Keeping the profession of writing burning

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 15 (EMN): Asano Zashü, SA, department of Information and Public Relations on Tuesday said that to be a good writer, one needs to be a good reader adding that “as long as there are readers, there will be writers, and vice versa”.

"The era of romanticising writers as 'paupers' and dying of neglect and poverty is over. This present is the new age of living in comfort as a writer, but only if you don't stop writing,” she said.

Zashü stated this at the launch of 'Meraki,' a collection of poems written by Chozila L Sangtam, a student of CUE Academy, in Kohima.

While formally releasing the book, she stated that with “digitalisation, there are immense ways to make money by writing,” while dismissing the popular believe that with the advent of the digital era, writing as a profession has become “obsolete”.

“The sources available to be a full time writer are infinite now," she said, suggesting that from being a poet, one can also choose to be a screen writer, content writer, ads. creator, blogger, journalist or influencer who can influence millions of people through their writings.

She maintained that there are platforms like Quora, Medium, Wordpress, etc. that gives you the opportunity to expose and explore the opportunity for writing and earning at the same time.

Sangtam, while expressing happiness on publishing her first book, said, “It’s the happiest moment of my life,” adding that her writing skills has been polished after coming to CUE Academy.

She said that she had chosen the title, 'Meraki,' since it is connected with her writings.

‘Many sad and happy days which I cannot share with people around me is expressed through my poems,’ she said.

Meraki is divided into four sections comprising of 29 poems.

Meraki is a Greek word, which means “to do something with soul, creativity, or love, to put something of yourself in your work”.

Vezolu Puro, instructor of CUE Academy, while speaking during the launch programme, said that her student has crafted each poem with carefully chosen words to capture the “essence of the truths she believes”.

“Through her art, she (Sangtam) emerges as a strong believer of change and an advocate for a simpler, happier society despite its flaws,” she said.

Puro has mentored the young author through the process of drafting, redrafting, editing and publishing of the book. The instructor also lauded her student for being punctual and reliable who always did her assignments on time.

CUE Academy is a centre for writing that currently offers short-term courses in academic and creative writing. It has so far produced two young writers since its establishment in the year 2018. Based on the three core principles of person-centred learning, CUE is an acronym for congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy.

Sangtam's book is priced at INR 250 and is available for purchase at the academy.