26 Jul 2007

Seven Writing Questions: A Meme



Good friend Lisa tagged me for this one. I enjoyed reading her answers and thought I'd have a go at it.

1. What's the one book or writing project you haven't yet written but still hope to?

A travel book that will combine food and journeying and will take me to hidden corners of India.

2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with?

The twelve volumes of Rabindranath Tagore’s writings. I look at them wistfully every day, but a dozen “important” tasks draw me away from them. On a day meant just for reading, a dozen tomes will draw me—to a lifetime’s feast.

3. What was your first writing "instrument" (besides pen and paper)?

That has to be my PC. Got it around five or six years back—a second hand machine. I was thrilled to have a computer of my own. By then I had good enough typing skills, thanks to years of writing-related jobs. The PC was a godsend, not just because it boosted my writing efforts, but because it introduced me to fellow writers from all parts of the world. The internet led me to my first writing forum, enabling me to connect with writers—aspiring and published, while at the same time helping me hone my writing skills, discover my voice, and lend me new dreams.

4. What's your best guess as to how many books you read in a month?

I am a painfully slow reader. At my best, I can finish two good-sized books (300 pages) in a month. This also explains why I am so ill-read.

5. What's your favorite writing "machine" you've ever owned?

I will cheat here and say what Lisa said. My laptop, which isn’t even a year old (touch wood!). The light black notebook has given my writing life much-needed mobility—even if that only means being able to sit and work in the TV room when cricket matches are on. The laptop aided me well during my Bengal trip—I could download photos, take brief travel notes, check email, and generally didn't feel internet deprived.

6. Think historical fiction: what's your favorite time period in which to read?

My limited reading stock doesn’t include much historical fiction, but if given a chance to select a period, I would like to read books reflecting the British Raj and 20th-century India.

7. What's the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)?

Gone With the Wind. This book had a sweeping impact on me. Everything in it—the setting, the storyline, the unfamiliar (for me) speech patterns, AND Rhett Butler made the summer of my school-leaving year a hard-to-forget one.

As for tagging, let me at once tag any and every one who would like to do this. Do let me know, though, so I can read your responses. :-)

17 comments:

Lisa Jordan said...

Wonderful answers! I enjoyed learning these things about you. :-)

Kristin Ohlson said...

I think so many of us feel woefully subliterate. I'm not sure how many books I read a month-- right now I'm slogging through a longish memoir, but sometimes I'll zip through a book in a few days. Regardless, I always feel that I don't read enough-- in part because there are so many books out there that I either pine to read or feel that I should read. I keep making plans to make reading a book the first thing I do in the morning, for an hour-- but then, so many things gobble up that hour.

Oh well.

Anthony Rapino said...

I hope you do write that food/travel book. I'll be the first in line to buy it.

Bhaswati said...

Thank you, Lisa. I enjoyed reading your answers even more. :-)

Kristin, you said it. The more I see people around me catching up with the latest good titles, the more woeful I feel about my reading pace. When it comes to books, it's a race against time; time which so many "immediate" concerns eat up.

Oni, I hope I can write that book some day. What a journey it will be. Thanks for the support. :-)

Scott said...

I think your book idea is a great one. Especially for someone like myself that can't even imagine what India is like.

Thanks for stopping in on me periodically, by the way. I'm still so busy. Even today I'm getting ready for a business trip and have my packing to do. My writing is slipping somewhat, but I hope to rectify that soon.

See ya!

Jeff said...

Nice meme, Bhaswati. Thanks for sharing.

Bhaswati said...

Scott, so good to see you. As you can see my blog is only semi-active these days. I still enjoy visiting your blog, so please keep it going. Hope you are having a nice trip. :)

Jeff, glad to share. Thanks for dropping by. :)

Joanne said...

I loved your answers! Inspired me to do a bit of thinking and I'll probably play along before the weekend is over. Thanks, Sury.

Bhaswati said...

Thanks for dropping by and commenting, Joanne. I would love to see your answers! Will be sure to peek into your blog over the weekend. :-)

Anonymous said...

My brother said that Gone With the Wind had such a profound impact on him that he's afraid that he will never find another story that is so compelling.

I've never read it...Think I may have to borrow it:)

Bhaswati said...

Tammi, do read Gone With the Wind if you get a chance. I can assure you an enjoyable read.

Thanks for dropping by. :)

Bernita said...

"the hidden corners"
Oh yes!

Prashanth said...

food and journeying, lovely combination.

Prashanth said...

Hi Bhaswati. Do chk my latest. Veiled mention of the story I had refered to you 'Exact Change' if you remember. Heh.

Bhaswati said...

Hey Prashanth, good to see you after a while. I'll definitely read your latest. I liked that story!

Anonymous said...

You think you are a slow reader. I read about 300 pages a month!

Bhaswati said...

Hi, Chris! Welcome to my blog. Glad to find another slow reader. Maybe we should start a movement on the lines of slow food. ;)

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