Why I Write – The Thrill and Enjoyment of Creative Writing

WHY I WRITE

The Thrill and Enjoyment of Creative Writing

By

VIKRAM KARVE

 

There is a saying: 

Happiness is a Journey 

Happiness is not a Destination 

Yes – happiness is the manner in which you travel the journey of life.

It is the same with creative writing. 

The process of creative writing is more enjoyable than the completion. 

It is the creative journey, the manner of travelling, which is more thrilling and rewarding than the material reward of success after publication of your creative work.

I love writing fiction short stories. 

I enjoy the whole process of writing a short story – thinking of the idea, the theme, the plot, the characters, the setting, the writing of the story. 

During this creative process the story belongs to me.

Once the story is completed and published – it is all over. 

Now – the story belongs to everyone. 

It is like pregnancy – once a baby is conceived – the baby is nurtured inside the mother. 

After the baby is born – the baby belongs to everyone.

When you are in the process of creative writing – you will transcend into the world of thought and reflection – and your mind will always be filled with interesting thoughts – and this will always keep you happy. 

Yes – it is true:

 

The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts 

The man who does not write is imprisioned in his immediate world in respect to time and space. 

His life falls into a set routine, limited to contact and conversation with his family, workplace colleagues, a few friends and acquaintances – and he sees only what happens in the world around him. 

But the moment he starts writing – he immediately enters a different world.

I write fiction short stories now – and let me tell you that I am thoroughly enjoying the wonderful process – the creative journey. 

First thing in the morning – the moment I wake up – I think of the story – the plot – the scenes – and – the characters of my story. 

I transcend to a world of my own – and throughout the day – fascinating thoughts perambulate in my mind. 

This is truly a stimulating experience which keeps me happy and cheerful throughout the day until the last moments before I drop off into sleep at night .

I am sure that my stories will be good because I put my heart into my writing. 

Since the journey is more important that the destination – I never set deadlines. 

Rather than rush to complete the story – I want to enjoy the process of writing it. 

I want to enjoy the sheer thrill of the creative writing “journey” more than the “destination” of publication of the story.

I will end with a quote on happiness from William Lyon Phelps:

“The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. 

Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development – who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation – they are the happiest people in the world. 

And they are not only happy in themselves – they are the cause of happiness in others.” 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved) 

This is an edited extract from my blog post WHY I WRITE posted by me many times in various blogs including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2010/12/why-i-write.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-write-because-it-makes-me-happy.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/03/creative-writing.html etc

 

“Working” after Retirement

Most people retire at 60.

Some retire even later – at 65 or 70.

And – some people do not retire at all.

But in the Navy/Army/AirForce – they pack you off on superannuation much earlier – you have to retire in your early 50’s if you are an Officer – or even earlier – if you are a Sailor (aka PBOR/Soldier/Airman).

Now – what do you do when you retire so early...?

Either – you take up a second career and keep slogging.

Or – you sit at home and rumble and grumble. 

Well – that is what I have chosen to do – sit at home and carp, complain and grumble.

Let me share with you – Dear Reader – some of my grumblings... 

(I first wrote this piece sometime ago – a few years after I had retired from the Navy – but – the sutuation is still the same even today...)

RETIREMENT BLUES 

“WORKING” AFTER RETIREMENT
Grumblings of a Navy Veteran 
A Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE 

According to my wife – WORK means physical effort.

In her parlance – “work” is associated with physical labour. 

There must be some visible physical effort – some movement involved.

Yes – for her – physical movement is the key attribute which defines WORK.

That’s why – when I was in the Navy – my wife was very happy – since – according to her – I was “working” very hard. 

In the Navy – there is a lot of physical movement – everyone and everything is moving all the time – and – so was I – moving all the time.

There is a saying in the Navy:

If it moves – salute it

If it doesn’t move – pick it up

If you can’t pick it up – paint it

In the Navy (maybe in Army/AirForce too): 

Work is associated with Movement 

The more you were seen moving – the more hardworking you were considered. 

It did not matter whether you were achieving anything or not – you just had to keep moving.

So – since everyone wanted to appear hardworking – everyone was on the move all the time – saluting people – picking up things – and painting things that they could not pick up.

My wife loved to see me on the move all the time – and when I returned home physically exhausted after a hard day of “work” – she was convinced that I was working very hard. 

“I wish you had never retired...” my wife moans, “you just don’t do any “work” now-a-days. All you do is sit at home in front of your laptop whole day...”

