by Nupur Roopa

I do not remember when I lost myself in the land of books. As a child, I observed everyone reading in the family and unconsciously the habit was imbibed. The summer afternoons with fairy tales made my childhood almost magical.

For me, the sight of books in a bookshop or at a book fair is exhilarating. Somewhere all along I wanted to write as good as all that I had read. There have been so many who have inspired me with words, thrilled me, and startled me by the sheer beauty of verse and prose. Books have always been my best friends.

I remember penning my first poem when I was about 12 years. It was about a double rainbow; I had witnesses on a rainy afternoon near a lovely Himalayan river. The scene was very serene and is still etched in my heart.

Writing fiction and non-fiction came later. It was the habit of writing a diary that helped me to pen my thoughts. It also gave me an opportunity to pour out my feelings as I went through different phases in life.

On some days, the thoughts find their own words. On others, I have to coax them like a small sulking child. Then there are the days when some stories come in a flash. These are what I call my ‘aha moments’. These are rare, spontaneous and complete in themselves. I have observed that whenever I write fiction the characters choose their own names. Until they do, I cannot write the story.

I am new to writing articles. An article is a defined journey. The rough research notes, the first draft when you can see the shape emerging, the shape it is going to develop and the final outcome is amazing. The process is similar to cutting and polishing a diamond. To see a piece in print is the ultimate joy but the journey towards that goal is often more satisfying and interesting.

Nupur Roopa is a freelance writer based in New Delhi, India. She writes on travel, environment and food. You can see the samples of her writing at  http://nupurroopa.wordpress.com/