600 to 700 applications says warrier a student from the second batch of the programme the course has been helpful he says it has given me a sense of direction and helped me understand the difference between writing a book and writing a book that will be published anita is not didactic or restrictive she does not tells us how to write in a certain way instead she gives us directions and helps us figure out our voice everyone knows that a good singer or dancer would have learnt her craft and honed it over time writing is also a skill exposure to various writing styles knowing how to read and critique fiction understanding that writing necessarily includes editing and revising which is sheer drudgery thats the prodding one gets at a workshop for a writer who is just beginning having a supportive community is also invaluable explains anand talking about the personal attention bit writer shinie antony cannot begin to underline the seriousness that mentoring new talent entails it is an emotional experience because you are engaging with so many minds and the way i see it its not just some 9 to 5 job but a 247 commitment that you are personally invested in says antony about why she hasnt started a formal programme yet despite having conducted workshops in bengaluru delhi and kerala teaching writing is an extremely creative process and it takes everything out of you leaving very little energy for you to do anything else nair who considers every student as her protge to guide nurture goad and love describes the role of a mentor as a sculptor bringing to life the shape hidden in a block of marbleworkshops at blf the popularity of workshops may be why the bangalore literature festival this year will be hosting three workshops on writing shinie antony who is cofounder of the festival says writer zac oyeah will be conducting one on detective writing called how to write great chillers and thrillers and indira chandrashekhar founder and principal editor of out of print will be conducting one on short story writing there will also be a qa session with writers durjoy dutta and ravinder singh where they will answer readers queries on the art of writing popular romancesthey are all pen pals there are writing bookshops and there are bookclubsand then there are a few that are both write club run by author sharath komarraju is one members of the fouryearold club meet every saturday with a serious agenda discussing every topic related to writing be it genres styles books or authors unlike workshops write club is more like a meetup we have had over 210 meetings and each one is hosted by one of the memberswe also have guest writer sessions where wellknown writers come in to address the group says komarraju while there are plans to conduct formal classes komarraju says that the meetup itself has been useful to quite a few members who are aspiring writers