Hello Dear Readers,
I have been catching up on some podcast episodes this week and am so glad I did. I listened to two fabulous women making their mark in their respective fields.
Sowmya Dhanaraj is a developmental economics researcher, and I hope she writes a book with all her reflective insights on the labour economy, especially the trends that impact working women. The anecdotes she shared opened my eyes to the experiences of several young women in the labour force, who do not earn what they deserve, neither tangible nor intangible benefits. Take, for instance, the young girl who worked at a factory only because her parents thought it was safe. Her parents did not want her to meet her friends or indulge in social activities. The company picked up and dropped her on a bus, and she had no leisure time. She was in paid imprisonment. You can hear more such anecdotes from Sowmya here.
The second episode has inspired me to continue the writing journey I embarked on a few years ago. Arati Kumar-Rao is the author of Marginlands: Indian Landscapes on the Brink. I plan to read the book as soon as possible. Arati is also an environmental photographer, and her work attempts to make readers aware of how our ecological landscapes have changed over the years. But she started out in the corporate world, working for Intel. You can listen to her journey here.
The topic is close to my heart, and if you have read my books, you would know that I have tried to blend ecology and nature into my fiction. I have much to learn in fiction writing and environmental issues.
While I try to consistently practise writing, I haven’t done much to improve my knowledge of ecology and sustainability.
I hope to read more books on the subject, but as the saying goes, the more you learn, the less you know.
Meanwhile, I am reading Susan Cain’s pathbreaking book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. As a child, I was called a Shy Brand, a Bookworm, Quiet, Silent, and so on. Sometime during my teens, I realised that the world belonged to extroverts, so I tried to overcome what I thought was a deformity: my introversion.
Now, I call myself an ambivert because I have pushed myself to the other side of the spectrum throughout my professional education and consulting career.
As I focus on writing, I yearn to return to my introverted self, who would listen more and talk less. Social obligations prevent me from doing so. These days, even writers are expected to be extroverts, hobnobbing with the crowd or making reels on social media to market their books and brand themselves. As a self-published author, I am painfully aware of this necessary evil.
Listening and observing are two critical skills that will help me improve as a writer. Conversely, I hope people won’t expect me to talk as I write more.
Meanwhile, I managed to write another short story. Do read it and let me know if you like it.
Keep reading and stay happy!
Sudeepa