First-time authors in the city get tips on fiction-writing

Notion Press, a popular self-publishing company in India organised a ‘Fiction Writing Workshop’ to help fine-tune the writing skills of first-time authors. This intensive 12-hour programme was attended by aspiring authors from all walks of life. Led by critically-acclaimed author of the ‘Hastinapur’ series — Sharath Komarraju, the workshop explored the various nuances of fiction writing in an interactive and stimulating session.

Talking about the workshop Sharath said, “Many of us have an idea for a novel but aren’t sure where to begin. There are also many who would have started a novel and don’t know how to proceed or perhaps have completed a first draft, but their work lacks that professional lustre. I wanted to help them understand how they could use the techniques of top-selling authors to create and finish their own novel. Step by step, they learned and practiced. We covered everything from attribution to zooming in on a character. We also had exercises, examples, and hand-outs to help participants improve these skills.” 

The workshop incorporated numerous sessions where participants were asked to construct small anecdotes based on writing prompts, displayed images and it led to an interesting session rich in diversity that helped in awakening the imagination of participants. Naveen Valsakumar, Co-Founder and CEO of Notion Press said, “The key benefits from the workshop, apart from skill enhancement, are the ability to write well and consequently, become a published author.” 

The day proved to be invaluable for the like Vidushi, one of the participants at the workshop. She said, “I am planning to write my own novel someday and I want to start my endeavour by sending my fictional write-ups to online platforms and if they get published, it will motivate me to turn them into a series.”

Shaik Zakeer, another workshop attendee, expressed his joy at being reconnected with creative writing. “I had lost touch with this passion of mine due to other priorities in life but this session has reignited it. Now I know how the writers put in so much effort and the technique to make readers feel connected.”