“What about those “Techies” – those IT Nerds...?” I ask, “they sit on their backsides all day in comfortable air-conditioned offices – they are transported back and forth to office in company buses – they have a relaxed 5 day week and all the perks – they don’t even have to lift a finger...”

“These IT “Techie” Nerds – they earn loads of money...” a friend says.

Oh – so that’s the second definition of “work”.

WORK is associated with earning MONEY 

The more money you earn – the more you are “working”. 

The amount of work you do – is directly proportional – to the amount of money you earn.

That’s funny.

Physical Effort counts as “Work” – whether you earn money or not

But 

Intellectual Effort does not count as “Work” – unless it earns you a lot of money

To put it in gobbledygook:

Physical Work and Money may be mutually independent of each other 

But – Intellectual Work and Money are mutually interdependent 

In fact – the quantum of intellectual work is measured the amount of money you earn for doing that work

Now-a-days – I am a wannabe writer/blogger. 

I spend my whole day reading, writing, surfing the internet and blogging – and in doing these activities – there is hardly any visible physical effort involved. 

So – in my wife’s parlance – I don’t do any “work” – since no physical effort is involved.

Also – at present – my writing/blogging does not earn me any money. 

Yes – I have published a couple of books.

But – my books have not earned me much money – at least till now. 

I am an avid blogger and write a blog post almost every day.

Blogging does not earn me any money – since I have not monetized my blog. 

And the novel I am trying to write (my wife wonders whether it will ever see the light of day) – I don’t know whether or when it will earn me any money. 

So – as per the second definition too – I don’t do any “work” – since I don’t earn any money from my writing/blogging.

Yes – it is so simple. 

While I engage in creative writing and blogging:

1. I am not seen making any physical effort

and

2. I don’t make any money from my writing and blogging

So – as per the two definitions of work – I don’t do any “work” – QED. 

I am a lazy good-for-nothing guy – who is wasting my time and doing “nothing”.

Maybe – the novel I am writing will become a bestseller and earn me some money. 

Maybe – someone may buy the movie rights of my novel and I may rake in the moolah.

Maybe – my Blog may become famous and someone will offer me an attractive proposition or lucrative job.

Then – the “effort” I am putting in my writing will qualify as “work”.

Till then – as far as my darling “hard working” wife and “money making” friend are concerned – I don’t do any “work”

“You are such a qualified, experienced and talented guy. Why are you not working...? ”

 “Why do sit at home whole day doing nothing...? I am sure you can get a good job.” 

“As an Engineer, Designer, Manager, Consultant, even as a Professor – you don’t know your true worth – you can earn lots of money. So – why are you wasting your time...? Why don’t you do something – instead of sitting at home all day...?”

“Even if you want to write – the least you can do is write some professional stuff – instead of writing fiction. That will earn you some money, at least...”

I have to hear all these taunts – all the time – from all sorts of people.

Yes – it is true.

I have got many lucrative job offers. 

I can easily get a good job and “work” whole day.

But why don’t they understand...? 

I don’t want a “job”. 

I want to write fiction. 

I want to write a novel. 

I want to write stories.

I want to Blog.

I have found my “calling” – I have discovered my “metier” – my true vocation – Creative Writing and Blogging.

I want to spend the rest of life writing and blogging – surrounded by my books and my diaries in which I have made notes all these years – in front of my laptop – researching on the internet – hammering away at the keyboard – writing fiction – and Blogging away. 

I am living the life I always dreamt of living.

Yes – I am going to write.

I will write my novel.

I will write on my blog.

I will write short stories.

I will write whatever I want to write – but I am going to write – and blog – Bash on Regardless...!!! 

I am going to focus on writing what I like best – fiction.

Well – if you think I am wasting my time doing nothing – so be it.

To those who say that I don’t do any “work” – good luck to you.

I just don’t care what you say.

Because – I am going to be busy writing and blogging. 

I know that this is real hard work – and I am working harder than I ever worked in my whole life – though it is not visible to you – either by way of physical effort or earning money.

I will end with an anecdote, a true story, narrated by a famous writer.

The writer’s wife scolded him: 

“You say that you are a writer – but I hardly see you writing. Most of the time – you relax in your chair with your eyes closed...”

“My Dear Wife – I am “writing” all the time,” the writer said, “do you know what creative writing is...? Writing is 90% creative thinking – and only 10% – is the physical process of writing...”

