ToS (shortly, Thoughts On Sale) is my matrimonial hut, but Bhavna will remain my maternal homestead (I remember calling her "my daughter")
The reason why I call my blog that is stark enough, I have no rules here. Nobody has ever dictated terms here. I publish a post as and when it pleases me.
The reason why I mentioned my e-mag (oh yeah there is a wonderful teamwork behind it, but I feel a surge of possessiveness gag my throat when I say "my ToS") here is because, I like the terms and conditions it brings along.
If Bhavna is all poise and grace, true to her maternal reputation, ToS is like a new husband who is very demanding in his love. And if you are wondering why ToS is a “he”, I have a simple answer, ' too techie and indecisive.'
Unlike her, he can be a headache. Forcing to bond with "his clan", making me choose between his mother and mine, posing multivariate rational and irrational restrictions, getting jealous insanely, and what not.
But hey, I chose him….Over I have no clue how many suitors (Ok, I am just making that up). All of what he is doing is a part of the invisible nuptial agreement between us. In fact, he pushes me to be at my feminine best, and I love it.
I know…you are still wondering about the relevance of the title.
I am a firm believer of the fact that one can’t have an appointment with creativity. However, if you cannot be creative at your sweet will, does it not become just another labored act which has no connection whatsoever with art or creativity? I mean, when you have a painfully twisted reason not to write, than to write simply, just for the love of words, I think it is funny.
What is the sudden strike amongst writers that “writing for deadlines is no writing” all about? Beyond a point, it is plain farce. As farcical as “love culminating in marriage is no love” (Na, no reference to live-in relationships – recollect “September maadham from Alaipayuthe)
We knew when we married that we are going to meet each other daily and share our routines, amidst regular sessions of fresh love. Suddenly, just the thought of looking at the same face daily gets boring? And you blame your love/marriage for that??
My God. We live with the knowledge of our death-lines, (only place where I can’t say deadline and mean the future, I guess) What does it do, kill our present?
I think the problem is not with the deadlines, it is with the passion to write. When you have the passion ebbing out, you can’t phrase a sentence to save your momma. On a different note, writing to save your momma is as much a deadline as any other. Let’s face it, nobody in the entire history of humanity has ever been “too busy” to do something they have committed to, including turning their brain-stove on to let a creative spark fly, and cook up. This is what it comes down to, love and commitment, nothing more or less.
At times, when people say they have lost their love, I cannot but help my mind by asking – Did you find it at all? In your self?
With regards,
Bhargavi,
The dumb one, who earnestly and proudly thinks she has emptied all her sense of creativity every single time she publishes any sentence anywhere possible.
UPDATE : Thanks Dipak , for the impetus.
3 Scrutinizing thoughts:
SO many questions!
But I'll address just a few. The love/commitment you question, both in a marriage and in writing, is quite unclear.
I'll pick up the marriage issue, because it is easier to comprehend. Commitment in a married relationship, according to me, could be either of these two things:
1) Commitment to spouse: If one looks at the same face everyday, because one is in love with his/her spouse - it may not be as strenuous as
2) Commitment to the 'marriage': where one wakes up to the same face because one gave his/her promise, and has a reputation to maintain.
Personally, I'd hope my 'wedding' or 'marriage' is one stage/phase of my love and not the culmination point of my love.
Now to the title of the post:
1) Commitment to writing: Writing because one loves to; where one does it to express the creative streak in them; where at any time, the piece written is the most important, and all effort is given to write an excellent piece and grow as a writer.
2) Commitment to a forum with deadlines: Love for writing should not change, agreed. The obvious, already acknowledged observation is that, the deadlines do add some pressure. I am not saying that "writing for deadlines is no writing". My opinion is "writing for deadlines is not the same as just writing".
In addition, here, there is a forum, which has a set of rules, maybe a theme, to which one has to adhere to and of course, a team, as you've mentioned. Each author is assigned a topic, or genre; no two authors can write about the same thing without having to discuss or make a joint post out of it. The lack of creative streak, or being unable to make time for writing, is not an excuse. You gotta do it cos you signed up for it. This is not a bad thing, this is how journals and magazines work.
This is where I do not understand your mention of love/commitment OR the relation to the passion for writing. If the love is for writing, then #2 above, is quite constraining on the author. They are expected to spew out articles before the deadline, in order for the magazine to grow. On the other hand, if the author were committed to the magazine, like you seem to be, the growth of the magazine would seem like personal growth as well. It seems rather shortsighted to comment on a writer's passion for writing, because they refuse to do a team-driven project with deadlines.
On a side but not too unrelated note, I followed a blog where the blogger quit posting because he had gone to such a point where everything he saw, heard or experienced - he wondered how good a blog post it would be. In my own personal experience, I stopped clicking pics for a while because everywhere I went, I saw the world behind the lenses. Neither of this is because of a loss in passion or love. It was just the question of what was more dear to him/me.
I mention this because I have a question addressed to the mag team members: I've read some of the articles, about movies and books - How does it feel to watch an entire movie or read a whole book, in order to write a review of it for the mag? I've felt that a review is more like an exam where you need to get your facts and statements right about what it is that you're doing, and you're held responsible for what you write. Would it not be more fun to just sit back and relax, and enjoy your book like no one's watching?
@Lazy Lavender,
As is the rule with my blog, I offer no clarification. You read just what you wanted to, and I am not the one who'd disturb your perceptions :)(meaning the clarity in your mind reflects in the clarity of your perception regarding your idea of my clarity;))
Seeing everything around as a 'blog post' is not a reason enough for me to stop blogging. A musician would find every syllable musical, it is a blessing; if u think it is a curse, you know exactly where the problem is!All I see is that you have not distinguished taking a break from quitting.
With respect to reviewing a book/movie for a mag or even a blog.. I for one never had a problem 'just watching' it. Again, boils down to the individual.
welcome anyday :).was just kiddin though :)
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