This article was first published on SpeakUp Talk Radio.com's Blogatini. What terrifies me most after publishing my book is having it reviewed. I have received the worst and the best reviews for the stories I have published, and sometimes, the negative reviews t u r n out to be personal jibes at me as an author. I find those hard-hitting, negative remarks uncalled for. However, these negative remarks have made me a more resilient writer. I carry on without caring much for those kinds of reviews and rely on the good ones to uplift me and spur me on to write better. At the initial stages of writing, the reactions of a reader and whether they would find my book worth the time and money are foremost on my mind. It can get daunting at times. I try to be as accurate as possible, especially to ensure clarity and accountability in non-fiction stories. I tell more than show, as my descriptions of a scene or character evoke a clearer picture of what I want to say to readers. A writer become...
IT RAINED THAT DAY Where I come from, the rain either poured or danced under rays of sunlight. Rainy days crept up on me in silent acceptance of the ways of nature. They resemble the ire of human nature or the gentle reflection of beauty amidst tempest. Light streamed from the rooftop of an opposite building into my hotel room. The stretched beams bounced off the adjacent walls to project a smoky ambiance to the dull, now partially brightened room. I thought about how the lights shifted the drudgery of darkness to create an almost magical illusion for the naked eye. A look at the clock on the wall said it was 4.30 AM. I had roused earlier than usual. I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. A glance at the mirror on the way reflected the tired eyes of a weary traveler. I rubbed my eyes, willing the redness to go away. It had been a long forty-eight-hour flight the previous day. The short transit hours during the journey didn't help, so it felt like I traveled the whole way- no...