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 next literary crime thriller, The Blue Bar, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency, and was published by Thomas & Mercer on January 1, 2023.
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That every great author writes one story at a time. That the large list of short stories, novels and novellas are actually an accumulation of working,little by little, over time.
I like the idea of Baby Steps – like, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And then take another, and another. Each step – each drop – might be insignificant in and of itself, but (as they say in theater) there are no small roles. Someone else mentioned the Ripple Effect, which I think goes hand-in-hand with this quite nicely. Oh, and I love the image you chose for this phrase, too! 🙂
A few weeks ago I woke up with my last dream of the night vividly clear. I was a water droplet, but instead of falling downward and being assimilated into a pool of water, I was 'falling' upward! Rising higher and higher, reflecting the world around me but staying ME. And I was happy! 🙂 Your photo reminds me of the dream.
Good luck with the rest of the challenge. It's an great approach you've chosen with the single phrase and single photo. Very creative indeed.
Thanks everyone — I love how the words and picture have evoked different sentiments. I'll stay silent here, but will be visiting each of you back. Once again, I'm grateful for all the shared wisdom.
We may not be able to change the world or solve a problem on our own, but if each of us contributes our bit, no matter how little, we can eventually succeed.
I like pics like that – love macro photography. This pic actually made me wonder who's pouring the water, who they are, what brought them to that water-pouring moment in their life. hebe
This phrase could be applied to so many things, as mentioned by previous commenters. For me it is a reminder to take things one step at a time, because I tend to get overwhelmed when all I see is the big picture. I must slow down and take things step by step, word by word, drop by drop. I also love the photo. That kind isn't easy to get! It had to be taken at the precise moment necessary to catch that little drop mid-air. Perfect.
I think people forget that everything takes time. We're such a fast-paced, instant gratification society. A home is built from the foundation up. A jug is filled a drop at a time. Rush the process, and you end up with a mess!
Wow, what an interesting way to handle the Challenge. When I read the title, the first thing that came to mind is the idea of willpower and persistence. A jug filling drop by drop is someone bound on coming up with a full jug no matter how little progress they have to make with each step. Great choice and great start!
Like the photograph shows, when a drop of water falls into the bucket, it does not merely spread up on the top, it plunges into the receiving vessel, leaving an impression. Then the vessel pushes back, telling the intruder it cannot simply barge in unnoticed. They negotiate back and forth until a way is found to live together.
Take 2 (my apologies if more than one shows up, the comment doesn't look like it worked) Beautiful Shot! Besides being a writer, I'm a professional photographer. That is a magnificent shot, and titled beautifully as well.
What an interesting idea! Kind of reminds me of the hourglass running out and filling up the bottom half throughout a lifetime. Just need to make the most of that time…
With patience every small step sums up to the larger success. Just like in this challenge, each day one post starting with one alphabet will eventually culminate to completing the entire box of 26 alphabets. Nice thought to kick start this challenge.
I'm a big fan of this phrase. It's how I feel about my writing (tiny, insignificant drops till the jug is almost full) and also the best way to make life changes: tiny droplets at a time.
Hmmm…I just left a comment but it didn't show up. I just wanted to say that yes, a jug does fill drop by drop, much like the way a MS fills word by word.
In Malayalam, there's a saying that echoes the same meaning, 'Pala thulli peru vellam.'
I feel that both phrases talk about the importance of us contributing to something, however small our part in it maybe. If everybody remembered to turn off lights when they're not in use, we could go a long way in conserving power. Even though the act itself is trivial, its cumulative effect is huge.
Nice theme, good start. First thing that came to my mind was watching the A to Z Linky list fill up since January. Guess I'm kind of single-minded this time of year.
I thought of two things. The incredible beauty of a ripple in a body of water visually and conversely how drops of water (from a faucet) can be really annoying to hear.
What strikes me most about this shot is the forms created by what appears in real time to be one drop joining a larger body of water. First, however, it becomes a column and two smaller orbs. When moving from one situation to the next, it often requires a change in ourselves that can bring all sorts of amazing surprises.
I absolutely love your idea for this month! You never when you drop something into water what the ripple will touch or how far it goes, you never know how big of a splash it is going to make.
