Dear Readers,
I changed my blog template as I found too many writers using the same one and it didn’t feel all that special after that. Perhaps as writers, we are more alike than we realise. I also found that with present evolving ambitions, my one-month old blog would turn out to be a work-in-progress that until now, couldn’t settle for a resolution on what it would represent.
At first, I desired only to focus on my love for literature from the Tropics and the Middle-East. Then while in Dublin, I found myself falling head-over-heels in love with Malaysia once more – the land of my birth – once I began planning for and sketching a novel on my childhood.
I began to view my country in a new light. I appreciated the intrepid cultural communities that lay within three or four major races. I celebrated the memories of a glorious childhood. I was thankful for the democracy and freedom that a Malaysian passport often afforded its user when alluded to travel, unlike several other regions where in having to secure one, its resident would possibly experience painful obstacles through red tape and countless delays. And because Malaysia is a country full of colour and light, I appreciated being enriched by its incredible blessings that while having silently shrouded me from infancy, demanded no reward. You could reflect on cuisine, shopping, beaches, forests, high-tech infrastructure…and my country has it all. I began to cherish all my old Malaysian loves from a couple of months ago with far greater intensity than I could have remembered over the years.
In so doing, I immediately succumbed to the nation’s beloved history and literature. However, as I focussed on the reads, I found myself at odds with several introspective thoughts that adhered itself to my renewed life as a writer. I began searching myself in poignant ways and I allowed for a new series of burgeoning passions to rise from within my current flamboyant ones. All collided happily in my heart. I became aware that I had turned in recent years from a blogger who writes to a writer who blogs.
My efforts at novel-writing has encapsulated so much. It colours my days and fills me with overwhelming emotions especially at astonishing recollections. I think that at this point of time, I am torn between the idea of staying internet savvy and drawing attention to myself. I write best as an introvert. I love the silence and am one of the few individuals I know who can derive comfort from aloneness. Saying this, I turn into an extrovert when it comes to travel. I have friends in different countries…a motley crowd of affectionate personalities that first played the role of business acquaintances. But if I want to produce my best work, I have to be selfish with time and solitary endeavours. I have for the moment, pulled away from Facebook, am producing a dismal attendance rate on Twitter and decided also against other tempting social sites. I have temporarily drawn the line at thinking up comments or indulging in various online discussions. I really need to conserve my energy so as to write. And what do you know…the world failed to come crashing down upon my shoulders. Also, I am practical enough to recognise that my absence from various social networking sites when measured against the monumental scope of a digital era; will draw no raised brows.
I always think that when I’ve accomplished enough, I’d have a proper website. For the moment, this blog holds a template that would endear a few loyal readers to me but at present, I’m not a blogger seeking a vast readership. I just need to get over the novel-writing first, complete my storybook, get it out there for the world and than return to perhaps, a broader scope of things when I can once more afford that time. The old blog template seemed a little larger than life and definitely drew attention.
I will be travelling shortly but not as in travel for travel. On the contrary, I’d consider it work since I need for my own peace of mind, to revisit the locations of my novel…just so that I get my detailing of descriptions absolutely top, top. I find the thought alone, engaging and enjoyable. I shall be purchasing many more Asian and Arabic reads which I shall talk about here. I do relish this valuable space with which to share my views on books and films…firm hedonistic pleasures that they are. - susan abraham