The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
Thursday, January 31, 2008 by Abhinav Maurya
This year's Kala Ghoda Arts Festival takes place from 2 February to 10 February, both days inclusive. The complete roster of events may be found here or here.
On behalf of the Literature section of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, the blog of the fest is hosted and literary contests held by Caferati, a global writers’ community with roots in all major cities of India and even outside the country. There is a huge effort to make the Literature events inclusive, to give aspiring writers a chance not just to listen to the established ones talk, but to actively learn from them, and to try their skills in contests and the like, to participate.
The festival hosts five literary contests this year, including one which could get you published. The deadline for all of them is 3 February, 2008, so hurry:
SMS Poetry
SMS Poetry has one simple guideline: The entire poem must be short enough to fit into a single 160-character SMS (blanks and punctuation marks count as characters and a line break counts as two). Always a big draw, this contest is now in its fourth year at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.
SMS Poetry has one simple guideline: The entire poem must be short enough to fit into a single 160-character SMS (blanks and punctuation marks count as characters and a line break counts as two). Always a big draw, this contest is now in its fourth year at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.
Flash Fiction
Flash Fiction (also called micro-fiction or short-shorts) presents a simple challenge: Tell a story with all the classical elements: a beginning, a middle and an end, a conflict and a resolution, a credible protagonist... but do so in a very limited number of words (not more than 300 words to be specific). Flash Fiction is now in its third year at the Kala Ghoda writing contests.
Flash Fiction (also called micro-fiction or short-shorts) presents a simple challenge: Tell a story with all the classical elements: a beginning, a middle and an end, a conflict and a resolution, a credible protagonist... but do so in a very limited number of words (not more than 300 words to be specific). Flash Fiction is now in its third year at the Kala Ghoda writing contests.
Poetry Slam
The Slam is about performance poetry. Poets get on stage and perform their work. The audience has a say in whether they stay or leave. Reality show style, except Slams predate reality television. The slam made its debut last year (the first in India, actually) to much enjoyment from the audience and the participants. It involves writing four poems on four assigned topics (this year's topics being Name, Place, Animal, and Thing) and performing them in front of judges and an audience.
The Slam is about performance poetry. Poets get on stage and perform their work. The audience has a say in whether they stay or leave. Reality show style, except Slams predate reality television. The slam made its debut last year (the first in India, actually) to much enjoyment from the audience and the participants. It involves writing four poems on four assigned topics (this year's topics being Name, Place, Animal, and Thing) and performing them in front of judges and an audience.
Flash Essay
Making its debut this year, this contest widens the genres that Kala Ghoda contests cover, into the interesting area of non-fiction. The twist here is that the essays must, like everything else these days, adjust to the age of information overload: They must make their point in up to 500 words. We call them flash essays in a nod to the term flash fiction.
Making its debut this year, this contest widens the genres that Kala Ghoda contests cover, into the interesting area of non-fiction. The twist here is that the essays must, like everything else these days, adjust to the age of information overload: They must make their point in up to 500 words. We call them flash essays in a nod to the term flash fiction.
Open Book Pitch
This is a new idea, and Caferati's most ambitious. And this despite the fact that there are no guaranteed winners. The Open Book Pitch lets writers submit pitches to publishers and literary agents. (Some of the biggest names in Indian publishing including Penguin India, HarperCollins, and Random House India are signed up, as are some of the exciting newer ones like Siyahi.) The process is anonymous both ways: The writers do not have direct access to the talent scouts from the publishers and agents, and the scouts do not see any personally identifying information until they see something they like. The prize? A chance to be published.
This is a new idea, and Caferati's most ambitious. And this despite the fact that there are no guaranteed winners. The Open Book Pitch lets writers submit pitches to publishers and literary agents. (Some of the biggest names in Indian publishing including Penguin India, HarperCollins, and Random House India are signed up, as are some of the exciting newer ones like Siyahi.) The process is anonymous both ways: The writers do not have direct access to the talent scouts from the publishers and agents, and the scouts do not see any personally identifying information until they see something they like. The prize? A chance to be published.
There are three non-competitive events lined up.
The Open Mike
15 minutes for seven out of the nine days of the festival. The event mixes writing with performance. Each Open Mike session will have 6 slots of up to 2 minutes each. These slots are booked on a first-come-first-serve basis every day.
15 minutes for seven out of the nine days of the festival. The event mixes writing with performance. Each Open Mike session will have 6 slots of up to 2 minutes each. These slots are booked on a first-come-first-serve basis every day.
