Moms Who Blog : Featuring Saumya Balasubramanian
Hello and welcome to Mom Blogger October on the Times of Amma. As regular readers know, the Times Of Amma community is all about inspiring Moms and building them up as they work on being themselves and Mothers. And so, this month is dedicated to featuring Moms who are working on being themselves and mothers, while expressing themselves through their blogs.
Today we feature Saumya Balasubramanian who blogs on Life, Humour, Books, Nature, Children, Adventures and Travel. She also sent me one of the most interesting bios, I have read when I asked her for one. I usually edit bios when they come in the first person, but this was written so engagingly that I am publishing it here, as is. "Isn’t life a quest in finding who you really are? Sometimes, I am a nefelibata and a pluviophile and a bibliophile and a logophile. There are dreams, passions and words floating up there in my mushroom shaped head. I love my family and friends, so when someone asks me who I am, I can barely stop myself from having this conversation:So what do you do? Self: I think, I write, I play, I dance in the kitchen/fields/lawns/woods, I enjoy nature, I exercise, I plan, I am not scared of using my imagination, I analyze data, I code and design in the ever-changing software world, I teach, I experiment, I cook, I enjoy the company of family and friends, I sometimes talk to myself, I laugh and smile a lot.
I mean what do you do for living?
Self: I breathe. Try it. It is very good. One deep breath, fill your lungs and exhale and empty your stomach. Now try again. I mean what do you do for A living? One thing please. Me beaten: Fine. I am a Software Engineer and a Writer and a * Person loses interest and walks away * I smile again. There is always a state of flux and a number of articles, novellas, novels, children’s books in progress. It is what keeps me going, and if you are interested in reading anything of more length, please get in touch with me.I hope my readers enjoy my writing as much as I enjoy the process of writing them.'
What was it that prompted you to become a blogger?
I have always liked writing. I loved writing letters, essays, and when blogging came along, it gave me a platform and I joyfully went along.
Which has been your most memorable post to date and why?
That is a very difficult question as I genuinely enjoy writing my posts. Some I could think of:
Space Racers – Together The Fun Begins!
The White Tiger Stops At Gray - Part 1 & 2
Baboons In An Orchestra Aid Bold & Beautiful Actress
What has the most memorable comment on your blog been so far?
It was one of the emails one of the readers sent me after reading The Little Blue Train. The post was about the Nilgiri Mountain Railways and how we sometimes yearn for a tranquil life. In it, I mention that the train driver used to wave to my mother as she rushed down the slope to catch her train. This reader actually helped me track down the kind train driver who might have been the person who waved to my mother all those years ago. That truly touched my heart.
Have you ever been trolled? How did you handle it?
I have been lucky enough to have a very supportive set of people and e-people around me. I will want to follow Michelle Obama’s advice though if I happen to be trolled “When they go low, you go high!”
Have you ever started to write a post and then abandoned it? Why?
More than half the time. I have a bulky document with half written posts, posts with potential and sometimes just links that I think can be used in a post.
Do you stick to a regular posting schedule or do you post whenever inspiration strikes? Do you have a writing routine?
I try to post approximately once a week, though there are some productive weeks in which the posts tumble out more often.
Do you find it hard to get your voice heard in the crowded blogosphere?
Yes I do. But to be honest, I have not really tried very much to have my blog publicized. I write for the joy of writing and writing has become the mode of Art I turn to to make sense of the world around me.
Many say that blogging is dead thanks to other micro-blogging avenues like Twitter, Snapchat and others. As the owner of a traditional blog, how would you respond to that?
I would like to say that though there are more demands on people’s attention, long form reading is still relished and will continue to have its place. The human brain is remarkable and can adapt to multiple ways in which to keep it challenged and occupied. As long as the world has voracious readers, and diligent writers, the blogosphere will thrive is my hope.
Do you see your blog as a stepping stone to something else? Do you see yourself wearing the tag of 'blogger' five years down the line?
There are moments when I wish that the gems from my keyboard will find a magical outlet - who doesn’t? But I also know that it is a small, crazy thought.
The true magical moments happen when I am swirling an idea in my head, reading about different things, connecting the dots and drawing up my little illustrations to go with the narrative. Those are the special moments that make me come back to this art form over and over again. Since I write a lot of humor based blogs, I find myself developing a muscle for it - when things are less than ideal, I think: I am going to get a funny story out of it. I find myself laughing wholeheartedly at my own foibles and troubles and if that isn’t a gift, I don’t know what is.
So, to answer your question, I sincerely hope to continue writing for as long as I can.
What tips do you have for other Indian Mom bloggers?
I hardly feel the sort of person to be doling out advice to others, let alone competent mothers. Well, if I absolutely must, then: Enjoy the journey, stay interested in life, and things will fall in place. Follow Saumya's Blog here :
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