How did I get the courage to give it all up? I just did. maybe it had something to do with the realisation that half my life was over (figuratively speaking and not literally, I hope).
Has it been worthwhile? The simple answer is yes, yes, oh yes! I have a decent bank balance, so that’s the financial consideration taken care of; and I have a film script under production and a book, Kkrishnaa’s Konfessions that’s getting published so that’s creative satisfaction taken care of.
I would like to say that it has been a piece of cake but the reality is that it was tough going initially. I didn’t get many writing assignments. Just the odd pilot here and there with no guarantee that it would ever be produced or that I would ever get paid. Nonetheless, I persevered. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I didn’t restrict myself just to screenwriting. I wrote for anything that paid – newspapers, magazines, in-house magazines, corporate brochures. But then I am lucky that I’m equally fluent in both English and Hindi. Many of you may not have that option.
The bottomline is only do it you are very sure that that is that you want to do. No matter how much writers say otherwise, it is true that self – doubt, financial constraints and frustration are the constant companions of every novice writer. But there upsides as well. You get to work on your own time, you get to take a vacation whenever you want and the money, well, if you are a little smart, the light monetary drizzle (or the drought, as the case may be) soon turns into a downpour. And even if you don’t actually put a pen to paper or boot your laptop, you’re always working. Whether you goof off to the movies, get drunk, go shopping, it’s all work, or if you prefer, research. You never know what you may get out of watching Aap ka Suroor.
Plus writers, especially screenwriters get to say cool things like I’m a film and TV writer. This is invariably followed by oohs and aahs and the inevitable ‘do you write for Kyunki?’ I consider my response. If I’m feeling mischievous, I answer in the affirmative and embellish my hellish working experience with Ekta. I tell them how she works only at night and sleeps through the day, how she has an uncontrollable itch in her hand and can’t desist from slapping people.
Is it true? If I were in America I would plead the Fifth Amendment here! But true or not, you have to agree it is entertaining. As the doctor tells Billy Crudup in Big Fish: “You were born a week early, but there were no complications. It was a perfect delivery. Not very exciting, is it? And I suppose if I had to choose between the true version and an elaborate one involving a fish and a wedding ring, I might choose the fancy version. But, then that’s just me.” (see now, watching Big Fish was research, wasn’t it?)
i want to about this …..will give me brief about this…
Hi Raj
Thanks for visiting…gosh that was fast….how did you find me?
in order to help you, if you could tell me what it is that you do?
Dear Smita,
I read about you in DNA newspaper and then saw your blog.
I really liked it.
I am a financial Analyst working with an US MNC in Mumbai.
I came to know that you were also into financial sector earlier, where you were working? and why did you left it? was it too demanding and your work life balance was disturbed?
What was the tipping point in your life, which brought you to this writer’s life? – was it lure of money, fame or both?
What is your idea about writing only “ordered quantities”, I mean to say creativity is channeled through soap operas only? some kind of a detergent plant producing out surf as per order!!
How your conscious allows that?
How you handle your husband’s ego? he must not be as successful as you, nor he must be earning like you. Is there any ego clash? and how you handle that? please be honest in replying this!! How many hours you work on daily basis?
Are you a Bombay girl from begining?
all the best!
with warm regards,
babu
this blog seems to be interesting 🙂
Thank you sachin. I hope you will continue visiting and liking it:)
Dear Smita,
I just loved your books!! they are awesome……pls keep writing such mindblowing books…..i am a gr8 bookworm…..i wanna noe wen will u write another one……I CAN’T WAIT!! 🙂
take cre,
Sreyoshi.
@Sreyoshi, thank you. The next book is indeed on its way 🙂
hi,
smitaji……………..
i read ur blog and now iam happy about this.i am i story writer,screenplay writer…but i am out of mumbai.all ready my story and screenplay use in marathi movies. I want enter in Bollywood….
can u help me…..?
thanks !
satish………….
Satish, Bollywood would be difficult but there is scope in TV. However, you need to be in Bombay.
hi thr…
TV Soaps, Screenwriting, Movies & even a book….
I would like to congratulate you on your achievement. And if you did be humble enough and say, “What achievement? Its nothing…”
My response would be, “It is an achievement to flaunt…nothing feel embarassed about…blah blah…”
And now…since you must be thinking…why is this guy making up a conversation that may never take form…what can I say…
I just can’t stop riding the “Imagination Express”…heh
Whatever…I love to pen down my ideas and thoughts too in the form of stories, poems….etc but the only problem with me is I am a little too lazy and it takes a lot of effort to get me started…ignition problem you see… 😉
Keeping my problems aside…will try to get my hands over your book….
