaja, I came to hear about “The Alternative“ – and saw an author whose shared my niece’s name.

Curious, I explored a link back to her blog, “The Clean Slate“. One of the first posts I read was “Your Story” – and I was hooked.

Hours later, having read a bigger collection of poems, short stories, and poignantly provocative blog posts at one sitting than ever before, I wondered what lay at the root of that appeal and attraction.

Surely, other writers wield as skillful pens as Malavika. But what sets this blog apart was her seemingly effortless ability to “get past the gatekeeper”.

I’ve bookmarked the blog to return to. Learn from. And study to better my writing skills.

If you don’t have as much time as I did today, then at least make sure you read “Rites of Passage” and “Letter to Samantha“.

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Proud Dad

by Dr.Mani on July 29, 2009

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Ten years ago, I became a dad. It was an indescribable feeling, a thrill of excitement never before matched in an eventful and interesting life.

The memory of how I held the little one in my hand, staring in delight and wonder at the tiny bundle of joy, remains one of my brightest and best. Time and time again I have re-lived that moment in my mind, and every time since, it feels just as fantastic.

I knew what it really meant to be a “proud dad”.

Why talk about it today?

Because something happened yesterday which almost rivalled that special moment (no, it wasn’t quite the same, in fact, it came in a poor second when compared to being a dad, but was pretty special nonetheless!)

I became a proud… no, not dad, but PUBLISHED author!

I held in my hand the first copy of my new BOOK.

See – don’t I look proud?! :)

Think, Write and Retire book author

You can learn more about ‘Think, Write & RETIRE‘ here. And follow the blog where I share snippets from the book along with other valuable information for anyone starting to build an information business on the Web.

The official book launch is on August 25th, 2009. If you’d like to be a part of the events surrounding the launch, please let me know. You can learn more and sign up here.

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