The Open Screen
15 minutes for seven our of the nine days of the festival. The event mixes the word with the visual arts. Participants submit 2-minute films via email. The organizers will choose the best films should we get more entries than time permits them to show.
15 minutes for seven our of the nine days of the festival. The event mixes the word with the visual arts. Participants submit 2-minute films via email. The organizers will choose the best films should we get more entries than time permits them to show.
The Open Wall
A pseudo wall will be erected at the venue. Audience members will be invited to leave their own writing to be displayed there. The organizers will also encourage email submissions.
A pseudo wall will be erected at the venue. Audience members will be invited to leave their own writing to be displayed there. The organizers will also encourage email submissions.
And finally there are twelve writing workshops, conducted by prominent writers from all over the country.
Picture This (Graphic Story-telling)
Conducted by: Sarnath Banerjee and Samit Basu
The workshop, by two well-known pioneers in the field, will cover graphic stories and graphic reportage.
Conducted by: Sarnath Banerjee and Samit Basu
The workshop, by two well-known pioneers in the field, will cover graphic stories and graphic reportage.
The Pastoral (Poetic Form)Conducted by: Ranjit HoskoteA master-class for city poets in the art of the poetic form known as the Pastoral, by well-known poet Ranjit Hoskote.
Little Pencils - for children (age 10 +)
Conducted by: Neeru NandaChildren's author Neeru Nanda works with the children, inculcating in them a love for story-telling.
Conducted by: Neeru NandaChildren's author Neeru Nanda works with the children, inculcating in them a love for story-telling.
Poetry in Performance
Conducted by: Jeet Thayil
Thayil, a prominent poet and a musician, will lead this master class on the art of performance poetry.
Conducted by: Jeet Thayil
Thayil, a prominent poet and a musician, will lead this master class on the art of performance poetry.
Once Upon a Time - Writing for Children
Conducted by: Jane Bhandari and Marilyn Noronha
How do you write for kids? How do you hold their attention? Two writers and poets who also teach children, lead this workshop.
Conducted by: Jane Bhandari and Marilyn Noronha
How do you write for kids? How do you hold their attention? Two writers and poets who also teach children, lead this workshop.
What Every Writer should know about Publishing
Conducted by: Anita Roy
An editor from a prominent publishing house will tell budding writers all the secrets of making a good impression with publishers.
Conducted by: Anita Roy
An editor from a prominent publishing house will tell budding writers all the secrets of making a good impression with publishers.
Writing for Stage
Conducted by: Anuvab Pal
This workshop by a playwright and film writer who has had his plays performed in the USA and India, will introduce participants to the nuts and bolts of playwriting.
Conducted by: Anuvab Pal
This workshop by a playwright and film writer who has had his plays performed in the USA and India, will introduce participants to the nuts and bolts of playwriting.
PenTathlon - Five exercises for Fiction Writers
Conducted by: Kavita Bhanot
Fiction writing is always a big draw at Kala Ghoda. Here, a literary agent and trainer put budding authors through boot camp.
Conducted by: Kavita Bhanot
Fiction writing is always a big draw at Kala Ghoda. Here, a literary agent and trainer put budding authors through boot camp.
An Introduction to Freelance Writing
Conducted by: Kavitha Rao
A practicing journalist who writes for publications around the world teaches the basics of making a living as a pen-for-hire.
Conducted by: Kavitha Rao
A practicing journalist who writes for publications around the world teaches the basics of making a living as a pen-for-hire.
Writing for Screen
Conducted by: Manisha Lakhe
Writing for the screen is a different game, and you need to learn the rules. This workshop gets you thinking the right way.
Conducted by: Manisha Lakhe
Writing for the screen is a different game, and you need to learn the rules. This workshop gets you thinking the right way.
The Art of Translation
Conducted by: Rimi B. Chatterjee
India is famous for the number of languages its citizens speak and write. And this workshop will cover the practical problems involved in the process of translation and the publication of translated work.
Conducted by: Rimi B. Chatterjee
India is famous for the number of languages its citizens speak and write. And this workshop will cover the practical problems involved in the process of translation and the publication of translated work.
Poetry Appreciation for Children (10+)
Conducted by: Sampurna ChattarjiThis workshop will look at poetry as play. The attempt will be not to teach poetry, or even write poetry, but to experience poetry - with one's body, with one's senses, with sometimes an abandonment of logic and sometimes a rigorous application of it.
