sempozyum_bildiri_kitabi

7.1. To be visible or invisible – There is a difference between a writer and a crusader. While all
biographical writing is an attempt to pen a life which was either good or bad but worth paying
attention to. In that sense, all biography would fall in the category of being socially relevant. But
then, as an author, one cannot be restricted to being a mere social reformer standing on a pedestal
and raising voice against the injustice being meted out to them. There could be different purposes
for writing the one including information, entertainment or some other. Thus how far a writer should
be visible through his writing would also depend on his or her purpose of writing.
7.2. To be or not to be a feminist – As one takes up pen to write about the lives of women, often,
one faces so much of trauma, anguish and anger that one tends to become overreact and go
overboard . There is every danger that one may end up being ‘feminist’ which at times in societies
like ours may turn out to be a defeatist approach. And as an author one is likely to get labelled. Even
in Western context, it is likely to be misread as according to some, the radical feminism evokes quite
adverse reactions from society (Noebel 2006, Lazreg 1988) and has come to be associated with male
hate group.
7.3. Objectify the women or not – This was the biggest dilemma I faced. There was incessant
advice from one and all including the publishers to make it ‘juicy’ and ‘spicy’ otherwise who reads it.
What to do in such a situation is the biggest dilemma. ‘Women have been and still continue to be
sexually objectified and treated as an object to be valued for its use by others… A woman’s worth [is
equated] with her body’s appearance and sexual function" (Szymanski,Moffitt and Carr 2011). What
if one wants to write honestly and candidly about the women, not about their bodies, but also about
their souls , their dreams and aspirations , struggles , exploitations and continuous subjugation. All
said and done, one still would not like to see that one’s hard work goes waste in absence of ‘sales’
but then would one like to indulge in ‘sexual objectification’ of women. What to do – is a major
dilemma and a challenge to be dealt with.
8. Language – It is purely a question of one’s capability and one’s intended outreach. If one
wants a wider international outreach, one has no choice but to write it in English.
9. Technology: The internet especially the social media can play a significant role. They all give
themselves so much out on the social media like Face book or Twitter. But the same may become a
double edged sword for an author. If you repeat the same stuff, then what’s new you have given,
your publisher might be the first to ask. What if you skip all those significant bits of self revelations ‐
may be at times hurriedly miscommunicated ? Your readers may have serious doubts about the
authenticity of your skills.
10. Publishing – This, basically, is the ground reality check! And, a very painful one! As a writer ,
you get appreciated, admired and even encouraged, but who will publish a work which is an honest
transcription of the lives of ‘second grade citizens’ of the society. Most of them do not care for the
women’s ‘living beings’, would they care for their ‘written beings’? One is repeatedly told by the
publishers that if it is about women then it has to be full of sleaze and sex. “ Well make it spicy and
hot or else forget about its publication,” was the friendly publishing advice I repeatedly received
while penning down my biographic novel based on three generations of women in India. So unless
the book is about Sonia Gandhi or Vinnie Mandela , nobody is interested in reading it as what
continues to be important is the body of woman and its utility and fun as an intimate sexual
partner. The technology has opened multiple avenues; one could get away with all this if one wants
so and think of publishing it online. Self financing is yet another option.
11. Advertising and marketing– It’s a competitive men’s world out there. Your job doesn’t get
over with writing; you have to sell it too. The experience tells that writing a book on women’s lives is
easier than to take it to the reader. After locating a good publisher who is genuinely interested in
your work your prime task as a writer is to see that the publisher does not get your precious work
post‐mortemed in the name of editing. Further, in the name of marketing, the publisher or the
editor doesn’t temper with the contents and the spirit of the book that it gets beyond recognition.
Cheap publicity gimmicks asking for money for organizing celebrity launches and coverage in media
and publicising it as a thing which it never was intended to be, are some of the snares to be cautious
about.