by Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty
[box]Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty shares his experiences with Spark over the last one year. He dedicates this piece to the Spark editorial team. Read on.[/box]
The idea of a “free” online magazine might not elicit any endearing approbation from publishing puritans, but it is in keeping with the age when a Kolkata kid finds it easier to find his way around Manhattan compared to Madurai just because there happens to exist a more detailed Google map of Manhattan; it might, however, provide guilty relief to the occasional journeyman writer. Spark does just that, and then some more.
Very few pieces of good writing, if any at all, are products of random ramblings twirled out of thin air and conjoined skilfully. Behind every piece of writing there has to be that spark of inspiration. The ultimate struggle of writers and poets is not so much with the writing or the composing as it is with that initial spark. Writers need their Muses. Period. True, the intensity of that spark which is needed to provide that indescribable literary “high” varies from the occasional journeyman to the true devotees, the inveterate perfectionists and the ultimate literary geniuses. Yet, would it not be a perfect world for (wo)men of letters to be served, on silver platters every month without failure, the food for thought and inspiration to write on? The team of editors at Spark have, consistently, throughout these twelve editions, provided exactly that inspiration by selecting excellent themes, broad enough to capture a whole range of thoughts and feelings, yet optimally bounding to evoke a feeling of happy continuity. In this respect, the editors themselves have become, in some way, the Muses for the contributors!
It is perhaps fitting on this delightful occasion of the first anniversary issue that I briefly describe the excitement which surrounds our beloved Spark every month and the joyous journey I have had with it in the past one year. Donning the autobiographical coat might be the easiest way to fake one’s way as a writer. Paradoxically, none else is more honest than this shady ruse.
It all started way back in January, 2010, when I chanced upon a Google Talk status message of an old friend, S. Maheswaran. It was a curious link to some blog-like site. Click. (Thank God I clicked!) And there I was – in that fresh and peaceful looking place of the world of Spark. Although it was hard to tell in those initial moments, there was something nice and inviting even in those initial glances. Of course, back then, my conscious glances were restricted to finding where Maheshwaran’s name was. Finally, I found the “pdf” and saw Maheshwaran’s photographs. No surprise there. I had seen so many of his photographs before. They were, as usually, not just good but delicately intelligent. What grabbed my attention, however, was the page after page of fiction and non-fiction that I had to wade through to reach his photographs. What were these?! Who wrote them? And what exactly was this thing – Spark?
Self-motivation is best feasted upon hot. I immediately “pinged” Maheswaran and asked him about Spark. It transpired that the January issue was the first ever issue of this online magazine. And people, ordinary people – they, whose job was not writing, could contribute here. I took in that last piece of information with lip-smacking anticipation. Casually, I asked if I could contribute, too. Go ahead – was his signal. I decided to poke around a bit more on the site and soon finished reading almost every word that they had written about themselves on all the links. It was indeed true that they had just started. I learnt that the theme for the next month (February) was Romance. I had never written anything on that topic but, by now, the urge to send in one of my pieces had started to overpower me. I spotted one sentence in the open invitation for contributions that the editors would accept articles written on off-the-theme topics too. That was it! I shot off one email with my precious little piece as an attachment. I checked and rechecked all the protocols that they had mentioned on sending articles, ensuring that each instruction had been followed to the letter. The aftermath of clicking the “Send” button consisted of many-a-moment speculating the reply. It is one thing to know for a fact that one can write good answers in public examinations; it is another to be deemed even acceptable on a public forum that is devoted to the written word.
Be that as it may, the reply came a few days later. It was a thrilling moment. They had, at least, read my article. It soon became clear that they were almost appreciating the piece. Aha! I noticed that the whole piece had undergone two scans of scrutiny from two different editors. They had taken the utmost care not just to make sure that no piece of my message was lost, but had also taken painstaking measures to look into each and every punctuation mark! This was meticulousness at its very best! I incorporated all the changes and sent in the revised version.
A few days later, another mail arrived from the Spark team apprising potential contributors about the theme for the next month. Now this was good professionalism! Things were happening fast and I seemed to have become part of something exciting!
Finally, on the fifth of February, the new issue of Spark appeared. My piece was there! Yo! You have got to experience that feeling to know what it is. No amount of blogging, where the publish button is under your command, can match this. I showed as many friends and relatives as I could.
And, thus, started my very own Spark-ling journey. Each month brought with it the challenge and excitement of a new theme. The challenge to write something worthwhile and befitting. The challenge to explore various forms – poetry, non-fiction, science fiction, open letters, fantasy. It was a learning experience – all in the name of a hobby. Culminating, usually on the fifth day of the next month, with the excitement of finally seeing my brainchild in published form. Together not only with the high-quality contributions from fellow amateurs but also with interviews and viewpoints from established writers/bloggers/film-makers. It was really fun!
Let us not forget that no amount of pretension will suffice to establish my credentials as a writer. I am not. Limitations of ability abound. Time crunch takes its toll. And in those times, the editors have stood by. Understanding. Encouraging. Nudging on – like shepherds. If the contributions are the meat that makes up Spark, they are the skeleton that holds it all together firmly.
I am no prophet either. But buoyant optimism and dreaminess is poignantly overpowering. Somehow, I want to believe that the Spark-ling journey will continue. Long and to distant times. And then, gray-haired, with a soft chuckle, I will remark to myself, “I, too, am part of your history”.
Pic : flyzipper – http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyzipper/
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