If you have some spare time, check out couple of short stories I wrote quite some time back. Some feedback may help that ignition thingy…
walkingthroughlife.sulekha.com
Aloha!
Sure , anytime 🙂 And thank you for your kind words.
hey smita! U rock! i m going to see ur blog everyday and try to get inspired 🙂
Thank you so much for the compliment:)
hey smita loved ur book…..read it at one go…keep writing n keep rocking….awaiting ur second book…do keep your fans informed…!!:)
Thank you so much rounak. I’m glad I could entertain:)
How strange are the ways of this World!
Today morning I was reading about new age Indian authors in ‘Graphiti’ -The Telegraph & its the same evening that I stumble upon your Blog while wandering through WordPress!!
Read the first chapter, its gripping, would surely pickup the Book.
Thank you so much rahul…as far as the ways of the world are concerned, you know whar they say, there are no coincidences in this world:)
Hi Smita,
Well to start with i didnt get much time to finish off ur book in 2-3 days as i usually do but tell u the truth it was difficult to take a break once when i got into it….
i am a media student (pursuing II year of my graduation) and also working for a media company… I dont belong to Mumbai and so my life turned into a great adventure the moment i stepped here… Everyday i faced different challenges from paying guest problems to the culture shock to a job hunt to sex scandals and to an affair with an internet pal (married by mistake)…
Ultumately i decided to write a book on it (i know am a lil too young to pen down) and your book proved a remarkable inspiration to me…
Thanks for writing such a nice book…. I wish to find my Dev soon 😉
I hope you would’nt mind to guide me through this… i badly need some good guidance….
Thanks and Regards,
Siddiqui Safa
(kindly note that i am a FEMALE because usually people address me as Mr. Safa in their mails that gives me a gender shock you see!! ;))
@Safa, Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the book (so far). And you are never too young to write:) So go ahead and pick up that computer! here’s hoping you find your Dev:)
Hey there once again!!!
I have already finished your book and thanks a ton for replying.. i am seriously on cloud 9 or may be 18 on reading your reply…
Like the previous post,i request you to please guide me anyhow for the novel… if you want ill even send you the plot but please help me….
i know am dumb to ask a renowned personality to help me… i know you might be busy but still again i request you…
It will be a pleasure and thanks again for replying….
Thanks!
Safa, that’s not how it works. writing is a lone art. Only you know what you want to write. having said that i would be happy to take a look at your plot and advise on the saleability of the idea in the current market. Again, that is not a surehsot thing.
Also, the finished work may vary from the plot and it is ultimatley the finished work that will decide whether publishers want it. My advise would to be to write about whatever your conviction is. No one can do that for you. And no one should.
All the best!
Thanks!!!
Hope one day i join the writers’ group!!
Hope to read ur further Konfessions!!!
All the best!!
😀
Thanks Safa:)
Hey Smita,
I loved your book.
Thanks for being an idol.
Currently i work as Director Quality in a Global bank (wealth management and investment bank) and look fowrad to pen down afew pages as well. Thanks for the encoragement i got from reading your novel.
Cheers
Please ignore the spellings…wrote in a hurry 🙂
@ Saurabh, ignored the mistakes:) Thanks once again and keep at your writing.
Hi,
Am here to ask the obvious question. 🙂
Would you care to guide me on my path to where you have already reached?
I left a very promising career in IT to get into Writing. Today, am working as a Technical Writer. That was easy!
But now the switch from Technical Writer to Script Writer is taking a lot of time.
Your guidance would help me go a long way!
Thanks,
Srivinay
@ Srivinay…Hey, thanks for reading my blog…I don’t know what kind of writing you want to do but if it is fiction or screenwriting you’ll find pretty much all the info in my previous posts.
Dear Smitha,
You represent the new Indian woman. It was a courageous decision to opt for writing..and knowing that it is a back breaking work…and hours and hours of loneliness. But then, it is also like a meditation session, isn’t it? You challenge yourselves and then all your reading, imagination , experiences are made use of .. and there’s an element of surprising oneself too. I mean, you would have also been pleasantly surprised that your writings evolved so well that they were interesting to others to read. Well, you have chosen to be a fulltime writer..Wishing you lots of luck. Bye.Jothi
@jothi…you are so right…in fact I’ce covered all these aspects – hopes fears, triumphs and frustrations in my previous posts 🙂 Thank you for wishing me well.
