|
Chat on
"Ranthambore Adventure"
dated
January 20, 2013
|
- Deepak Dalal: Hi Susan - I'm online
- Susan Sharma: Todays' chat topic is "Ranthambore Adventure" and the moderator is Deepak Dalal
- Susan Sharma: Hi Deepak
- Susan Sharma: Can we start by you giving an introdn?
- Deepak Dalal: Hi - I'm Deepak Dalal. I write children's books - all with a wildlife angle. My book Ranthambore Adventure is about tigers and is the story of their survival in spite of the odds
- Susan Sharma: You call it a children's book, but three adults in my house found the book very interesting esply since we have all been to Ranthambore
- Deepak Dalal: Yes, although it is a children's story, adults (grown-ups) enjoy the book too.
- Susan Sharma: I think it is because you mange to bring in a lot of serious issues in a subtle fashion.
- Deepak Dalal: Yes - that's what storytelling is all about. We entertain but educate too - in a very gentle, unobtrusive manner.
- Susan Sharma: What was the turning point which made you decide that you will use the method of story telling to make people aware of env.issues?
- Susan Sharma: Hi Anantha
- Deepak Dalal: I enjoy weaving stories. That's my passion. I also feel strongly about wildlife. I enjoyed putting the two together.
- S.Ananthanarayanan: This is Sucharita, using anantha's acct
- Susan Sharma: Hi Sucharita
- S.Ananthanarayanan: hi susan
- S.Ananthanarayanan: hi deepak
- Deepak Dalal: Hi Sucharita
- Susan Sharma: Was it difficult to leave a career to start following your heart?
- Deepak Dalal: Not really. I was glad to do so. No regrets. It's been a great journey since.
- Susan Sharma: Will you advise it as a career option for a youngster who is keen to become a story teller?
- Deepak Dalal: There has to be total commitment. That's because it's a hard journey. But if the effort is consistent its worth the ride.
- S.Ananthanarayanan: What skills should a youngster develop before he/she plunges into a career in writing?
- S.Ananthanarayanan: Deepak I must admit I haven't read your books. Do you thing a focus on a particular area is important for a beginner?
- Deepak Dalal: One way to learn writing is to read a lot. Read the best books. Read them slowly and discover how stories are told. Then try working first as a journalist or any forum (including the net) where people get to see your output.
You take off then from there.
- S.Ananthanarayanan: I guess one has to be an observer of life to be able to speak to an audience
- Deepak Dalal: Yes, focus is important. The focus should be on what you are an expert on. That's important as you must write with authority.
- Deepak Dalal: It's not just about being an observer. One must be a keen observer.
- S.Ananthanarayanan: Do you test the waters before the book gets published-- by that I mean do you share it with a young audience to get some feedback?
- Deepak Dalal: I do share my work with several of my readers before printing. Inputs from them are very important and I take everything they say very seriously.
- S.Ananthanarayanan: Could you describe the process involved in storytelling. Do you have a storyboard of sorts that you then flesh out or is it something that is sponaneous?
- S.Ananthanarayanan: Back to the question of feedback are they very critical?
- Deepak Dalal: I usually begin with research. I invest a lot of energy on this. It is the research that actually guides me into the storyline. Then I just drill down into the story and the story fleshes itself.
- Deepak Dalal: Feedback is important. The most critical part of it is whether the books is a great read or not. If it isn't then there is a problem. A huge one.
- Susan Sharma: Would you say people judge you by the first book you write and that hence it is the most important?
- Deepak Dalal: Well - yes, there is a great importance to the first book. But an ordinary first book is not the end of the world. It just makes future life as a writer that much more difficult.
- Susan Sharma: These days book launches are held like opening Fridays of a film. What is your opinion about the role of marketing?
- Deepak Dalal: Marketing is big. Very big. Good marketing moves even the most ordinary of books. And great books often fail because of poor marketing. This is an unfortunate and sad truth.
- S.Ananthanarayanan: How do you handle the language of the book--- I mean there a huge audience out there of all ages and anyone of them could be reading it. So should a book have something for everybody?
- Susan Sharma: Digital publishing and online publishing is slowly taking off and may change the scene in favour of authors.
- Deepak Dalal: The best writers right the most simple of English. There is never any need to resort to high-sounding vocab that most people haven't heard of. Look at Sommerset Maughm or Dick Francis and many other writers. Their style is
simple and readable by all.
- Deepak Dalal: Yes, digital publishing is changing the playing field. One doesn't know where all this is headed but clearly the writer will be stronger. Yet, like before, marketing will still remain all-important.
- Deepak Dalal: I talk a lot at schools. I am invited all over the country. What I have discovered is that children know little about wildlife. This is a shame. I'm doing my best, along with several other like-minded people to set this lack
of knowledge right.
- Susan Sharma: I am a little surprised that none of the young readers have joined the chat. Do you think we should target a school for our chat with you next time?
- Deepak Dalal: Actually a school would be great. Try the Pathways schools. I had visited there last time in Delhi. You could also try DPS Vasant Kunj. They use my books as readers.
- Susan Sharma: Are all the remaining titles now ready for marketing?
- Deepak Dalal: The remaining 4 titles are in print. They should be available in the market by April this year - when schools are done with their exams.
- Susan Sharma: I will try and organize the chat with schools and let you know.
- Susan Sharma: April should be a good month for that?
- Deepak Dalal: Sure. It will be a pleasure.
