A humming word

/I am writing a memoir on my publishing experiences at Nivasini Publishers (fb.com/NivasiniPublishers) and this is the first log of my memoir./ It was a warm summer in 2009 when I sent a scrap to a Orkut Poet Friend about my interest in publishing a book of poems. The idea was the poems would be from poets of the Ah! Poetry Community on Orkut. An active community of more than 25,000 members from various countries (India being the most dominant), the poets bubbled with ideas and the mentors (teacher, rather!) corrected our work. What is Ah! Poetry Community? It was a classroom, away from the regular rules and regulations of a mundane life. It was a space where we met people who were different in real life. It was a virtual hangout space where you could speak about a n y t h i n...Most importantly, you could just write and write, without the fear of being watched. The Book: After two years of deliberation, a punch on my face (grandpa's death) and most importantly, an activ...

I learnt about memoir writing in Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Writers Circle hosted by Heddy Keith and Co. I miss her and our group too. However, as an ode to her, I conducted my first session on Memoir Writing. The response was decent and many of the attendees wanted to learn more about the art form. My previous post is a summary of the presentation but attendance in person, makes a lot of difference. We used the clues and cues from the PPT, minimally. You can ask the attendees, too. I learnt these from the session: 1. The audience knows more than you They are there because their experiences in life are different and they love to learn about writing. They would not have heard a form about writing you are familiar with and that is the reason for them to be present. 2. Never kiss ass Treat your audience as adults, who function as well as you or better than you. We are all colleagues in the vast expanse of the universe and meeting each other is a privilege. I thank British Libr...

Write on the above picture. Please use a inanimate object in your story. * Write on the above picture. Please use a memory or an old pic in your story. * Write on the above picture. Please use a movie still or a song you like in your story. * Write on the above picture. Please use a place you love in your story. * Write on the above picture. Please use a famous pic in your story. * email: niveyarao@gmail.com

We have a side we do not reveal to the world. For me, it is my 'kiddish' side. I am a child at heart. I still read 'comics'; I love Chacha Chowdhury, Suppandi and of course : Ammamma. The constant need to be an adult and a child makes me perplexed and i have found myself to be a kid-woman, many a times. Does it dissapoint you? No? Then, read further ;) People who meet me say 'Oh, we thought you are a grown-ass woman' 'Oh, we thought you will be matured in life.' C'mon, throw those fake masks and jump in the puddle, enjoy that savoury and taste rain water. Do not grow up. Enough said ;)! * To celebrate our Other Side, my new friends and I have decided to meet at Starbucks on Sunday (25 Feb) for a sip of coffee and also: write. You are invited. I will be there, anyway :)!  It will be a free for all meeting and the idea is to encourage words and verses and have some coffee: relax. unwind.  https://www.facebook.com/events/172215686...

You told me take that air ball that i blurt out place it in my molars chew on it swallow i did.. many a times but the air bubbles escape onto boiling water pot vapour tear drops

For many, it may seem kiddish to call “Mummy-Daddy” “Mami-Pappy” “Dyady-Maami”; however, I believe that one should be uni-directional and never imitate or even portray two sides of your personality. Honesty, no matter how difficult, is the best policy. Here are a few lessons I learnt. 1.        Speaking your mind No matter how tough, Mommy always speaks the truth. It may prick you and hurt you to the core but you rise up. There is a video by Gaur Gopal Das on Mother Giraffe and he illustrates beautifully how the Baby Giraffe never succumbs to fear with the help of determination. This   grit is instilled by the mother. 2.        Loving all The Difficulty of Being Good is stationed in my bookshelf since eons. I dare say that I am terrified by the possibility of reading through the pages. Nothing scares a evil person more than goodness and values. Instill them in your being; Love all and you are done. The ...

Rarely do we meet people with whom we connect. When it happens, we must hang on to them like a leech and be a monk when needed. Avacado Cafe in Allepey is one such place. Filled with contemporary monks, the place reeks of moralistic and honest people. Often, people with education are a virtue; but I believe: people with morals and values are the need of the hour. Colors. Flavours. Stoicism.You notice them all. I am a matchmaker of good humans with unbeatable values and this space is definitely a podium for sermons of such nature. Visit it.

Television and Media manufacture rage, is a known secret. However, our reviewers and friends assist them in doing the same. Try having a conversation with your neighbour or a friend about movies such as Arjun Reddy, Padmaavat and note their reaction. I guarantee 100 percent annoyance or anger. I am a known pest and annoying people has been a hobby, I cultivated over the years. Like a well-grown farm, I have raised a few annoyed friends. They know what to do, when I speak of uncomfortable topics. They are ready with their points. For Example: My Grandmother is ready with her points after watching the News; My Mother knows how to handle my debates; My best friends, who are already well-read, annoy me with their lyrical nonsense...(the list goes on). Back to the main point: Manufacturing Rage. My annoyance with movies such as 7/G Brindavan Colony and Arjun Reddy, will never end. I dislike these movies because: a. they objectify love and women b. they make an ordinary day, seem s...

I opine that India teaches you the definition of love but the Western Countries teach you how to maintain love. Love is an investment with returns that are unconditional. India has many definitions of Love:  1. Perseverance while waiting for our mom-made food. the divine feeling when the pasty gravy touches your tastebuds teamed with steamed rice and pappu-charu and the aftermath of the gulab jamun that quietly settles in your tummy - ahaa - you know the feeling!   2.  Patience while waiting for our loved one The symphony of the traffic becomes music while commuting via public transport (bus, walk) or traveling (train, bus) to meet your loved one. The stench of the environs, magically, never reach your senses. You beam proudly and wonder why you don't do this enough. 3. Getting our loved one, dressed. This concept will never reach the concept of the 'free' minds. How the heck can we do that? But, we can. Making our brothers wear a pagdi or weaving the long...