Conducted by: Sampurna ChattarjiThis workshop will look at poetry as play. The attempt will be not to teach poetry, or even write poetry, but to experience poetry - with one's body, with one's senses, with sometimes an abandonment of logic and sometimes a rigorous application of it.
Looks like one jam-packed schedule to me!!! I'm going to be there at the festival. Are you?
Posted in:
Arts,
Contests,
Events,
Festival,
Literature,
Workshops
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well, i did send my permalink for being the blog reporter...they didn't like it...i guess..... the events do seem like fun....!!!
Yeah the roster is indeed full of wonderful, exciting events. And this is just the Literature section. The complete list of events is even more enticing. Hope you'll participate in the contests and attend some workshops. Indeed we could bump into each other at one of the venues. ;-)
I wish, Abhinav! :) Sounds like a blast.
I hope you enjoy yourself, and let us know how it goes. Which of the contests are you going to enter? And which workshops most pique your interest? This sounds like an amazing opportunity, and I'm so glad you're taking advantage of it.
Have fun!!
Well, I intend to enter all contests. Even if one does not win, it is great practice at the forms. ;-)
I'm signed up for five of the workshops, which will occupy me for four full days. And I'm yet to sign up for the other sections of the fest. I think it's going to be a hell lotta fun. :-)
I also wish I could go!
Please let us know about the workshops!!!
Aye Chris, I wish you could be here. It would be such a lot of fun. :-)
So many workshops and contests to juggle, I'm left breathless by the effort of it.
Sounds like real fun! :) Is it open internationally?
well....went to the Kala Ghoda on Saturday.......was awesome......all the installations, arts... amazing....well, participating is quite tricky....office hours don't permit!!! :((
Two new workshops as of yesterday!
And Abhinav, you were at the freelance writing workshop? Which one was you? I sat for session 2.
@random rambler: I did not attend the second session. I thought a friend of mine might like and appreciate the workshop more so I sent her instead. As expected, she called me up after the workshop to say it was the best thing ever.
It would have been pretty much repetitive for me considering that I'm currently doing a two-year long course in freelancing which deals with all the aspects and forms (and more) of freelancing covered in the workshop in much greater detail and also gets my mistakes corrected by tutors some of whom are bestselling authors themselves.
P.S. for random rambler: Do you recollect a girl called Ana who attended the workshop? I remember her telling me of a girl who like her attended the second workshop directly. I think it might be you.
@rushme: Well I attended two workshops on Saturday. Was busy submitting my entries yesterday for the contests. A lot of fun. Did ya attend any workshops or so?
hmm....cudnt.....!! :((
but i have some images of the place......installations, fun with friends etc....i suppose...will manage from that..!!!
Even I wandered around during the one hour I'd between the workshops. But I did not carry the cam, so no pics for me :-(
If your pics capture a good/whacky view of the festival, just mail them to me describing each pic in detail (venue and what's happening) and I'll post it on the festival blog at The Kala Ghoda Gazette with due credit to you and your friends.
Have fun. See you if you are coming this weekend. I'll attend whatever events excite me throughout the week. Bunking lectures is my privilege and prerogative as a student. ;-)
@Jamezu: Is it open internationally?>>>
Yes it is. However most contests ended yesterday (except Poetry Slam and Flash Essay). If you happen to be in Bombay during the festival, go ahead and attend it. It's a lot of fun and I saw many tourists at the fest over the weekend.
"Bunking lectures is my privilege and prerogative as a student."
Kaash yeh waqt rewind ho kar, past tense mein jaa k, wahi freeze ho jaye...n me, the free-spirited college novice, ko fir se pankh failane ka avsar mil jaaye.....
too many kaash and ifs....!!!
planning for the farah khan jewellery workshop....but considering she's an ex-partner with my Boss, he would give me dagger-eyes....!!!
lol...but still, amazing atmosphere, and so much knowledge n appreciation for art, never seen like before..!!!
hi abhinav! sure we can trade links. nice blog you have here. i'll add you in my blog now. :)
hi there reluctant writer. you have a very good blog. i could make a shout at your box so i thought i'll just come here. xlink with me, i'd be proud to do that with you. Live Love Life - Jojo
I remember the girl who came in and said that she was there instead of a friend but she had done all the homework :)
I'm handling registrations for workshops so I don't technically attend them but I get to sit in on them if there isn't too much chaos going on elsewhere lol.
@random rambler: Yeah she was the one. I did explain to her everything that had happened in session one and about the pitch to be written. After the workshop, I've only talked to her on the cell, not met her, so I don't know much about how it went for her, but she was happy about attending it. She likes journalism, but the money concerns her as it does everyone in the profession of peanut payments.
