Thursday, May 09, 2013

Just write


“I used to write about almost anything that came to my mind,” I said to an old friend. He doesn’t blog, but we go way back. There are days when I use him as a sound board; bounce thoughts, ideas, and even my frustrations off him. And vice versa, of course.

And he said. 'So, just write.'

And I told this to him because after a decade of blogging about almost anything that came to my mind, I suddenly found myself at cross-roads. I felt I didn’t have anything to write about. General stuff. Check. Random stuff. Check. Silly stuff. Check. Hell, even fiction. Check. Now I’m sure the human mind is a bottomless pit. You can keep forking stuff out of it an entire lifetime and you won’t even be done a quarter of it, let alone completely. So then why the mental block?

A television channel reruns shows because of the short memory that the viewers have. They like to cash in on that. Refresh their memories. Make them go down memory lane and say ‘awww, they’re showing my favorite old show again. How nice.’

But a blog? Most bloggers blog for themselves, right? There are exceptions too, I know – I was one of them. I started writing fiction because I got tired writing for myself. I turned the ‘weblog’ (diary) into a ‘web-book’, filled it with stories everyone else could read and comment on. So then, does it really make sense to ‘rerun’ your own thoughts for yourself? I mean all I have to do is just dig the archives and read my own stuff. Right? Even visitors to my blog would do that.

‘Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong,’ my friend countered. And he had a point. ‘You know you’ve written random stuff, and you go back to the archives and read it. But there are visitors who don’t know you’ve written random stuff. So why’ll they go there? You’ve been writing fiction for a long time now. So everybody comes to your blog to read precisely that. Stories. And a blog is all about today and now. You write, they read, they move on. The stress being on the word ‘move’.’

Hmmm, makes sense.

I’ve always done things differently, written differently. And it’s not because I want to be different. It’s just how I’m wired. I started writing stuff on the blog because I wanted to vent, I guess. It soon gave way to observations of life. Of happenings around me. And then some. Fiction happened because I could share my stories here without having to worry about word count or deadlines. And then I got hooked on to it. I will surely continue to write fiction, but I guess I’ll also try and go back to being the earlier Phatichar. Just write stuff. Whatever.

I guess finally, I did take my friend’s advice after all. I just came here and ‘wrote’. It doesn’t make sense completely, but at least it got me started.

And I’ve written worse, believe me.

Another era of blogging begins.

***

18 comments:

Kanthu said...

Can I say I love this part after the 'Intermission' even more.?? Can I.??

General stuff, random stuff, silly stuff, funny stuff, 'down the memory lane' stuff, 'Hell yeah' fiction, whatever it is, just keep 'em coming. Datsall. :-)

Soumya said...

Whatever it was that prompted you to write, that was a blessing to all of us to read your awesome work.

And a gift to yourself, for letting your talent flow so beautifully.

Thank your friend for me :)

the little princess said...

I'm glad ur back!! and so so want to read this part of u...the real u..so go ahead, keep them all coming! and just know we are all there to gobble it up!

Swarnali said...

Yay!! I'm glad you're back...it is always lovely reading what you write, fiction, non-fiction alike...
So cheers to the new "era" as you put it :)

cmus said...

As long as you are getting that sense of satisfaction upon completion of a blog-post, I think anything would do. Fiction, or otherwise.

P.S. - Ten years. Wow. :)

phatichar said...

Kanthu, of course you may. It's a free country. Freedom of expression and all that jazz...knock yourself out. :)

Soumya, I will. Thanks :)

Princess, I don't know what to say :). Touched.

Swarnali, good to have you back too :), yeah let's hope the new 'era' holds. :)

cmus, yes yes..absolutely. Thanks for returning and reading. :)

CookieCrumbsInc. said...

Interesting turn of events.

Keirthana said...

So glad you started :)keep them coming.

Until later,
Keirthana :)

phatichar said...

PV, uh huh?

Keirthana, Glad too.. :)

Aashi Jain said...

Pratichar...nice one!!!
hv an idea for u..
this one is a 30 day blog challenge

http://bloggeraashijain.blogspot.in/2013/02/30-day-blog-challenge.html?m=1


Unknown said...

I am right here reading your blog. :) Many write fiction, but yours are truly refreshing, and off beat. I am glad you are back. :)

Cheers to more typing typing typing!

phatichar said...

Aashi, thanks, it sounds interesting. Only I'm not too sure if I'll be able to take it up. Definitely worth a thought, though :)

Purnima, so nice to have you back too! :)

aayanman said...

The way I dealt with this mid-write crisis was by bifurcating my blog into two genres. (and I am not advertising here,just stating an example)I have two blogs which cater do different mindsets. When I have some time on hand,I write fiction (gyanban.com) and when there's an urge to write something like the post you have written here, its on my other blog on wordpress.com

The trick being frequency regulation.when there is no pressure to write a particular type or genre, the block is away.

Ocams razor !

Erratic Thoughts said...

:D
Hmm! So, do you mean you needed a kick from a friend to start writing again? eh? Like really? Oh I will be happy to do the honors next time :D
I am soooo glad you are back...
I am right here, reading and appreciating Senior…You do the writing…in any form and I’d be there to read it :)

phatichar said...

Gyanban: That was good 'gyan' :P - Thanks.

ET: Look who's back :P

Dwiti R said...

hehe... Welcome to my world of blogging :)

phatichar said...

Dwiti: :)

phatichar said...

Visha, :P :P