ENTERTAINMENT
For Indian authors, blogs are not just another expression of creativity — they are an intrinsic tool in creating awareness of their work
For Indian authors, blogs are not just another expression of creativity — they are an intrinsic tool in creating awareness of their work
Sometime back, when author Jaideep Varma's book Local was released in India, no national newspaper or magazine reviewed it - he had not received a million-dollar advance - and mainstream media for him was a virtual dead-end. Sales did not pick up, and all he got was word-of-mouth publicity.
"For me, media had become a mindless machine of hype and agenda," he says. So, Varma turned to Web logs, or blogs, to put forth his ideas about his book. "I had no option," he says, "but to blog. It is my private space to strike back."
Varma is not the only the Indian author to blog. Over the last 12-18 months, several published authors have taken to blogging. For several reasons, ranging from publicity for their book to airing their views on general issues for a public debate. Ashok Banker, author of Byculla Boy, and the recent Ramayana series, has a blog on Indian English. Samit Basu, author of India's first science fiction novel in English, The Simoqin Prophecies, uses his blog Duck of Destiny to promote other Indian writers.
Ergo, the Indian author is now forgetting the sylvan settings of Panchgani or the hills in Mussoorie. Gone are the days when writers sat cooped in their rooms and penned their thoughts in solitary silence. The new-age author is going beyond just writing the book - thanks to technology, he is striding out of the closet of anonymity.
"Blogs help you express yourself without the fear of scrutiny of editors, critics and journalists," says Chetan Bhagat, whose recent work Five Point Someone, has been steadily climbing the bestseller charts in Indian bookstores, and runs an eponymous website. "Before my twin sons were born, I was nervous and neglected at the same time. It was then that I started blogging. My blog is on fatherhood as well as my fiction. Sometimes there are ideas that do not require the space of a whole book. That's where a blog comes in handy."
Banker believes authoring is a solitary profession, but blogs help writers to interact with their readers directly. "The average response time for blogs," he says, "is much faster than the traditional way when we have to wait to hear it through the media. I am an inveterate writer and blogging was a natural outlet." Besides being a prolific blogger on blogcritics.org, Banker's popular blogs are epicindia and Indian English Spoken Here. "My books have brought people to the blog. After the Ramayana series was published, I corresponded with several Ramayana readers through epicindia." The blog is now a way of anchoring the community.
Ashok Banker will soon serialise a fantasy novel Vortal on Indian English Spoken Here. He plans to post instalments of 2500 words thrice a week and wait for feedback to finish or discontinue it.
Basu, on the other hand, does not necessarily blog out of professional compulsions. "My blog is more a personal space," he says. "There are links to reviews, but no hardsell. My blog is a storehouse of articles I've written - it's a a warehouse where I dump the weird and wonderful things on the Internet."
Some others, however, unabashedly acknowledge the function of blogs as intricately linked to their fiction. Once the reviews and feedback of a particular literary work are published, the blog begins to appear more like a promotional exercise than a creative outlet. Admittedly, some published and almost all aspiring authors use the blog as apromotion or interaction device.
Says Dilip D'Souza, who wrote The Narmada Damned, "My blog is a place where I put smaller pieces I write, that would not get published elsewhere." He runs a blog titled Death Ends Fun. "I like the business of writing something everyday."
Basu feels every blogger (there are more than 8.5 million active blogs) is an author. "The author creates a highly individual work, gets feedback, and can even get to turn a blog into a book. A blog is the last frontier for publishing."
Delhi residents defy firecracker ban, illuminate night sky with Diwali celebrations
'Since I've retired...': Rohit Sharma reacts after Mumbai Indians retain him for IPL 2025
Diwali 2024: How to get rid of acidity, bloating, constipation post Diwali binge?
IND vs NZ, 3rd Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs New Zealand match
IPL 2025: What is the remaining purse and RTM cards for all teams ahead of mega-auction?
Meet Indian man who secured job at Elon Musk's Tesla after sending...
'Isse zyada sundar...': Viral video captures aerial view of Diwali celebrations in Noida, WATCH
THIS company got richer by Rs 29878 crore on Diwali day due to...
Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'very poor' category, likely to worsen after festival
IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant released by Delhi Capitals, CSK retains MS Dhoni as...
Meet woman, who quit NCPI as COO, now set to lead India's largest...
Viral: Businessman gifts Rs 1 crore Rolex watch to contractor for his...
Post-Diwali hangover? 5 easy tips to detox the liver
Pushpa 2: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna share film's NEW poster to wish fans on Diwali
Gautam Adani's companies set to supply 6500 MW of power to THIS state
WTC 2023-25 points table update after South Africa clean sweep Bangladesh 2-0 in Test series
Meet woman, college dropout who earns Rs 1494000 monthly, works just 4 hours a day, she is...
Why KL Rahul decided to part ways with Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025 retention deadline?
Sebi issues Rs 154 crore demand notices to Anil Ambani's companies, asks them to pay within...
IND vs NZ: Jasprit Bumrah to miss third India vs New Zealand Test? Report says star pacer is....
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Why it happens in winter?
New Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem open to truce with Israel, says, 'we accept but…’
BSNL continues to rise, deploys over 50000 4G sites with Tata Group company in India's most...
'Either this or nothing': Elderly couple dances at Mohit Chauhan's concert, WATCH viral video
'That's so cheap': Sana Makbul CRITICISES pap after he tells her 'mazze nahi aa rahe' in viral video
Indian, Chinese troops at LAC exchange Diwali sweets after border disengagement
Dawood Ibrahim was fan of this superstar, invited him for tea, confessed a murder to him, then…
NEET entrance 2025 exam to happen online? Here's what high-level panel suggests
Jadeja to enter IPL auction? CSK eying THIS star player as MS Dhoni's successor
Ratan Tata once surprised his dog trainer at Bombay VT: 'You hold the pup, I’ll take...'
Woman finds bundle of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes during Diwali cleaning, netizens call it...
IPL 2025: List of players set be retained on deadline day, CSK, RCB, MI will retain...
Kartik Aaryan says his film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 doesn't need cameos: 'Hume humaari...'
Meet man, who secured AIR 2644 in JEE, did B.Tech from IIT Kanpur, has now started doing...
Noida: Stunning drone footage captures Diwali celebrations, watch viral video
Is stock market open or closed on Diwali? Know details here
Don’t Move on Netflix movie review: Psychological thriller with enjoyable moments
Cricketer Ben Stokes' house burgled by masked robbers, England captain shares harrowing details
Diwali delights: Bengaluru man surprises mom with Apple iPhone 15, viral video wins internet, watch
'Divine festival of lights...' PM Narendra Modi extend his wishes on festival Diwali
Diwali 2024: Dos and don'ts, subh muhurat, rituals and more
Delhi pollution: National capital's air quality dips to 'very poor' on Diwali, AQI hits...
Varun Dhawan finally reveals daughter’s name on Amitabh Bachchan’s KBC 16: ‘We named her…’
Elon Musk is hiring Hindi tutors for his firm xAI, offering pay up to Rs...
When Abhishek Bachchan broke his silence on divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai: ‘Will you let me…”
Triupati Laddo row: Andhra Pradesh govt appoints BR Naidu as new chairman of Tirupati temple board
Meet man who left his IT job to build Indian brand, competes with Domino's, Pizza Hut, he is...
Diwali 2024: Know puja vidhi, shubh muhurat, significance, rituals and more
Meet man, whose father is a taxi driver, clears UPSC with AIR...