A Hundred Quills
"Words.Words.I play with words, hoping that some combination, even a chance combination will say what I want" -Doris Lessing
IGNITE-from within the confines- (IWSG, November 2020)
Welcome back friends. It’s the first Wednesday of November and it’s the IWSG day. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a wonderful place to learn and grow together; to share and shed inhibitions and to seek support in your writing journey. If you wish to be a member of this amazing community of writers, join here.
The awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria! Do visit them and show some love.
Before I move on to this month’s question, I would like to take you all to a unique collaboration of global poets and artists called IGNITE- from within the confines-
The collaboration/online exhibition which is curated by visual artist and poet Deepa Gopal (you can visit her here). Planned in the month of Sepetember, the exhibition brings together eight artists (with five artworks each) and eight poets (with five poems each), some of which are based on the artworks and others have been composed in confinement during the pandemic. Each artist is paired with a poet. I feel honoured to be paired with Ahlam Abbas. Ahlam is a mixed media artist whose “Ahlam Yoga” is a series that focusses on the spirituality of meditative transcendence in the current times.
The exhibition starts today, 4 November, 5.30 PM IST, when the inaugural address will be given by Ruby Bhrambhatt Jagrut (Visual Artist and Writer; Founder Trustee-Abir). It will run till 12 November, with a new artist and poet coming your way each day. If you are intrigued and would like to find out more about this unique collaboration please like/subscribe/visit the following links.
You can hear the diverse and unique voices in “IGNITE-from within the confines” from Nov 4-Nov 12, 2020 on the following links
Official blog: https://ignitefromwithintheconfines.blogspot.com/
Official Instagram: @ignite.fwtc.2020
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClJQhklsmPqHkaU6FmMmhEA?view_as=subscriber
And now for this month’s question,
Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?
I have always believed in the slogan, ‘Art for art’s sake’. That’s how I started out too. Even today, I attribute aestheticism to my writing more than purpose. The idea has always been to express myself, to be able to share the thoughts I carry in the inside of me. Maybe that makes reason why I am inclined towards poetry. But over the past few years, I have also chosen to use my writing for a purpose. Not always, but sometimes…also inadvertently. I would like to think that there’s no one reason why a writer chooses to write. My reasons have varied with time and over circumstances, and I think it will continue thus.
What’s your reason to write what you do? Share in the comments below.
That sounds like a great project that I’m sure will be of benefit to many during these troubled times. Well done!
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I write just for the love of writing. Btw wanted to ask you how to join IWSG
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Hi Ruchi. The link is in the post itself. Right in the beginning.
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That I registered..but will I get any confirmation or i just participate in the December question?
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You will get a mail Ruchi just a few days prior to the next posting with the question and the host list.
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I love this answer. I have to admit that I’ve been struggling with myself as a writer – and as a person. How you phrase the dichotomy is so fascinating “aestheticism more than purpose.” It’s funny how part of me wants to push back on that, to say well aesthetics IS a purpose. At the same time, I and anyone reading it knows exactly what you mean. I literally could not put it any better.
There’s this person I keep having these deep, fascinating metaphysical conversations with. We disagree on so many things, but nothing that matters. This reminds me of one of our first conversations, when I was like: whatever you believe, let it be beautiful. Truth is beauty, beauty truth and all that. That’s where I’m at as a writer. I want my writing to be beautiful, clear, comprehensible. I know I have a long way to go. This is hard work. Have a great day!
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That collaboration sounds creative, fun, and intriguing. Way to go! I totally agree with you that different writing emerges for different reasons. And I believe that mood, location, or age (as in more knowledge of the world and yourself) also influence those reasons and the content! Happy weekend, Sonia!
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Congrats on the collab! It is great news.
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Congrats on being part of the collaboration. Sounds and looks interesting.
I have a lot of stories swirling inside my head. So I write to get them out my head and that’s half the fun of it. Of course I’d love each story but until I’m able to, I save them away in documents and folders. Until the day they and I are ready to have their stories told.
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That’s an interesting-looking exhibition. As for why we write? “For the love of it” ought to be part of any answer. My flip response is because the voices in my head tell me to, but that is also true, in a way. I get a lot of stories churning around in there, and writing them feels good.
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Very cool – love the combination of art and poetry – will check it out!
Art for arts sake is SO important for humanity – and not understood by everyone. I don’t write poetry as often as I once did – mostly when the world is overwhelming. It always helps me feel more in control 🙂
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Congratulations on your podcast contributions. Aesthetics, always the perfectionist … Happy November inspiration.
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Too many reasons. I can’t possibly list them all. 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
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Whatever your current reasons for writing are, I hope you continue! I think all writers grow and change with time, and it makes sense that your reasons for writing might also change.
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That’s awesome you are part of IGNITE! What an honor. I hope it brings more opportunities for you.
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Sounds great.. I write because I try to share various things with you all.
https://swarnaz.com
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To express myself is definitely one of the reasons I write. One of many!
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One thing this pandemic has done is made people like these artists and poets even more creative in sharing their work!
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That poetry project sounds great. We are constantly evolving as artists, and humans.
Mary at Play off the Page
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I write because I love to tell stories and give some escape time to other people 🙂
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I think writing is a wonderful way to reflect, to imagine, and to speak out about ideas. There are many reasons to write, even within one writer.
That project looks amazing. Congratulations on your poetry and your written work!
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Your thoughts are valuable, Sonia. Thank you for always sharing a part of yourself.
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Thank you so much for sharing IGNITE with us. I’m excited to check it out. I think reasons for writing change over time but a writer will always write.
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I write because I’m miserable when I don’t.
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I was about to leave this same comment. 🙂
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Ah, a kindred spirit!
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Hey Liz…it’s been so long. Thank you so much for reading and being around on the blog. I’ve been so occupied with the exhibition and the Alexa campaign previously that the blog almost took a back seat. I do hope to start conversation once again here, in a few days. Thank you for the constant support.
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It’s my pleasure, Sonia! I’m glad that you’ve found such worthwhile projects to be involved with.
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Hi,
I believe that as you grow in your purpose your writing changes because it grows too. No one can nail it down to this or that. Writing evolves because it’s in you, a living organism.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
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