the joy of writing

Jupinderjit Singh



Journalism is often termed as literature in a hurry. But this hurried form of writing has given one of shortest and most creative form of penning one’s thoughts, memoirs about small, even mundane things of life that in hindsight prove so important in growth of an individual or a community.



This unique gift to the world of literature is the Middle. I don’t know who started it and earmarked the centre space of an editorial page of a newspaper from where it seemed to derive its name. But it has surely attracted people from all walks of life to write down small pieces with deep meaning and everlasting influence. Not just poets and writers but doctors, engineers, judges and , soldiers, police men and even many a politicians use thif forum to vent their feelings, experiences.



I have seen and felt the extreme joy in the face and voice of number of young and old persons whose write-ups were carried as a Middle in a newspaper



No matter how shy, down to earth and introvert a person was, he would use all means to tell the world via phone calls, sms, e-mail, about the Middle. Even humblest of people I have seen boast about the achievement.



Some writers, I have seen strategically keep the newspaper, in which the Middle has appeared, inside out, on the drawing room table so that the guests or visitors cant escape looking at it. The Middle is so revered that many persons I know often start conversations for many days with, “ Did you read ….?”.



But is the joy about a Middle limited to seeing it in print only? No doubt the printed work gives one an enormous high but, may be, I wonder, the real joy of the work is felt in writing itself.



As novelist Taslima Nasreen famously said in her novel ’French Lover” that she felt like having labour pains once thought or idea grows inside her mind. Unless she “ delivers” the thought, she is not relieved of the pain. It can go on for days, motnhs or years.



The real joy of writing a Middle is in the process of writing itself. As Aristotle said ne of the major aim of an art form (including writing) is catharsis. It cleanses your soul. It removes a burden of your chest. It clarifies , clears the haze in the mind of the writer much before it gives pleasure, a thought provoking idea to the reader.



It all starts in the mind, a small faint thought ; an idea arising in the present state from an event, happening, feeling in the past. Some word or sound or scene heard, read or viewed in the present brings back memories of the past-good or bad- in such a manner that it builds a storm a twister inside one’s system to such an extent that the person becomes restless, uneasy and uncomfortable till his sits down to write.



And as word flows from the keyboard to the screen or flow like a stream on the paper from a pen, the persons starts feeling light as if gravity has no effect. He smiles by himself as his soul sings. One feel like floating in the air. Aristotle’s catharsis or taslima’s labour pins becomes so understandable. That is the power of writing and that is where the real joy exists.



Happy writing!!