May 13, 2015

The journey of a lifetime

Does the title make it sound like I'm Sindbad the Sailor, who has had adventures in many a magical place with many a weird monster? Well,given what I've worked on in the past, I can relate to the monsters – finance and analytics! No, no one forced me to study and work in those fields but because I was in another country and needed a visa, it became the most natural thing to get into but my heart was never in it. Writing is what I had always enjoyed.

So when I took a break from work, I started my blog, which was the easy part; the harder part was the actual writing! While I had loads of things I wanted to write about, I would perpetually have writer's block and not know where to begin. But I persisted. I would write about everyday situations that a displaced Indian faced, about my daughter's antics, and about life in general. Soon enough, I got my mojo back! (And it always helps to have the support and 'likes' of friends and family!). A few years as Editor with an organisation in India where I edited different genre – legal, medical, business writing, technical writing, development-related writing and more – gave me the start to finally do what I loved.

If I had to choose a category of writing that I love, it would be fiction based on personal experiences and Op-eds. After all, who doesn't like to express their opinion on this, that and the other! 'Randomness' is what I've titled my blog as it captures best what I write about. It's been nine years since I started this journey and I've never felt happier opening my laptop every morning. The monsters have disappeared and so has the writer's block – mostly. Work doesn't feel like work, and I can't ask for more.

If my story resonates with you and you feel like you're stuck in a rut, it's not too late to make a switch. Take a chance, try something new and discover what you love. I can't guarantee monsters or magical lands but the stories from the journey will be well worth a read.

Written as a promo for an IIHS course titled 'Writing for Digital Media'