It's almost noon. The whirring of the fan and the incessant peeps of the pigeon fledglings in my kitchen window are the only sounds that fall on my ears as I Write. Once in a while, my pet parrot (the latest addition to my family, after Chikoo's demise) enquires, "Eh?", about god-knows-what, or lets out an ear piercing screech to grumble about something bothering him in his cage. I let him out on the branch of a plant we have placed indoors, and then get back to my writing.
The lack of any other sound at this time of the day is, paradoxically, like music to my ears, and I begin watching word after word springing from my mind onto the laptop screen faster than my fingers can actually type! The euphoria I experience at this sudden outburst of ideas leaves me feeling exhilarated, considering I had been having a tough time coming up with a topic to write on since the past few days.
I like it Quiet at home - I am allergic to too much noise, except when I play some upbeat music at a high volume. And, it's in such quietude that I am inspired to write. Hubby being at work and there being just the two of us, I enjoy such calmness for most part of the day. And, it's during such quiet moments that I give my best performance - be it in the kitchen or on my laptop. Having said that, there have also been times when guests have been at home just when I have been working on a post. But, luckily for me, these posts written Amidst the din of the family chatter and the television noise have turned out remarkably well, too!
We read about famous authors finding stimulation either in the stillness of the night or in some solitary corner, far away from the deafening sounds of the world. But, rarely do we hear about writers giving voice to their thoughts amidst the chaos of everyday life; with people coming and going, kids squabbling and vying for attention, a hundred mundane chores demanding completion. It's just what I read about in an article yesterday. The writer of the article authored a recently published book and has been hounded with questions ever since, like "how can she, a mother of two and a full time professional, find the time to write a book?"
She has written about how she managed to squeeze in time for her writing despite her busy schedule, and that, too, amidst the din of everyday life. She sure must be a remarkable juggler, considering handling professional and domestic duties with elan is an art that needs to be worked at, each day, everyday. And, working on a book when surrounded by noise of every kind, well, that's something not all can boast about! So, this article set me thinking about myself and others of my kind and wonder why is it that we prefer the calm and quiet to breathe life into our thoughts?
The author and many others, who prefer the 'noise', must sure find a lot of inspiration in the life that surrounds them as they write. People and their myriad ways of living, their quirks, their joys and sorrows, all find their way into the stories of those who work amidst them. What a treasure trove of ideas life around them must prove to be! But, how do they work along those inspirations, stringing together those carefully chosen words into sentences and weaving a rich tapestry that enraptures the reader amidst all the commotion that life can be? I have tried doing it a few times, as I said earlier, but given a choice, I would much rather have my peace and quiet so as to feel my thoughts before I put them down onto paper.
In my quiet space, I get to meet my thoughts, like I would a dear, old friend; feel the emotions behind each of them, pick the right ones, keep aside the rest for future use and then use those chosen ones to put across my feelings into words. I can manage it all better when I am with myself. The posts I write in such moments are the ones I believe I do justice to. Performing the rituals I do before I write, seems a daunting task when in the midst of the pandemonium that our life often is! Kudos to all those who manage this feat with ease, but I am happy in my soundless den.
What is the ambience you prefer when you write? Do you prefer the chaos of life to draw inspiration from, or do you like the hushed environment of your 'den' to let your ideas roam free? Do share with me, I would love to know!
Love,
SHILPA.
The author and many others, who prefer the 'noise', must sure find a lot of inspiration in the life that surrounds them as they write. People and their myriad ways of living, their quirks, their joys and sorrows, all find their way into the stories of those who work amidst them. What a treasure trove of ideas life around them must prove to be! But, how do they work along those inspirations, stringing together those carefully chosen words into sentences and weaving a rich tapestry that enraptures the reader amidst all the commotion that life can be? I have tried doing it a few times, as I said earlier, but given a choice, I would much rather have my peace and quiet so as to feel my thoughts before I put them down onto paper.
In my quiet space, I get to meet my thoughts, like I would a dear, old friend; feel the emotions behind each of them, pick the right ones, keep aside the rest for future use and then use those chosen ones to put across my feelings into words. I can manage it all better when I am with myself. The posts I write in such moments are the ones I believe I do justice to. Performing the rituals I do before I write, seems a daunting task when in the midst of the pandemonium that our life often is! Kudos to all those who manage this feat with ease, but I am happy in my soundless den.
What is the ambience you prefer when you write? Do you prefer the chaos of life to draw inspiration from, or do you like the hushed environment of your 'den' to let your ideas roam free? Do share with me, I would love to know!
Love,
SHILPA.
