MANDIRA PATTNAIK

GUEST BLOGPOST BY SUDEEPA NAIR, AUTHOR OF THE SERPENTS OF KANAKAPURAM

FEBRUARY 21 2025

About six months before the pandemic shut us inside our homes, I quit my job. There was no single reason for the decision. It just felt right at that time. I gave myself until the end of the year to figure out what I would do next. I travelled to India for a short vacation and came back with no particular plan except to read more intentionally and blog more regularly. That was until the pandemic struck.

Like many others at that time, 2020 forced me to reflect on life and its purpose. The long days trapped at home gave me an excuse to let go of goals and wish-lists. I could have easily drifted into a comfort zone, spending my time on household work, gossip, and the television. I nearly fell into the trap but pulled out quickly when I realised the intellectual and emotional damage that I had inflicted upon myself. To help me avoid anxious thoughts and negativity, I decided to rework a rough draft of a mystery novel I had written over the previous year.

My first mystery novel resulted from a long, unwinding process in which I wrote when I felt like it, edited when my mind was free of other distractions, and cruised toward no particular deadline.

Once I published the book and discovered that I had a whole line-up of ideas waiting to be explored, I began writing a plan. I applied my consulting industry experience to my writing projects, breaking them down into phases with tasks, sub-tasks, and deadlines. I was proud of being disciplined enough to get into a scheduled writing routine and begin my projects with gusto.

However, it took me a while to realise that writing is not a one-time project that I could
finish in mission mode and then forget until I began the next. It is a process and, as you go deeper, a way of life.

The carefully created plan helped me to see the milestones but not to sustain the creative energy to reach them. It was not enough to mark my destination and find a path; I had to discover the beauty of that journey. Writing is a solitary pursuit ninety percent of the time, so a writer has to enjoy the process, however long or futile it may seem. The writing process is a marathon and not a sprint. It is not a competition, and there is no prize. There may be a promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but the happiness is in watching the rainbow itself.

When I realised the importance of writing, I understood that I had to gear up for the long haul. Sitting at my desk with a tired body and mind at the scheduled hour as per the plan did not help. I had to be mentally and physically alert to my creative energies. At the risk of romanticizing the craft, I would say that writers have to be ready to receive what the universe gives from its well of inspiration.

Gradually, I paid more attention to my physical fitness. I attuned myself to rest, exercise, and eat. Long walks became a routine not just for exercise but also for relaxation. They were especially useful when I brainstormed an idea for a book before I started and while writing down the first draft. Regular Yoga and stretching exercises relieved my sore back on days when I edited for long hours. I also started paying attention to the food that kept my brain active. I had not taken these habits seriously during my corporate stint, but the urge to protect and sustain my creative energy steered me towards a healthier lifestyle.

There were a few other things I did to keep myself mentally fresh. I drastically cut down my news time. I stopped reading news bytes and instead opted for long-form articles and podcasts. Social media was a big distraction during the pandemic, but I consciously chose not to indulge in online political discussions or any debates that would hamper my creative energy. I withdrew from conversations that were meant to instigate or provoke, valuing my mental acuity and rest over the urge to prove myself right.

I continued on the path of intentional reading, but I stopped being hard on myself when it came to my reading targets. I started reading on a whim, relying on serendipity (the local library) to discover books that inspired or simply made me happy.

Writing has brought peace and calm into my life based on a foundation of discipline and routine. There is no certainty in life, and as we say, change is the only constant. The only thing I am sure of is that I will continue to have writing milestones. The path through these milestones could be difficult, easy, clear, hazy, or non-existent. But I now understand what switches on my fountain of creativity. I still have my off days when the words that come onto the page are utter garbage, but at least I have something to work with. I have a framework within which I can nurture my writing process.

Writing, in essence, has taught me how to live.

Sudeepa has published four novels and several short stories across multiple genres. She is currently working on her second mystery novel. Her favourite themes include nature and technology.

Sudeepa lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter. She has an engineering degree from Mumbai University and an MBA from IIM Mumbai. You can follow her writing and reading journey at The Story Basket and find her books here. 

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