Forthcoming novel

This is the first Teaser of my forthcoming novel titled 'The Cavansite Conspiracy'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmnLts22LC8

Imagination to Ink : Story

In the last two sections, we read about Plot and Characters. Now let’s understand what a Story means. A story is an account or narration of imaginary incidents, facts or experiences. But like a plot, a story is also made up of certain basic elements. It stands for a combination of similar necessities. Like :
S for Structure
T for Technique
O for Originality
R for Research
Y for Yearning
Like we discussed in the plot, a story has to have a definite structure. A beginning, a middle and an end. In other words, sequencing your story into different parts will help you lay out your idea in a logical and gripping manner.
We already know that a well–told story usually boasts a good writing style. The technique of writing out the story has to be appropriate and suitable to its contents. Also it is crucial for your story to be original and creative.
But the two new concepts in the STORY are Research and Yearning. Research is an important activity that takes place BEFORE you begin to write out your story. Research is specially essential if your story is based on scientific, historical or geographical knowledge.
Imagine what were to happen if your protagonist is a doctor and you don’t know a thing about the medicines he is supposed to be administering. Or you diagnose a disease on vague symptoms and administer an incorrect prescription? Or suppose your protagonist is a lawyer and you use completely wrong legal terminology! Perhaps he’s a cook and you muddle up the names of all the spices. Or if you describe a funny scene about traveling by an auto rickshaw and it turns out that that particular city has no auto rickshaws! You could be describing the use of oil lamps and lanterns in a village when that particular village actually has electricity! These are huge blunders! And not only would they seem ridiculous, but they would reveal your lack of interest and sincerity. And if that shows, do you think the readers would be interested in reading something the author himself is disinterested in?
Background research on the locales, customs, professions of your characters is a must. Get your facts right and add authenticity to your story.
And lastly, Y for Yearning – you have to yearn to write out your story. If the desire to write is from your heart and not your head, I do believe that you would surpass every single hurdle that lies between you and the completion of your book!

My Quote

"A novel is born several times and dies several times, before it takes its final life form."
Manjiri Prabhu

The Cosmic Clues

Here's the promo of my book 'The Cosmic Clues' :
http://www.yourbooktube.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=6&video_id=396
Do watch it if you can!

‘THE COSMIC CLUES’ was selected as a 'Killer Book' by Independent Mystery
Booksellers Association of America. Some of the online, international reviews of the books are:
http://archives.digitaltoday.in/indiatoday/20041220/books2.html
http://www.curledup.com/cosmiccl.htm
http://thebestreviews.com/review23715
http://reviews.blether.com/blether.php?id=8763

Imagination to Ink - Part 1 Are you a Writer?

Have you ever felt a crazy urge to drop everything that you’re doing, to write down an idea niggling at the back of your head? Or have you ever scribbled a story so furiously, that you were oblivious to the outside world? If yes, then you are on the right page.
This post is for all those who have always wanted to write novels – but just didn’t know how to get started. It’s for all those who have yearned to get their disorderly thoughts, in order enough to put them down systematically on paper. It is also for all those who know what fiction writing is all about, but just can’t seem to get down and do it!
First of all, let’s understand who can be a fiction writer. Answer these questions :
Do you have a story to tell?
Are you motivated to write from your heart and not your head?
Do you think writing will give you the emotional and mental satisfaction that you crave?
Do you think your creative urges will be met with writing?
Do you feel an insatiable need for self-expression?
If your answer, to at least three of these questions, is in the affirmative, then you are certainly on the right emotional and mental plane.
Like any artist, there are usually two kinds of writers,. You are either born one, which means that you simply touch pen to paper and your ideas flow smoothly. This is an inborn art, which can be nourished but which is basically spontaneous.
Then there is the other kind of writer – the ‘Trained’ writer. A person who has a command over the language but who needs to learn and acquire the technique of weaving that language into a gripping read.
Both these writers however, in the long run, have to face similar problems and thus, should possess some basic qualities. There are certain unavoidable ‘musts’ for a fiction writer. You must be highly imaginative, observant, flexible, ready to work very hard, be confident of your work, be self-disciplined, have lots and lots of patience, and most important of all, be open to criticism.
If you wish to be a writer and if you don’t possess these qualities, how about beginning to acquire them? At the same time, I think it is absolutely essential to understand two rather daunting facts. First – that writing is a lonely job. And second - Writing is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration!
So the first step is to assess yourself, long and hard and find out – do I really want to be a novel writer? If the answer is yes, join me in the next post!