Wiz@Words: ‘I treat my observation as my research and write about it’

Aakriti, who is pursuing Corporate Communication and Event Management course at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, is a published author; she has written a book named Elysianchirps. This avid reader and passionate solo traveller aspires to buy a Royal Enfield and go on a solo trip to Ladakh.  With a keen eye for observation and a natural inclination towards creativity, she finds inspiration in freedom, love, mental health, spirituality and women’s rights. Through writing, she expresses thoughts and experiences close to her heart, while AIMC has helped her deepen her love for storytelling and nurture her aspirations of becoming a PR professional and storyteller. 

When did you start writing? What inspired you to start with a writing journey?

Nothing happens in a day; it’s always the small steps that matter. Similar was my journey towards writing. I started writing in high school, followed by some major happenings in my life which I couldn’t tell anyone or express in front of people, but could only write. So, I wrote.

Initially, I didn’t use to write well. I used to make a lot of mistakes, but as it’s rightly said, practice makes a woman perfect. Slowly and gradually, my write-ups started getting better.

So, what started as something I used to do to calm my mind became my hobby. A hobby I couldn’t live without then, and I can’t live without now.

What are the types of articles you write on? What inspires you to choose those topics?

Being a woman who lives in Indian society and loves freedom is a paradox somewhere, and what you see growing up and seek is what you end up writing. At least, in my case, I do that.

My write-ups are usually and mostly on freedom, love, mental health, spirituality and women’s rights.

Growing up, I’ve always felt a bit differently and been strongly opinionated compared to the people around me. My thinking has not aligned with many people till now. So, I prefer to pen it down because I feel pen and paper are the two objects that have given me more freedom than this society as a whole.

Is there a particular time you prefer when writing? How about research before writing any topic?

The moment I read this question, Ye Shaam Mastani was the first thought that came to my mind.

I personally feel there’s something that evenings do to you. There’s a sense of nostalgia, calmness and romance at the same time. Being a feeler, I feel a lot of things, and my writing skills are heightened in the evening time.

I treat my observation as my research and write about it. I treat my experiences as my research and write about it. I treat my habit of reading as my research and write about it.

I feel the topics I like to write about are mostly personal. So, observation, experience and reading drive my research and writing.

What type of topics or books do you prefer reading? Any favourite author?

I love to read self-help books, spiritual books, romance novels and poetry books.

I love to read Gulzar Sahab’s shayaris, Mahmoud Darwish and Kafka. My favourite author is Colleen Hoover. I love her books It Ends with Us and Ugly Love. These are the books I finished in only 4–5 days because I couldn’t resist myself from reading, and I also didn’t feel guilty for it.

How is Apeejay helping you build your writing skills?

I am a part of the editorial team and the first person in the batch whose article got published in the Apeejay Newsroom, I couldn’t be more grateful to this institution. I realised that I didn’t have to think much before writing while I was writing the previous answers. It just came like a flow. It has never been like this before.

I’m amused by the last question. I have a lot to write. I wish there were more questions. I wish I could write more so that I could explain how much I love to write.

Before AIMC, I used to like writing, but at AIMC, I’ve fallen in love with it. You can say I’ve fallen head over heels for writing.

It’s all because of Apeejay. I think I’ll be forever grateful for what this institution is giving me.