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I haven’t written on my group blog for a while, but now I feel I can re-start my weekly posts.

Today’s post is “Why Are You Writing This Novel?”

I find it an important topic. The reason why a novel is written can determine how it resonates with its readers.

In the post, I more or less argue for passion in writing, but I do acknowledge that reason has its role.

The editorial hat is the hat of reason. But then, even an editor can’t work with dead words.

I like how Gibran describes reason and passion. I really think it applies just as well to writing fiction, as to life:

“…reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.”

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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One Comment

  • shoreacres says:

    Very interesting post. I've talked some in my own blog about the importance of structure in the writing process. A house without a strong foundation is a pile of brick and board, and a person without bones is – well, maybe a jellyfish 😉

    I like to say the better our structures, the more emotion/plot/characters/argument our writing can support. Gibran says it much more poetically, but I think we're talking about the same dynamic.

    I enjoyed seeing your group blog, too.