I like this! The phrase can go many ways. To fill you jug or story you have to go drop by drop, word by word. You can force it to come. Or a drop can create a ripple. Like you do one nice thing to someone that some will do it to someone else and so on. Thanks for sharing!
Oh excited to see your post this month, great theme. There are a lot of ways to interpret that phrase today, and will probably be depending on my mood or situation at the time, but I really love it. The photo is inspiring too!
With patience, drop by drop, the ocean could be measured. I'm feeling that way facing the total list of blogs I would love to be able to visit in April. 😉
Keep at it, persevere. but alternatively each negative thing can add up and eventually have a huge effect. Love the theme! this is going to be fun 🙂
This post has me thinking. =) To me, the sentence is like saying life happens one step at a time. Hopefully when the jug is full, your life has been as fulfilling.
ripples, ever widening and spreading. Slowly but surely the effect of the ripple is felt somewhere in the world. Like the flap of the butterfly wings … lovely thank you. Evocative and meaningful.
This is a GREAT idea for a theme! I'm going to enjoy these!
It makes me think of what I'm trying to think about this year, and that is to focus on each day as it comes. I can't do everything at once. I can just do the tasks that each day brings to the best of my ability, and in so doing I will accomplish everything that God has for me in my life.
Fun concept! To me drops represent each bit of effort needed to complete any whole task. Nothing gets done in one swoop. Everything takes many, many drops to become something great! Word by word, ingredient by ingredient or conversation by conversation. Everything is built upon these drops! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living
It could mean things don't happen overnight, good or bad. All big things are made of smaller parts. Like success is made of daily effort, or a disease is made of daily mistakes. Or inner peace (what the drop reminds me) is achieved by small conquests.
Great idea for a theme! These are going to be fun! It reminds me of the show whose name escapes me, but they use these incredible cameras to capture events to show in slow motion. But on a more serious note, that phrase makes me think of stress and how sometimes we don't notice the drop, but when the jug overflows, we can't handle anymore. Says the stressed out girl… Tina @ Life is Good Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog @TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
I think I'm leaning towards the cliche but I love the theory of the ripple effect! Please visit our blog. We are doing an original poem every day. http://citymusecountrymuse2012.blogspot.com/
That every great author writes one story at a time. That the large list of short stories, novels and novellas are actually an accumulation of working,little by little, over time.
And a novel fills word by word…
Our sins are like a drop in the ocean of His mercy
drop by drop – patience , perseverance and effort to me!
such a great quote and pic 🙂 All the best
I find this image so stunning…I can't even express why, it just really captured my imagination…
Some Dark Romantic
I like the idea of Baby Steps – like, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And then take another, and another. Each step – each drop – might be insignificant in and of itself, but (as they say in theater) there are no small roles. Someone else mentioned the Ripple Effect, which I think goes hand-in-hand with this quite nicely. Oh, and I love the image you chose for this phrase, too! 🙂
A few weeks ago I woke up with my last dream of the night vividly clear. I was a water droplet, but instead of falling downward and being assimilated into a pool of water, I was 'falling' upward! Rising higher and higher, reflecting the world around me but staying ME. And I was happy! 🙂 Your photo reminds me of the dream.
Good luck with the rest of the challenge. It's an great approach you've chosen with the single phrase and single photo. Very creative indeed.
Luna
Profound and so true!
Thanks everyone — I love how the words and picture have evoked different sentiments. I'll stay silent here, but will be visiting each of you back. Once again, I'm grateful for all the shared wisdom.
I love this phrase. I'm so impatient. I want everything instantly. I think that's why I prefer short story writing!
We may not be able to change the world or solve a problem on our own, but if each of us contributes our bit, no matter how little, we can eventually succeed.
It's more or less like saying Rome wasn't built in one way! I agree on that wannabe writer-wise but for the rest in my life I'm more impatient!
It's like fulfilling your ambition. It takes time and patience.
