“Writing Is A Literary Striptease”: Says Tina Sequeira, Featured Author Of The Month April 2017

Tina Sequeira believes that each of us is a story-teller and has something to say; but – you do need to be a brave heart to put your story out there. A featured Women’s Web author in April 2017, she tells us her writing story.

With over 1500 women (and men) sharing candid stories, views and experiences here, our editors are picking some of the best contributors each month, as Featured Author of the month. Here we talk to Tina Sequeira, one of our 3 featured authors for April 2017.

Tina has a way with words, and writes effortlessly on a range of subjects, from movie reviews to poetry to parenting. She kicks the misconception that readers are only looking for stuff that gets done in under 30 seconds. Her 1500 word plus pieces have often found favour with readers, which just goes to show you – good writing is good writing, no matter how short or long it is! Here is where you can find Tina’s work on Women’s Web.

I have an overactive brain and imagination. In many ways, I’m an over-thinker and writing comes to my therapeutic aid. On the one hand, I’m still like a child fantasising and conjuring images, characters and stories in my head—living a daydream. And on the other hand, a stark realist who deciphers the world and its happenings around and has a strong view and opinion to share. Writing comes as a welcome outlet for my creative and intellectual pursuits. It satisfies the child and the woman in me. Writing for me is what playtime and vivid exploration is for a child. Writing is also an orgasmic outlet for all those pent-up emotions, stirring thoughts, and intellectual cravings.

When and how did you first begin writing?

I was a voracious reader, beginning as early as 5 years. The next natural course of action had to be writing. As far as I remember, I wrote around the age of 12. It started with the romantic notion of maintaining a secret diary. Looking back, I think that was a great idea to cope with the confusing adolescence period. I would scribble and doodle the daily happenings at school and home. I have never looked back ever since.

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My muse is solitude. Earlier, I’d find it in the silence and the stillness of the night. But with age, I cannot pull off an all-nighter anymore. So, I try to grab those moments of solitude during the day and write. Solitude is beautiful. There’s magic in solitude that’s ideal for rumination. It’s when all these subconscious thoughts and graphic images dance vividly in front of my eyes. Of course, there’s the constant churning of thoughts and stories that keep spinning endlessly till I fall asleep. I write some brilliant ideas before they vanish. The next time I sit in front of my desk, I have my work already cut out for me. All I need to do is gather those thoughts and breathe life into them with words.

Where do you get your ideas from? 

Life is a grand inspiration. There are countless stories playing for free around us—in our homes, neighbourhood, workplaces, books and newspapers. Ideas are everywhere. Shakespeare couldn’t have been more right when he famously wrote, “ ‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players’.”

When it comes to writing on/for/about women, what questions and issues drive you the most?

I am passionate about promoting fairness and equality in all aspects of life. Gender inequality in our country bothers me a lot.

I respect, value, and understand the importance and need for tradition. But, some traditions are outdated and we can do away with some of them, frankly. I like to question through my writings the existence of patriarchal traditions—when it’s at the cost of a woman’s free will and wellness.

There needs to be a detoxification of mindsets in the general population towards our women. We’re treated like third-class citizens in our own country. Even cows garner more respect and value than us. When the slaughtering of cows warrants a higher penalty than the rape of women or killing of female foetuses in the country, it’s a matter of grave concern.

Anything you’d like to tell others who would want to write?

All of us are story-tellers in the making with unique stories of our own. And no one can tell our story like we can.

Good writing is not only about impressive vocabulary, pitch perfect grammar and all that paraphernalia alone. Those are important if you’re serious about taking up writing professionally. If you want to improve your writing, reading is an essential habit. But, great writing is a lot more than just reading, practising, and mastering the craft.

Great writing is about authenticity, empathy, courage, unwavering faith and hope. It doesn’t always please, but it always provokes something in the readers. Forget about your writing being liked or being popular. It’s great if they are, but it’s not important for writers to be liked as much as to convey the truth.

Writing is like a literary strip-tease till you are stark naked before your readers. You unravel your innermost thoughts, feelings, and emotions in bits and pieces—with every teasing shred of your writing—to the world. Have the courage to be you through your writings. Let not the thought of being judged freak you out and deter you from pouring out your soul into your writings. Your authentic self may offend many people and they might reject you outright. But they have no power over you. When you manifest your soul through words, you already have the power of truth on your side.

I firmly believe writing is a powerful tool of divination. It’s not for nothing that we have the saying “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Nothing can be deadlier than the truth made immortal through writing.

Writing is for the vulnerable and brave. And, let me tell you it is the most liberating experience there ever existed. I promise you won’t regret it. So take the plunge and just do it—the write way!

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