Wiz@words: ‘My mentors here helped hone my writing skills’

It has only been two months since he started working with Albela Films and Studios as a creative video editor, and he got this placement through the Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC). His interest in writing started long back. However, he didn’t understand or know what proper writing entailed till he joined AIMC. Meet Abhinav Bajpai, who pursued Television and Radio Journalism.

“My interest in writing began from the time I started writing stories; I love to write scripts. I drew inspiration from others and learnt how to format it. That is when I started to put my ideas on the page and slowly started to put the words on paper,” Abhinav recounted.

In an impromptu conversation, he talks about what his dream writing project is.

Tell us about your writing journey.

I can’t say I am a writer; I am an amateur writer. I am not well-versed in the nuances of writing but when I joined AIMC, I worked a lot on my writing and how to use good vocabulary; I believe that if your pronunciation is good, you’ll be able to use it well in your writing, so I paid attention to all these things. My faculty guided me several times to focus on these aspects and that led to writing.

What do you like to write about?

I believe every writer chooses a topic or a subject that is close to his/her heart. I love my chosen profession. Hence, most of the topics revolve around that. For example, I wrote: Beyond Software: The artistry and narrative tricks of video editing. It is a topic close to me so it was easy to pen down my thought.

How has your work improved since you started writing?

When you start your writing journey, a lot of things fall into place. So many things become clear like what are the ethics of a good article, and my vocabulary has improved. I can converse, and when I pitch an idea, the words that I use have the desired impact.

How did the faculty at AIMC guide you?

They were very supportive from the start. I was an under-confident student even in school. When I joined this institute, all I had to do was tell my faculties that I was interested in something and they would send me straight to the field. I appreciate them for the opportunities I got because of this. Everything — from writing to anchoring or getting over stage fear – the credit goes to my mentors.

What’s your ultimate goal?

To become a filmmaker. So I am still working on that. I have a lot to learn and a long way to go. However, that is the path I see and I know what I need to do to get there. Whether I do it in Bollywood or become an independent filmmaker, whatever work I do, it should be my own.

What are some of the traits needed to work in your field?

The biggest trait should be to look at objects from at least three or four perspectives. For instance, standing at the red light, you should have four different ways to look at the cars around you. In other words, have a keen sense of observation.

 How does one become a writer?

The first thing to start is to make mistakes. To begin with, just put down your ideas and thoughts. Ask people around you – mentors or friends to read what you have written and ask for their feedback. Don’t be afraid of criticism. I wrote my piece in Hindi using WhatsApp language. Later, I realised my mistake. This put me on my present path.