PS: 

For those of you – who think I am doing nothing after my retirement – if you think I am wasting my time – I will tell you this: 

Just Google my name “VIKRAM KARVE” 

And – you will be surprised to see how much I have “worked” after my retirement. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This is a fictional spoof, satire, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh. 

2. These tips are based on my own experience and represent my personal views which may not be universal in nature and may not apply to you. You must make your own career decisions with due diligence. Also, do take this post with a sense of humor.

3. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

This is a revised and updated version of an article I wrote after I retired and have posted online a number of times including at urls: https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/what-is-work-meaning-and-definition-of.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/12/retirement-blues-grumblings-of-retired.html etc

Blogging – Why I Blog

WHY I BLOG 

BLOGGING

Musings of a Blogger

By 

VIKRAM KARVE  

WHY YOU SHOULD BLOG

If you do not blog – or if you are a newbie budding blogger – there is one movie you must see – Julie and Julia

The story is about a woman who is thoroughly bored with life and is on the verge of depression. 

She hates her job at a call-centre. 

Her married life is stagnating. 

She is depressed as she feels that her life has become static – and she feels that there is nothing to look forward to in her life.

Her husband introduces her to blogging – and – he motivates her to start a blog.

He tells her to start blogging about anything she likes.

After considering various options – she picks up a cookbook The Art of French Cooking – and she decides to cook one recipe everyday and then blog about her culinary experience cooking that dish.

Gradually – she has many readers and her blog becomes popular.

In fact – one day when she does not post a blog – her angry fans ask her why she has not posted on that day – and this inspires her to make a commitment to herself and to her readers to be regular in posting a blog. 

Now – she has something to look forward to everyday – to cook a recipe and then write and post a blog about her culinary experience every day.

She starts feeling motivated and happy as her blog draws lots of readers, elicits numerous comments and evokes tremendous response, makes her famous, and finally culminates in her becoming a published author. 

Her days of depression are a long way off – a forgotten thing of the past.

That is the beauty of Blogging. 

Blogging gives you something to look forward to – yes – something to look forward to do every day. 

Once you start enjoying Blogging – you will not sleep until you have posted something on your Blog.

Blogging will make you happy – as there is a saying:

“The key to happiness is to have something to look forward to...” 

Blogging is something you will look forward to – every day 

And so – Blogging will keep you Happy.

Also – do remember:

Your Blog is your literary and intellectual Legacy in cyberspace – for posterity.

You may go away from this world – but your Blog will remain forever.

FOUR AIMS OF LIFE

There are four things we all strive to do in our life: 

1. to LIVE

2. to LOVE

3. to LEARN 

4. to LEAVE A LEGACY 

(You may or may not leave many things as your legacy – but – if you blog – your BLOG will remain your LEGACY forever even after your are gone from this world)

FOUR STAGES OF BLOGGING

Likewise – there are Four Stages to enjoying Blogging:

1. Anticipation (looking forward to blogging)

  

2. Savouring the moment (enjoying the sheer pleasure of blogging and the joy of experiencing your creative juices flow)

3. Expression (sharing your creativity, interacting with fellow bloggers and friends in the blogosphere to heighten your experience)

4. Reflection (harking back on your blogging experiences by re-reading your old blogs and comments of your fans for happy nostalgic memories)

A BLOG A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY

Start Blogging. 

Keep Blogging. 

Blogging will change your life for the better. 

You can take my word for it. 

You will feel happy as you will have something to look forward to every day. 

That is the beauty of Blogging. 

It gives you something to look forward to – yes, something to look forward to do every day. 

Once you start enjoying Blogging – you will not sleep until you have posted something on your blog.

Blogging will make you happy – as they say that – the key to happiness is to have something to look forward to in life.

And – do remember – that – your Blog is your literary and intellectual Legacy in cyberspace – for posterity.

You may go away – but – your Blog will remain forever. 

Most importantly – Blogging will make you feel good and keep you healthy.

They used to say: 

An Apple a day keeps the Doctor away

Maybe – now they will say: 

A Blog a day keeps the Doctor away

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

Revised Version of My Article First Posted Online by me Vikram Karve in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal on 11 Nov 2010 at 11/11/2010 10:22:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/11/blog-day-keeps-doctor-away-blogging.html  and reposted by me many times on my various blogs including at url:http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/01/live-love-learn-but-what-is-your-legacy.html  and https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/05/why-blog.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/blogging-why-you-should-blog.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/why-i-blog.html  etc