A story can be told in many ways. The part that makes it memorable comes from the robust characters, the intricate layers and maybe even a bit of mystery. Sometimes, the most important part of writing may not actually be about writing at all.

In this chapter, Dr Pillai shares her personal mantra for writing and offers advice on the most ideal habits important to get you started and keep you going. Get tips on how to let your story take shape on paper. Learn to dive into writing with the right mindset instead of putting it off thinking it is going to be a monumental task. Learn how to ease into a routine that will help you let your story develop one paragraph at a time.

Take time to get into the rhythm through various techniques, from freewriting to writing a backstory to asking the right questions to get your thoughts and ideas flowing. Through these methods, you can get to understand your characters and story better so that you can move your story towards a finishing point.

Writing fiction is more than just a recording of facts. It is an experience that allows us to let our imagination fly free. It creates an opportunity to tell a story from another perspective. Embark on this journey of discovering your inner writer with Dr Anitha Devi Pillai, an accomplished author and teacher, whose passion for writing shines through in her series of classes on our NIE Education Launchpad. Let her introduce you to the powerful tools of the trade and use them to tell your personal story.

There is one story that everyone has within them. It is the story that only you can tell but how do you begin to write this story? How do you make the story interesting such that you will not only enjoy telling it but ensure that your readers will enjoy reading it as well?

In Chapter One, Dr Pillai will show you how to take that very first step. Drawing from her experience of writing historical fiction, she will help you get to the starting point and guide you on how to search for the subject. Embark on this journey of discovering what is important to you – it could be a significant moment in your life, a line that inspires you or even a seemingly ordinary conversation with someone – and learn to find the trigger that will help get you started. Let Dr Pillai ignite that passion in you, make you hungry to find out more and equip you with the tools to get started on writing your story.

You may think you know everything there is to know about your story. After all, it is a subject that is intimately familiar only to you. However, there is more to making a story come alive than just relying on your memory. In this chapter, you will discover the importance of research. Learn to look for the right information and use it to give your story greater depth and richer flavour. Learn how to start your search and how to collect as much information as possible through various methods, including starting a conversation. Then let Dr Pillai show you how to use the information to paint a vibrant textual tapestry and draw a reader into your world.

Tap on Dr Pillai’s experience as she shares how she embarked on her own research journey for her various books on historical fiction and non-fiction. Discover how rewarding it can be to do your research and get the most out of the process for your novel.