- Deepak Dalal: Actually this is a good time. Schools are free till mid Feb. After this exam fever sets in. Jan is the best month.
- Susan Sharma: I will certainly make the effort. We can have a chat session specially for school children. It will have to be a week day, I guess. and may be 4pm or so?
- Deepak Dalal: I think it would be even better if it is during school hours. You can get the school to do this as part of a period. Schools would be happy to include chatting with a writer as part of the class. It will work out good.
- Deepak Dalal: Are we ready to sign off?
- Susan Sharma: That sounds like a good idea. Y
- Susan Sharma: Yes, Deepak. Thank you very much and Sucharita thanks to you too
- Deepak Dalal: goodbye and thanks.
- Susan Sharma: As soon as we close the chat room, the transcript will be up and you can read it at the chat archives.
|
|
|
Chat Archive
|
Ranthambore Adventure
- January, 2013
|
|
Bats-The Night Warriors
- October, 2012
|
|
Man vs Tiger-Can Science help?
- July, 2012
|
|
Human Elephant Conflict
- June, 2012
|
|
Saving the one horned rhino
- May, 2012
|
|
"Man-Leopard Conflict - how we can deal with it"
- April, 2012
|
|
Environment and Wildlife Film making
- March, 2012
|
|
"Rainforest Wildlife-Unique adaptations"
- February, 2012
|
|
Conserving wildlife in fragmented landscapes
- January, 2012
|
|
Urban Biodiversity
- September, 2011
|
|
Green Hiking in the Himalayas
- August, 2011
|
|
Role of Zoos in Conservation
- July, 2011
|
|
Reduce, Recycle and Reuse
- June, 2011
|
|
Black Necked Cranes - symbol of the rising Green Consciousness
- May, 2011
|
|
Wildlife Issues in the North -East of India
- April, 2011
|
|
Trekking in the Himalaya
- March, 2011
|
|
Conservation of Marine Diversity in India
- February, 2011
|
|
Plant native trees this monsoon
- January, 2011
|
|
Human Elephant Conflict
- December, 2010
|
|
Conservation and Development in Emerging India
- November, 2010
|
|
"WILL ANIMALS ADAPT TO ANOTHER HABITAT........
- October, 2010
|
|
Responsible Tourism- Way forward to conservation?
- September, 2010
|
|
Vulture Conservation in India
- August, 2010
|
|
Plant a tree (trees) this monsoon
- June, 2010
|
|
Role of Urban Birds
- April, 2008
|
|
"Role of Urban Birds"
- April, 2008
|
|
GM Foods and Bio-diversity
- March, 2008
|
|
Taking Responsibility for One's Carbon Emissions
- February, 2008
|
|
Ecological Security
- January, 2008
|
|
The Himalayan Musk Deer
- November, 2007
|
|
Urban Wildlife
- October, 2007
|
|
Disappearing Tigers: Taking Stock
- August, 2007
|
|
Garbage littered on our Streets
- July, 2007
|
|
Bear Conservation nad Protection
- June, 2007
|
|
Role of Captive Elephants in wildlife conservation
- May, 2007
|
|
Endangered Animals of Sikkim
- April, 2007
|
|
Citizen Participation in Environmental Issues
- March, 2007
|
|
Vulture crisis in India
- January, 2007
|
|
City Parks and Biodiversity
- December, 2006
|
|
Why is bird census important?
- November, 2006
|
|
Shooting Wildlife with a Camera
- October, 2006
|
|
Rain Harvesting
- September, 2006
|
|
Environmental Education
- July, 2006
|
|
Tribal Bill
- June, 2006
|
|
Trekking in the Himalaya Region
- May, 2006
|
|
Trekking in the Himalayas
- May, 2006
|
|
Coastal Wildlife
- April, 2006
|
|
MARINE BIOLOGY
- March, 2006
|
|
Atmospheric Brown Cloud
- February, 2006
|
|
Tiger Census
- January, 2006
|
|
Tiger Task Force Report
- December, 2005
|
|
Marine Ecosystems Chat dated 18 November 2005
- November, 2005
|
|
Coral Reefs
- October, 2005
|
|
Global Warming
- September, 2005
|
|
Tourism and Wildlife
- August, 2005
|
|
Environment Education
- July, 2005
|
|
Wild Elephants
- May, 2005
|
|
Tiger Census
- April, 2005
|
|
Enforcement of Wildlife Act and the Common Man
- January, 2005
|
|
Crane Migration
- November, 2004
|
|
Migratory birds of India
- October, 2004
|
|
Offences Against Wildlife
- September, 2004
|
|
Man Animal Conflict
- August, 2004
|
|
Recent Amendments to the Wildlife Act
- July, 2004
|
|
Is there a case for keeping large mammals in zoos?
- June, 2004
|
|
Captive elephant management
- May, 2004
|
|
Conservation of seaturtles
- April, 2004
|
|
Asiatic Lion
- March, 2004
|
|
Plight of lesser animals
- February, 2004
|
|
Mangroves of India
- January, 2004
|
|
DEER AND ANTELOPE
- November, 2003
|
|
PHEASANTS
- October, 2003
|
|
Amphibians
- September, 2003
|
|
Chat on Butterflies - Our Natural Gardeners
- April, 2003
|
|
Chat on Asian Elephant
- January, 2003
|
|
Chat on Migratory Birds
- December, 2002
|
|
Chat on Snakes
- November, 2002
|
|
Chat on Rare Birds
- August, 2002
|
|
Chat on Environmental Issues
- July, 2002
|
|