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For the June writing theme, we have inspiration from writer Maya Angelou, who was a shining light to so many. The 5 best entries get published here.
Maya Angelou
For the June writing theme, we have inspiration from writer and memoirist Maya Angelou, the ‘phenomenal woman’ who was a shining light to so many. Get started with the writing cue: The 5 best entries get published here.
Each month, we ask our readers to get inspired by an iconic woman writer and get their own thinking caps on. We hope that this inspires you to read more of these writers, and also write more yourself!
Step 1. Read the writing cue (scroll down below) and get inspired.
Step 2. Write your own story/narrative/piece based on the cue. You could use it as the opening line, the closing sentence, or somewhere in between! You could even choose not to use it anywhere in your story – just write a story using the cue as a prompt. (And ‘story’ can be fictional – or not – as you wish).
Step 3. Send your work to us. Please email it to [email protected] with ‘Muse of the month – June’ in the subject line, and your story as a word/txt attachment. Please avoid typing the story as inline text. Do include the name we should use if we publish it, and a brief introduction to yourself (2-3 lines) in the mail.
Given the number of entries received, we won’t be able to respond to each, but every single entry is being read through very carefully and is much appreciated.
Please send in your stories by June 23rd 2014, Monday, 5 p.m IST. The 5 best stories will be published on Women’s Web the next day, i.e. one each from June 24th to the 28th.
Keep it between 250 and 800 words. (Please keep this in mind; in past editions, we have had to disqualify some good entries purely due to word count issues).
The 5 best entries will each win a Flipkart voucher worth Rs. 250.
Maya Angelou, the American poet, civil rights activist and memoirist who passed away recently, inspired millions of women (and men) around the world with her stories of rebellion, courage and endurance. This month’s writing cue is from her first memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, a powerful account of growing up black in the then segregated American South.
Since that first best-selling memoir, Maya Angelou went on to write many more highly readable works, including collections of poetry and essays. All her life, she continued to be an outspoken critic of American society’s treatment of marginalized groups, including women and African American people.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – this is writing cue for June, from Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Make sure to get your entry in on or before June 23rd, 5 p.m.
Pic of Maya Angelou credited to mayaangelou.com
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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