Posted on by Sonia Dogra

What Would You Replace Writing With? – IWSG June & More Writing News

Hello readers and fellow writers!

It’s finally summer in Delhi and nature’s palette is full of beautiful shades of blooming trees. They’re doing well despite the heat. I am particularly in awe of the yellow magic of the Amaltas that stands majestically on both sides of the capital’s arterial roads.

(Image Source)

I understand there has been a sort of radio silence from my end. I’ve been in the editing trenches and have a deadline to meet, which is the 30th of this month! More than meeting a personal target, I am trying for a fellowship for children’s literature and needless to say, the temperatures are soaring in this writer’s den.

But the monthly IWSG post is a good time to review my writing month and to visit some friends from the community.

In the month of May, I was happy to win a giveaway by team Blogchatter as part of their Writing Festival (Writing for Children). I am presently reading Miracles for the Maharaja by Aditi Krishnakumar which was part of the giveaway.

I was also glad to host an insightful session on storytelling in non-fiction with authors Ashdin Doctor and Reema Ahmad. You can watch the recording here.

Finally, I have a poetry acceptance after a long time and that too from Usawa, a dream literary journal. I admire the work of the editor immensely and am super excited about this acceptance. The issue will be out this month and I shall be sharing the link to the same here.

Last month was also busy on a personal front, but I was happy to be in the company of books.

If you are looking for a character-driven, layered and sensitive read around mental health, Salini Vineeth’s Lost Edges is the right pick for you. Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World is rich in deep thought, although it dragged a little for me.Chitra Banerjee Divakurani always comes up with strong, relatable women characters. I enjoyed Independence for the same reason.Pavittra Kalyan’s Broken Shadow is a neatly done young adult mystery that had me hooked till the end. It was also one of the finalists in Kindle Pen to Publish, this year.

This brings me to the IWSG question for the month, If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

I don’t think replacements work, no matter which aspect of life we are invested in. They are no more than a compromise that we gradually get used to. But if I was to think of this hypothetical situation then I would only replace writing with more reading. This, for the simple reason that I am a reader first, and then a writer.

How about you? Would you be able to replace writing with anything else?

For the benefit of the new readers, the IWSG is a database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers!

You can find out more about them here.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 7 posting of the IWSG are Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

And now for the WEP Challenge which is back this month and we are looking forward to your entries for Close Encounters. There’s more exciting news about an upcoming anthology and more, the details of which are here.

FLASH FICTION, POETRY, NON-FICTION, PHOTO ESSAYS…
POST JUNE 21st – 23rd

There’s also an interesting post in the ‘How-to’ series about selling your indiebooks on Google Play by Holly Sinclair, which you can access here.

I hope to see you at the WEP this month.

How has your writing life been? Share your journey with me in the comment box and I will visit you back.

Hoping for some respite from the heat, both literally and figuratively, when we meet next.

Happy writing!

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33 Replies to “What Would You Replace Writing With? – IWSG June & More Writing News”

  1. I love the prompt and I am hoping to join in. Fings and toes crossed! Till when is the linky open?

    Congrats on your new book. Is it published? tried to order it, but took me to an error link. Or am i missing something?

    Loads of activities up your alley Sonia, and it’s heartening to see you grow. To many, many more. While, taking a breather to cool down this summer too. 🙂

    The Amaltas, taught me some lessons a few summers ago. Here you go:

    https://natashamusing.com/2019/11/lessons-from-the-laburnum-tree-wordless-wednesday-natashamusing/

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    1. Hi Natasha. Well, we’re almost there. I hope you join in this time with your entry.
      I think there’s a misunderstanding about the book. I’m working towards one, though.
      Thank you for stopping by. Heading over to read your lessons from the Amaltas.

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    1. Thanks Moushmi. Good to see you back. Thank you for sharing all those entries and words of wisdom through the ages. It’s reassuring to know that the greatest greats were in your shoes once upon a time! J wish you a good innings with words.

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  3. What a packed-with-news post this one is! I am with you when you say you’d replace writing, if you had to, with reading. It’s the same for me, though I cannot imagine my life without writing.
    Amaltas trees are so beautiful and I love their subtle fragrance. Along with gulmohur they seem to God’s attempt ta making summer bearable.

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  6. Hi Sonia, Congratulations on your poem being approved and all the other amazing things you’re doing with regard to writing. I found this group through you and decided to participate this Wednesday. Thank you for the book recommendations. I will check them out, as well as the link to help promote indie books.

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  7. I came to pretty much the same conclusion. Although I do have other creative outlets, they require a degree of physical ability, the lack of which is the only reason I could see causing me to stop writing. But reading, fortunately is not so limited.

    Debs posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
    Also found at Debs Despatches

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  11. Loved your answer.. And congratulations for being active and busy with writing. More power to your pen. I have read Elif shafak and chitra.. And I like their books for the powerful female characters they spin.

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  12. Congratulations on your latest publication, Sonia! Good luck with the fellowship application. My answer to the replacement question is that I couldn’t give up writing; I’d be miserable. I’m deep into a 2nd developmental edit on my new novel, and it’s going better than I expected. (I’ll take it!)

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  14. So happy for you, Sonia. May has been good for you! Wishing you luck with editing and may your mailbox be flooded with acceptance letters. Thanks for sharing your reading list. I too would pick reading more if I were not writing.

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