I liked your blog. Neat and clean!! You have written nice articles on interesting topics. Keep up the great work. 🙂
@abhijit, welcome to my blog. And thanks:)
Nice blog. Some of the posts made for a really good read (that is not to disparage the other posts, I just didnt read them :-)). Cheers!
@Sudharshan, welcome and thanks. Do read the rest of the posts as well:)
All these responses and not one mention of the misspelling of ‘something’ in the first paragraph..
Good post, otherwise.
@Schell, oops…rectified now. Thanks for pointing it out 🙂
Dear Smita,
Just picked up your book. Have only read the first chapter so far, but its quite interesting. I found your style very fresh, and it makes for enjoyable reading. I’m trying to get into the writing sphere myself, and have a lot to learn from your style. That’s why I looked you up on the net – delighted to find that you have a blog.
Will surely let you know once I finish your book. See ya.
Uttara
@Uttara, thank you so much. I hope you enjoy the rest of the book just as much. And good luck with your writing 🙂
I really liked the way you have written this post.
Good luck!
@Chandra, thank you:-)
hi SJ,
remember me, cj from IP college. It was so great to have found you on the net while exploring about some jain temple architecture for a PPt presentation. INfact, I left everything in the middle and got on to know more about you. I confirmed it was u by seeing your photos of Udaipur holiday trip. I showed it to my husband, it was so exciting.
Great to know about where u have reached!!!
hey smita, are u in touch with anybody else- rita roy or others.
hey!YOu look the same. If u get time, mail me for sure.
I tried reaching u thru’ ur id at gmail.com but could not.
well! writting a book and all. great , all the best would like to talk more but after ur reply
bye! take care
chitra
@Chitra, of course I remember you. Let’s keep in touch!
Recently i quit the top Government service to pursue my dreams. Your story is quite inspirational. It has given me hope.
praveenben
http://www.praveenben.com/
http://praveen-ben.blogspot.com/
@Praveenben, glad I could be of help 🙂
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.
@Sandra. R. , thank you so much. I hope you’ll keep visiting.:-)
Hi, nice blog, definitely some pearls to ponder. I’ve qualified recently as a barrister in England but am in the process of writing a comedic sleuth book (and potentially in the process of a career change if it works!); nothing, I’m sure, which will be remembered but hopefully something that will fetch me a little cash. Have you had any exposure to the UK/US market, or, in any case, could you give me some advice as to what styles/themes/plots are saleable? It’s fair enough writing a work which I love myself (which author doesn’t view the fruit of their labour with admiration) but I really need to produce something with broader, marketable appeal. I would be grateful if you are able to give me some advice, preferrably via my email address.
Regards, Chris
@Chris, apologies for a tardy reply. I have been on holiday. To answer your questions, I publish in India and my only exposure to the US, UK markets is through re-publish tie-ups. So I don’t really know what themes/plots are saleable there. However, what is universally true is you should only write about the stuff you have conviction on. It should flow form the heart, else it will sound forced.
Dear Smita
I just happened to see your blogs thanx to Google Baba and and the immediate feeling was that of a sense of commanility.. with your being when you were at the crossroads..pursuing the dream..
I have been dreaming for long to get that title “Writer” but not able to break through..It will sound hackneyed and boring but fact remains that I want it.. Have written a few things but yet to become a published writer..I need some assinments..the average ones..or some leads..tell me where is the first step!
Gary Kumar
@Gary, sorry for the tardy reply, but have been busy travelling, relocating etc. It is only now, after more than a month that I’ve even booted my laptop. About your writing, I guess you could begin by contacting editors of newspapers and magazines for freelance assignments and then take it from there. All the best.
hi
I think I am a little late for this reply, but I got this link from a friend who said this was interesting blog, and it sure had me hooked for a while..
I liked this post of yours especially the part of going everywhere doing everything and all the time researching .. putting away things in a corner of your mind … to pen down later..
I think writing is exhilarating, and its sure is a lone art ..
You sure have it going for you madam!
Thanks!
Shazia
@shazia, thank you for your kind words. Sorry for the tardy reply, but have been busy travelling, relocating etc. It is only now, after more than a month that I’ve even booted my laptop 🙂