Miss Uncertain—sidetracked
I like pics like that – love macro photography. This pic actually made me wonder who's pouring the water, who they are, what brought them to that water-pouring moment in their life. hebe
This phrase could be applied to so many things, as mentioned by previous commenters. For me it is a reminder to take things one step at a time, because I tend to get overwhelmed when all I see is the big picture. I must slow down and take things step by step, word by word, drop by drop.
I also love the photo. That kind isn't easy to get! It had to be taken at the precise moment necessary to catch that little drop mid-air. Perfect.
This is such an original theme. Drop by drop, inch by inch, day by day…There are endless possibilities.
Julie
Sometimes a lengthy motivational talk isn't necessary. This serves a purpose with its brevity.
Nice Phrase there, Just like Van Gogh said , " Great things happen when a series of small things come together."
A jug fills drop by drop and a book is created word by word. One step at a time.
Apt and nice.
I think people forget that everything takes time. We're such a fast-paced, instant gratification society. A home is built from the foundation up. A jug is filled a drop at a time. Rush the process, and you end up with a mess!
Good luck with A to Z. I'm trying it myself at http://www.deborahdera.com if you'd like to stop by!
Very cool. Filling drop by drop increasing over time like life…which I bet at times overflows. Great theme.
Wow, what an interesting way to handle the Challenge. When I read the title, the first thing that came to mind is the idea of willpower and persistence. A jug filling drop by drop is someone bound on coming up with a full jug no matter how little progress they have to make with each step. Great choice and great start!
Like the photograph shows, when a drop of water falls into the bucket, it does not merely spread up on the top, it plunges into the receiving vessel, leaving an impression. Then the vessel pushes back, telling the intruder it cannot simply barge in unnoticed. They negotiate back and forth until a way is found to live together.
Take 2 (my apologies if more than one shows up, the comment doesn't look like it worked)
Beautiful Shot! Besides being a writer, I'm a professional photographer. That is a magnificent shot, and titled beautifully as well.
That is a beautiful shot! Besides being a writer, I'm a professional photographer, and that is gorgeous.
Drop by drop fills a jug, then pour it all out to the last single drip. This is a nice way to end a long day.
Love the theme, images not words.
A great idea and an excellent way for interactive involvement, my friend.
"A jug fills drop by drop" And each drop, symbolic of the dream that becomes the ultimate goal.
Be well and enjoy.
Gary 🙂
great theme, great first post for the challenge!
In the end, every little bit counts… it's just that the bigger picture eludes you at that precise point in time…
What an interesting idea! Kind of reminds me of the hourglass running out and filling up the bottom half throughout a lifetime. Just need to make the most of that time…
Love this phrase. Great to meet you!
With patience every small step sums up to the larger success. Just like in this challenge, each day one post starting with one alphabet will eventually culminate to completing the entire box of 26 alphabets. Nice thought to kick start this challenge.
A wonderful and fun theme. That picture is beautiful. I see it as an amazing crystalline statue of the universe's pull and balance of life.
It makes me think of putting on weight, you just don't notice it until one day it is overflowing.
JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
It reminds me of saving back coins in a jar. The jar fills coin by coin. The mind fills memory by memory. The memories inspire words.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
I'm a big fan of this phrase. It's how I feel about my writing (tiny, insignificant drops till the jug is almost full) and also the best way to make life changes: tiny droplets at a time.
Cool theme! I love that photo too.
For some reason I think of a jug of tears… filled slowly over time.
I love this. Photos provide me with great inspiration. Gorgeous shot!
Simple AND brilliant!
Love it! A picture IS worth a thousand words.
What a great idea for the challenge! This is a wonderful quote. Thanks for being a host for this challenge.
Hmmm…I just left a comment but it didn't show up. I just wanted to say that
yes, a jug does fill drop by drop, much like the way a MS fills word by word.
Yes, a jug does fill drop by drop, much like the way a completed MS fills up word by word.
Awesome theme…beautifully executed here today! 🙂
Great post!
http://www.shellygoodmanwright.com/apps/blog/
Cool!
http://www.shellygoodmanwright.com/apps/blog/
A Lovely line, with a lovely meaning! 🙂
In Malayalam, there's a saying that echoes the same meaning, 'Pala thulli peru vellam.'
