Scene: Creative writing workshop, day 3.
Location: Sristhi School of Art and Design, Bangalore.
Time: An hour after lunch.
White board Graffiti : Thought, feeling, Visual and IncidenceLocation: Sristhi School of Art and Design, Bangalore.
Time: An hour after lunch.
Assignment under discussion: Childhood.
Student 1
When I was a kid, I once got burned badly on both hands because I touched a burning stove. And, a few days after that, I saw my mother ironing clothes. She switched off the switch and went for a nap. And I, well, I knew I would get burnt, but, I had to go and touch that iron! So I touched the iron, and I got burned!
Me
That is an incident. A visual. What is the feeling behind it?
Student 1
I don't know. I guess I just wanted to see if the iron was really hot.
Me
This is a thought. What is the feeling?
A writer should always be in touch with the feeling behind every little scene that is written. What do you feel now when you look back at your childhood. Anyone?
Student 2
Nostalgic?
Me
Yup, that is a feeling. What else? What did you feel when you told us the story of burning your hand on the iron?
(Student 2 walks out of classroom)
Student 3
Stupid?
Me
Adventurous?
(Student 2 walks into the class)
Student 2
I hate to disturb the class, but I just got a news alert, that there have been two bomb blasts in the city.
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Much later.
After the kid and I are safe at home.
Me
Student 1
When I was a kid, I once got burned badly on both hands because I touched a burning stove. And, a few days after that, I saw my mother ironing clothes. She switched off the switch and went for a nap. And I, well, I knew I would get burnt, but, I had to go and touch that iron! So I touched the iron, and I got burned!
Me
That is an incident. A visual. What is the feeling behind it?
Student 1
I don't know. I guess I just wanted to see if the iron was really hot.
Me
This is a thought. What is the feeling?
A writer should always be in touch with the feeling behind every little scene that is written. What do you feel now when you look back at your childhood. Anyone?
Student 2
Nostalgic?
Me
Yup, that is a feeling. What else? What did you feel when you told us the story of burning your hand on the iron?
(Student 2 walks out of classroom)
Student 3
Stupid?
Me
Adventurous?
(Student 2 walks into the class)
Student 2
I hate to disturb the class, but I just got a news alert, that there have been two bomb blasts in the city.
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Much later.
After the kid and I are safe at home.
Me
How do I feel? How do I feel? This should not have happened. No, that is a thought. How do I feel? Do I feel scared? A little, but it passes. How do I feel? How do I feel? Angry. Because this might disrupt my plans to go to Tiru. This passes too. How do I feel? How do I feel? Sad, for the woman who lost her life. Pass. How do I feel? How do I feel? Nothing, at all. Seven bombs and only one woman dead? And this is supposed to scare us? I am not scared. I feel brave! I am an Indian! I have gone through Gujarat! I have gone through Mumbai! Bangalore blasts are a chill pill. How do I feel? I feel brave!
A terrorist somewhere plants explosives. And the ego here explodes.
A terrorist somewhere plants explosives. And the ego here explodes.
