Writing My Way Through Life
You know how there are a set of students who absolutely love math and others who love English? I belonged to the latter category. While words and sentences drew me in like magnets, numbers would do the exact opposite – repulse me.
Reading was a habit I inculcated at the age of six. I would find solace in the middle of pages that carried within them stories that held the power to transport one into a completely different realm. Enid Blyton became a quick favourite and I would find myself wanting to weave words into magic as she did.
My love for the English language is probably what laid the foundations for my career choice as a writer, eventually. When I took English exams back in school, I would not be satisfied till I had drilled down every single essay and story to perfection. My words could never fail, I would tell myself.
The seeds of my passion were further sown one fine day when I was in seventh grade. The words that my English teacher told me that day, would go on to etch my future. After reading my English paper, she went on to say, “You have a way with words. You should consider becoming a journalist.” Now, I did not know what the term ‘journalist’ meant back then but I decided that it would be what I would do for a living.
Eventually, I moved out of school and into college where I chose mass media as my stream for my bachelor’s degree. Mumbai, the city of dreams, opened the doors to multiple creative avenues for me. Through the course of my degree, I also learned how to write for news as well as features.
An internship at What’s The Hype from April to July 2019 marked the first steps towards a career in writing. I was able to experiment with a variety of writing styles due to this early exposure, which helped me evolve into the multifaceted writer I eventually became.
I worked as an intern in the field of public relations at Star Squared PR from April to May of 2020. I used desk research, relations, media monitoring, and analysis as methods to understand the intricate dance between media portrayal and public image. I gained a comprehensive understanding of the media landscape from this experience, which would prove to be very helpful going forward in my journalistic endeavours.
The earlier stages of my journey unfolded in various internships that shaped my understanding of different facets of writing. As a Content Writer Intern at One Stone Digital from May 2020 to June 2020, I crafted articles that aimed not only to inform but also to entertain. The fusion of information and entertainment became a recurring theme in my writing style, something that I carried forward into subsequent endeavours.
I dipped my toes into the vast world of news writing in July 2020 when I interned as a news writer at Drew Reports News, where I worked until October 2020. My lessons from the fast-paced online media website included self-control, perseverance, and the importance of being informed. I learned to mould my writing style by contributing more than 200 articles over this time span, covering a wide range of beats.
My writing took a social turn with an internship at YUVA, a non-profit organisation. The organisation’s tireless efforts to work for the housing rights of people in informal settlements drew me to work with it for its noble causes. I spent my days at the organisation crafting impactful blog posts that effectively told the stories of the stakeholders involved. It was fulfilling to know that my words were going towards causes that made a difference. Each word became a brushstroke, contributing to a larger canvas of social change.
My camaraderie with journalism began a little prior to my stint at YUVA when I interned as a journalist with The Indian Express. I began interning at the renowned news organisation in December 2022 and continued till January 2023. The process of writing would begin with pitching story ideas and then move to on-ground reporting, conducting interviews and finally penning down the story that would then be reviewed by my editor. This intense process and the demands of the role taught me the importance of writing objectively, accurately and concisely.
My venture into the professional world began with a brief stint in the advertising field as I took on the role of a junior copywriter. As I wrote compelling copies for product packaging, mailers and social media posts, I learned to incorporate a tone that would persuade the target audience to engage with the client’s brand. My usual writing style was thus infused with a persuasive twist. I then went on to take up the role of a content editor at Gracenote, a Nielsen Company. During my time there, I would spend my days writing plot summaries of various television shows and movies, suited to mobile phones and set-top boxes. The challenge that arose was that my words were restricted by a specific character count. I had to think out of the box to make sure that the summaries I wrote did not lose the essence of the plot while remaining creative and engaging.
Currently, I am furthering my academic journey by pursuing a master’s degree in media and communication studies, specialising in multimedia journalism. With the dawn of the digital era, the scope for journalism and writing has only grown exponentially. With each passing day, I am only learning how to captivate the attention of all sorts of readers with my writing.
Each experience I’ve had, whether it was in the realm of journalism, public relations, or content writing, added a different sheaf to the pages of my very own story. My journey from an inquisitive learner to an experienced writer was characterised by both successes and setbacks, all of which contributed to my overall development.
Through the writing I’ve done, I see a tapestry of passion, curiosity, and the unwavering pursuit of the truth when I look back at how far I’ve come. Every milestone along the way, from the first support of a perceptive teacher to the dynamic challenges of professional internships, has been a brushstroke that has added complexity and vitality to the bigger picture of my writing career that I am painting.
This journey as a writer has been a wonderful one, one that has been guided by nothing but words. Along with shaping me as a writer, the journey, with all of its highs and lows, has also given me a deep appreciation for the power of words. The journey never ends, and with each step that I take, I’m living the stories instead of just writing them.
I have always been drawn to the power of language, even before I could form complete sentences. I did not realise when or how sentences became my go-to companions, words my playmates, and paragraphs my magical realms. I came to understand the power of narrative and the artistry of creative expression in a world where equations were solved and numbers crunched. The seed of a future storyteller was sown in me, and as I made my way through the maze of schooling, it blossomed into a love for the art of writing.
The transformational journey from a wide-eyed intern to an experienced professional has shaped me into a better writer. My perspective of the power that the written word holds has been shaped by my academic endeavours, internships, and varied job roles. For me, writing is more than just a career—it’s a quest for self-awareness and a continual exploration of the seemingly endless potential of language. It’s about wielding the pen with purpose, whether the goal is to entertain, educate, convince, or provoke reflection.
The various roles I have had serve as more than just job descriptions; they are distinct chapters in my personal growth. Each experience has contributed a unique tone to the harmonious blend of my identity as a writer. From the early writing at What’s The Hype to the intensive newsroom work at The Indian Express and the socially conscious projects at YUVA, each step has expanded my knowledge of the writer’s craft.
The journey is a meandering exploration rather than a linear climb, like a river flowing and making its way through a variety of environments. It’s a tale of transformation—from a student mesmerised by the beauty of language to an experienced writer negotiating the challenges of the working world.
In retrospect, I see both personal and professional turning points. Every chapter has served as a milestone, a life-changing event that has shaped both my writing and my outlook on the world. The internships served as doors into new vistas of learning, opportunities, and insights rather than merely being stepping stones towards a career.
Looking ahead, the blank pages of the future beckon me to discover new stories and delve further into the hidden mysteries of storytelling. A master’s degree is not just an academic endeavour; it is a chance to carry on the story and combine traditional storytelling with the exciting potential of multimedia journalism. Today, my journalistic writing is largely driven by the belief that my pen will always be mightier than any sword that comes its way.
The decision to pursue writing was not made consciously; rather, it came to me slowly like a whisper from the universe. It was an irresistible invitation to set out on an odyssey in which stories served as bridges between the known and the unknown and words served as my medium of expression. The transition has been a dance through the passage of time, from the naiveté of a seventh-grader to that of a seasoned writer on the verge of penning down yet another chapter.
This odyssey of ink and imagination is about the ongoing conversation between a writer and the outside world, not just the roles I’ve played or the organisations I’ve been a part of. It involves telling stories that speak to the universal human experience and break free from the constraints of space and time. As my passion for writing also translates into my journalistic career, I pen down each word with an aim to change the world. This is an ode to writing my way through life, one word at a time.
You can reach out to me at:
Email: subhashinir1204@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhashini-ramasamy-4aaaa2196/