11 writers, 12 weeks: First season of Anita's attic comes to an end

11 writers, 12 weeks: First season of Anita's attic comes to an end
11 writers, 12 weeks: First season of Anita's attic comes to an end
Written by:

Megha Varier

The graduation event of eleven students of one of the country’s best-selling authors Anita Nair’s mentorship programme ‘Anita’s Attic’ was held at Rangasthala, Rangoli Metro Art Centre, here on Saturday. 

The programme that commenced on January 24th this year had Anita Nair mould the aspiring writers, by giving them individual attention. Eleven aspiring writers from across the country underwent a creative writing programme on every Saturday for a period of 12 weeks. 

“I wanted to work with a small group since that would enable me to give each writer individual attention and help them identify and better their writing skills”, said Anita Nair.

“At the completion of this mentorship programme, I felt it is important to have my mentor Jayant Kotian, resident editor, TOI. I thought it is important that he shares his good karma because he is the one who made me a published author,” she said. 

“Mentor is somebody who nurtures, takes you forward to that take that extra step”, said Jayant Kotian. He further added that Ms.Nair’s experience of writing different forms of literature holds her in a good position to share her experiences. 

Krupa Ge, a journalist from Chennai who is into short story writing said that to write in simple language and not use flowery language is what journalism taught her. “The most important thing that this mentorship programme helped me do is to keep focus and identify my individual literary voice”, she added. Krupa’s short story for the evening ‘A bathroom of one’s own’ is about a little girl who lives in a slum named Kuttiponnu and her daily visit to the public toilet and what follows. 

Anita Nair- Picture from Penguin Books

Vestin Vergheese, a vet doctor from Kerala travelled all the way to Bangalore on weekends to attend the programme. A published author and columnist, Vestin Vergheese is into children’s literature. His short story ‘The cycle’ received much acclaim from the audience. 

Aarathi Gunnapuri presented a travelogue, Harini, a second year under grad student read out one of her short stories ‘The Secret’. Nandini Murali read out a chapter from her first novel, that during the course of the programme she has been able to edit and put it together. 
Anita Nair announced the commencement of the second session of Anita’s Attic by September of this year. 

The ones who graduated are: Aarthi Gunnupuri, Apoorva Satish, Archana Vijay, Krupa GE, Harini Rajasekhar, Meena Chandrasekaran, Dr.Nalini Murali, Sathya Ramaganapathy, Swapna Narayanan and Vestin Vergheese. Certificates were given away followed by every writer reading out an excerpt from their work. 

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