Aspiring writers must begin by keeping a journal: Jasraj Anushka Jasraj writer; Pankhuri Agarwal moderator Ehsaas Women Raipur Aanchal Garcha Kalpana Choudhary Kirti Kirdatt and Shrishti Trivedi. Staff Reporter ; RAIPUR “Writing as a craft is different from writing as an expression because one is taught by teachers with a view to publish and the other is a practice that all writers must do to better their self expression. Anyone interested in writing as a profession must begin by keeping a journal” advised writer Anushka Jasraj in an online session. Once again an intriguing tete-a-tete was held online with writer Anushka Jasraj by The Write Circle a boutique event of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation. Anushka Jasraj is a fiction writer from Mumbai and twice Asia Regional Winner for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2012 - 2017 and 2015-2016 fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown Massachusetts. She holds a degree in gender studies and a BFA in Film Production from NYU as well as an MFA in Creative Writing from the New Writers Project at the University of Austin-Texas. Additionally she is all set to teach creative writing at the Woodstock School this summer. The conversationalist for the evening was Pankhuri Agarwal an educator and founder of the Sunshine Hours Preschool Raipur a school for children based on the Montessori principles. With a background in psychology Pankhuri has also worked extensively as a counsellor for children with special needs specifically dyslexia. However being a story seeker at heart Pankhuri finds solace and strength in storytelling and believes in spreading that joy to others through her stories. Kalpana Choudhary Instructional Mentor and one of the Ehsaas Women Raipur welcomed everyone with an introduction of the writer and conversationalist. Principles of Prediction published recently in November 2020 is Anushkas first book and has been reviewed as one of the freshest most uncomplicated and undefined piece of writing in recent times. The stories are filled with characters with ambiguous sexual orientations and unique names tied together in surprisingly unfamiliar situations. Speaking about her writing process and preferences Anushka said that ideas for stories often come from just a single word or a sentence. Once that comes to mind the rest just follows by writing either everyday or whenever her mind allows her to delve deeper in her characters making it an accumulative process. Like all writers she too suffers from writers block her antidote for the same however is to distract herself and keep busy doing other things till the urge to write returns. Anushka loves to write as well as teach writing and is all set to teach creative writing at Woodstock School this summer. According to her putting pen to paper creates an inexplicable link between the mind and self expression. Sensing the need for inclusivity and seeing that there is no mention of it in any school syllabus Anushka makes sure to include diverse voices in her recommended reading lists for students in her workshops. Anushka enjoyed the interaction with the audience and answered all questions without hesitation. Many an amateur writer from the audience took with them a fresh new perspective on writing in general and or as a profession. The evening ended with a thank you note by Shrishti Trivedi lawyer turned entrepreneur and founder of Project Getout a local community venture and fellow Ehsaas Woman.

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