'The third resource being the lemons

So I was at  All Pakistan Intercollegiate Convention for Story Writers held at KEMU Lahore. There was a panel discussion comprising of popular Pakistani writers such as Musharruf Ali Farouqi and Tanzeela Shah.Scribed a few notes and thought I had share them with all the aspiring writers out there.

'There are two resources you need to write a story. These are your hands and your mind that is your imagination. Luckily, I had a third resource too. LEMONS! So what do you do when life hands you over with lemons? You make lemonades! And I created stories. So with my hands,my imagination and the third resource being the lemons, I became a short story writer!' were the words of Tanzila Khan, when asked how did she become a writer.

When asked for advice for the short story writers,another panel member Musharuf Ali Farouqi said that reading is an absolute essential for that process.The more you read,the more confident you become in your expression because you have the exposure to say what you want.He also advised to read twice a book you admire because you are likely to find new grounds.He shared his experience of writing a novel in which he sketched out all the characters of his novel and then found out that there existed connections between them.His strong advice was to study classics of multiple languages and to try translating them.Become aware of the major themes and try connecting them with what you already know of your own language.

And his last message was that write what's near to your heart and what completes you as a person.Write for the sake of writing!

I,ME And Pain

"Yes it hurts.Yes its painful.Yes it feels like some one is stabbing you when you are already injured.Some one is kicking you when you are already down."

"So what?"

"You are not alone.People rise all the time.From abusive and alcoholic backgrounds.From rapes and injuries and disabilities and addictions."

"Is that impossible.?"

"Not at all."

"Near to impossible,?"

"May be."

"Done before,?"

"loads of times."

"Worth doing it?"

"Hell Yeah."

"Then,.."

"then what,Just do it!"

"What about the pain?"

"Its temporary and an illusion."

"Sure about that?"

"Yeah."

"F**k off.I don't believe you."

"Then who do you believe ?"


Silence.

"All you have got is me."


Deeper silence.


"I am doomed,right?"


"Not exactly."



"Approximately?"


"Well yeah."


"So what should I do?"



"What Harry Potter did after being killed by Voldemort apparently by Avada Kedawra."


"Who is my Dumbledore?"


"Me."


"Again you.?"



"You don't get it,do you?"



"What?"


"Dumbledore didn't gave Harry any secret weapon did he?"



"Well No."



"What he did gave him was the meaning of his life,the spirit to fight and find ways despite everything against you.He trusted him."



"So?"



"I trust you to carry out what is impossible."




"Are you with me till the very end?"



"Yes."



"Like the people called by the resurrection stone."



"No,like Love.Always eternal."



"What to do when I am scared?"



"I will stay with you'."



"And when my heart breaks?"



"I will ease your aches".



"Who are you?"



"I am...You!"

The Easy Way,and The Other Way...

It's always easy to take the easy way out-no tensions,no pressures.Right in the comfort zone.No need to take that difficult path.The path full of uncertainty.The path which truly tests our conviction to succeed.Which enables us to test our potential,our very best.But the truth is,as you may already know,that there is no easy way out.The only way is through!

When we undertake a journey to greatness,we are literally spending energy to get out of the gravity of littleness,the scarcity.It takes hell lot of effort and energy to start and pull out of the gravitational field.But once that is done,you experience unbelievable freedom-That is a promise!

Remember,"if a victory is certain,even a coward will fight.But to fight when defeat is certain is called true bravery"

It is going to be a rewarding journey,rest assured.The only requisite is to believe and have faith.Believing that there is a silver lining in every situation,that "The doubts are the loudest when success is the nearest"!Never lose hope even when everything is against you,remember,it is the process of creation!And also that

"We are all meant to shine as children do.It's not just in some of us,it is in everyone.And as we let our own light shine,we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.As we are liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others"

Follow The path and inspire!