You must be having fun organizing the chaos and flitting in and out of workshops. ;-)
I remember having to sit through the three hours of translation workshops at the end of which I was as numb as could be.
@michelle: thanks for the thumbs up and the link, filipina. You're linke. here. Have a nice day
@jojo: Sorry the cbox shoutbox wouldn't work for some reason. I've now put up a shoutmix shoutbox. Thanks for passing by my blog. Links are taken care of. Have fun.
If only i had come across this post earlier, i would have been able to at least participate in some of these events. The roster looks very impressive.
And i am inclined to disagree with the observation that you made on my blog. I went through quite a few posts and you write too well to be dubbed a novice
I dunno if you've been a member of Caferati for just a few days, but Griffin posted the details on Caferati-Bombay I think.
About the novice thing, well I disagree with your disagreement. I've been blogging only since October 2007 (seriously since November 2007) and I hardly took writing seriously before that or wrote much. So I'm as much a novice as you are. In fact, even I'm a final year student of engineering (in Bombay though).
Update your blog! BTW you're the Abhinav whose book pitch got offers from 4 publishers?! Why weren't you there on Sunday!
And how can you like liars!
Eh, that's some way of throwing a surprise!!! Are you sure you have not confused some other Abhinav with me?
BTW I was attending to the GATE entrance exam held on the 10th, which is why I did not attend Kala Ghoda on 9 and 10, much as would have loved to attend the two full days of fun.
We are all living in false worlds. Doesn't that make us all liars? We do not have to speak lies to be called liars. In fact, we revere the best of liars whom we call fiction writers (though some of them say that they merely make truth what it intends to be).
http://ishtarring.blogspot.com/
My new identity... Ssshhhh!
Might've been another Abhinav then...
What genre was your pitch?
*AHEM*
http://www.caferati.com/contests/winners?contest=book
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I wanna read the first draft ok... Coz i'm cool and all that...
Aye ishtaar, I think some of that ishtaardust of yours has rubbed off on me. Sure you get to read the first draft... if you say I'll even dedicate a character to you... becoz u r cool and all that... also because you are the first to gimme this great news. ;-)
wake up
Wake up to what...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Just saw your note on my blog. ;)
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS, Abhinav! I am so, so excited for you. When can I read it? :)
Seriously, I want details. Lots and lots of details. So put up a blog post, or email me, or something.
WOW.
:)
:)
:)
how exciting! more news please.
... congratulations! :) gosh abhinav, you made me scroll through 500 extries. i was about to give up! so what is the "cure?" i'm all ears! :)
from ur sleep silly... i'm an insomniac...
@Sarah: Thanks Sarah. I think some of the luck and magic of Jason's blogger-cum-writers has rubbed off on me. I heard so many of you publishing a novel, getting an agent or some such that I'd to get something done to save my face. ;-)
@Aloi: Sorry ya had to scroll through 500 entries. But tell me wasn't it a good feeling to see so many writers find a publisher?
As for the cure, well that'll have to wait. I can assure you it's going to be very different stuff from what I usually write. ;-)
@Ishtaar: We could not be more different from each other if we differ so much in the matter of sleep and therefore of dreams. I cherish my long sleep, and often try to unravel my dreams from the wisps that they leave behind. Simply put, I love my awareness of my dreams and the way they shyly step out into the daylight if I try to remember them.
@Srikanth: Thanks you so much. Though I doubt I would term what is happening to me as the accomplishment of an aim. I would rather call it fate, except that fate sounds too harsh to be used in this pleasant context. A life of writing and observation is something that comes very naturally to me, just as quizzes, issues and technology come naturally to you and Bhole.
P.S.: You have the IIM's. Why do you need an AIM? ;-)
P.P.S.: As for the faux pas, we all have ours. :-)
Hehe I make do with confabulations since I rarely have nice dreams whenever i do get to sleep...
Write a book of poetry next... You write such pretty sentences...
(:Thanks for the compliment:)
Try reading Eyes Of A Blue Dog in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Innocent Erendira. It talks of two lovers who meet only in their dreams. I sighed a lot after reading that story for the first time. I must've read it at least a dozen times since.
A book of poetry? Robert Frost said that there is no money in poetry and I don't want my publisher to run into losses. Not yet, that is. ;-)
A romantic? And an ex-medical student engineer?
Thank god you don't attend classes :)
I will read that one... Such a wonderful concept...
Well we're all weird in some way or the other. Don't we deserve to be? ;-)