I feel that both phrases talk about the importance of us contributing to something, however small our part in it maybe. If everybody remembered to turn off lights when they're not in use, we could go a long way in conserving power. Even though the act itself is trivial, its cumulative effect is huge.
– Zainab @ http://zainabuf.blogspot.in/
I think sometimes we forget our fables. I was reminded of the crow and the pitcher by the photo.
Good idea to go wordless! I wonder if that will be less stressful?
Nice theme, good start. First thing that came to my mind was watching the A to Z Linky list fill up since January. Guess I'm kind of single-minded this time of year.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
I thought of two things. The incredible beauty of a ripple in a body of water visually and conversely how drops of water (from a faucet) can be really annoying to hear.
What strikes me most about this shot is the forms created by what appears in real time to be one drop joining a larger body of water. First, however, it becomes a column and two smaller orbs. When moving from one situation to the next, it often requires a change in ourselves that can bring all sorts of amazing surprises.
I absolutely love your idea for this month! You never when you drop something into water what the ripple will touch or how far it goes, you never know how big of a splash it is going to make.
Here's my first A to Z post for the year:
http://smhasty.blogspot.com/2013/04/26-books-that-changed-my-life-1-amazing.html
I like this! The phrase can go many ways. To fill you jug or story you have to go drop by drop, word by word. You can force it to come. Or a drop can create a ripple. Like you do one nice thing to someone that some will do it to someone else and so on. Thanks for sharing!
Btw, I like what Tina said! (:
Oh excited to see your post this month, great theme.
There are a lot of ways to interpret that phrase today, and will probably be depending on my mood or situation at the time, but I really love it.
The photo is inspiring too!
Nicole
Daily Dish Recipes
Crazed Mom
This is a great idea for a post series.
With patience, drop by drop, the ocean could be measured. I'm feeling that way facing the total list of blogs I would love to be able to visit in April. 😉
Keep at it, persevere. but alternatively each negative thing can add up and eventually have a huge effect. Love the theme! this is going to be fun 🙂
This post has me thinking. =) To me, the sentence is like saying life happens one step at a time. Hopefully when the jug is full, your life has been as fulfilling.
one thing leads to another…
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
Oh No, Let's Go… Crazy
One word at a time. One sentence at a time. What a wonderful choice for the challenge.
Makes me think that great things can be achieved, but they take time and patience.
(Grover at Inane Ramblings)
ripples, ever widening and spreading. Slowly but surely the effect of the ripple is felt somewhere in the world. Like the flap of the butterfly wings … lovely thank you. Evocative and meaningful.
This is a GREAT idea for a theme! I'm going to enjoy these!
It makes me think of what I'm trying to think about this year, and that is to focus on each day as it comes. I can't do everything at once. I can just do the tasks that each day brings to the best of my ability, and in so doing I will accomplish everything that God has for me in my life.
Jaimie
Living in the Light
Love it! What an awesome theme and I love the picture!
Fun concept! To me drops represent each bit of effort needed to complete any whole task. Nothing gets done in one swoop. Everything takes many, many drops to become something great! Word by word, ingredient by ingredient or conversation by conversation. Everything is built upon these drops! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living
It could mean things don't happen overnight, good or bad. All big things are made of smaller parts. Like success is made of daily effort, or a disease is made of daily mistakes. Or inner peace (what the drop reminds me) is achieved by small conquests.
Great idea for a theme! These are going to be fun! It reminds me of the show whose name escapes me, but they use these incredible cameras to capture events to show in slow motion.
But on a more serious note, that phrase makes me think of stress and how sometimes we don't notice the drop, but when the jug overflows, we can't handle anymore. Says the stressed out girl…
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
Like the drop creates ripples, one small thing we do can also create ripples.
Nicely said Alex and a good reminder that when things get overwhelming a small change can make a big impact!
I think I'm leaning towards the cliche but I love the theory of the ripple effect! Please visit our blog. We are doing an original poem every day. http://citymusecountrymuse2012.blogspot.com/
Great phrase for a great start. A jug fills drop by drop. A poem is written word by word. Changing one can alter the emotion of the entire verse.
Sania at Embracing Dawn