Topic started by Barrie Bowdler on Tue May 18 09:14:12 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I am writing a fiction book which, one of the main themes, is about a man living in India and taking an illegal route into England. I want to research some family and local history of where this fictional character lives, e.g. in the northern area of New Delhi, to ensure the story is authentic.
I would ideally like to make contact with someone who might be prepared to help me. I would be quite prepared to sent a proportion of my story so that you make get a feel of the situation.

Responses:

• From: V.B.H.S. Prasanna (@ sji-ca2-79.ix.netcom.com) on: Wed May 19 00:22:00
  
  Why?!!!!
  
  Why is about an Indian? Why would he take "an illegal route into England?"
  
  If you have to "research some family and local history of where this fictional character lives" by posting a message to the 'net, how can you possibly create an authentic character?
  
  Before you spend too much time "writing a fiction book", you should probably spend a little time "reading". You may even benefit by taking a few classes in writing. Then you may want to spend some time actually living in the places you want to write about and meet people who might resemble you fictional characters. Of course, you don't have to do any of this if all that you want to write about is an "illegal alien coming to England" kind of story to a local tavern newsletter.
  
  -VaththalakkuNdu BhimEshwararao Hanumantharao Srinivasa Prasanna.
  
  
• From: Laura (@ crogers.smcm.edu) on: Mon Jun 28 20:01:48
  
  and you "VaththalakkuNdu BhimEshwararao Hanumantharao Srinivasa Prasanna" would do well to take a basic course in manners and decent behavior so you don't keep coming off as an obnoxious little brat whose panties stayed in the dryer a bit too long (or is it the stress of gravity that might be the problem?). Let's hear it for all the wandering people and their great-great grandchildren (like me!). May they keep going places illegally.
  
  As for other writers, the internet is a fascinating place to find complete *****s like the one above off which to base absolutely fascinating characters. Never loose your heart for the task and may the sea ahead, be it entertaining or serene, bear you homeward when your done. Blessed be.
  
  
• From: common man (@ chme6pc4.ecn.purdue.edu) on: Wed Jun 30 00:24:06
  
  Umm.... that was quite a fit response
  
  
• From: ian (@ p59-max9.wlg.ihug.co.nz) on: Wed Jun 30 07:13:05
  
  Laura - this is only my second ever time on the net, but your reply was so completely spot on that I felt compelled to try and see if I could post a response, and congragulate you. Yes, the prasanna person does not appear to be the most sensitive human around. Prasanna person, do you write interesting things yourself, or only criticise others? Fiction is difficult enough to pull off without ****s like you around who attack even those who admit they haven't got on top of the topic yet (and b4 they have even finished writing! Do you come from the planet idiot?)PS - if anyone knows anything about the layout of the major railway stations in Madrid, or even a site that might be useful, I would love to hear. I was stuck for a day in one of the main railway stations there 3 or 4 years back, and am trying to recreate it for a scene in a short story (now that I am back in NZ). However I may well fail to find an e-mail address of my own so if anyone knows anything useful, please just leave a message in this site. (its my friends computer and I don't have an e-mail address)Ok that's all...
  
  
• From: Only Slightly Peeved (@ s18.upb.pitt.edu) on: Sat Nov 6 14:26:38
  
  I have to agree that writing fiction should allow you to cross boundaries you have never actually crossed . . . write about what you don't know. But don't hold your breath . . . no email response, no matter how detailed, is going to give you enough information to create an authentic character. Write about what you know.
  
  
• From: Shakespeare (@ ) on: Fri Jun 22 11:05:53
  
  Dear wanderer Laura,
  
  Ever heard of a writer, even the most lowdown two bit hack that ever put pen to paper,creating a character based on telephone interviews, television watching or after leafing through a magazine? I'm sure you haven't. The internet, with all its advantages, is no different. It's not people, it's dehumanised anonymity at its worst.
  
  An artist is supposed to know these things without someone telling him. A brisk walk through Southall (England) will do more wonders for your knowledge bank ( not to talk of your health!) of illegal Indian immigrants than a whole year of diligent posting on the internet. Believe me, there's as yet no substitute for people, if you want to write about them, that is.
  
  If, on the other hand, you are doing a thesis on solid state physics or superconductivity and Schroedinger's Cheshire cat (the one with the grin!) or some such obscure, impersonal, inhuman thing, then perhaps the net is a good place to glean your info from.
  
  This, I'm sure, is what the irascible V.B.H.S. Prassanna was trying to communicate in his own irritable way.
  
  Shakespeare
  
  
• From: Shakespeare (@ 202.88.232.162) on: Fri Jun 22 11:09:59
  
  
  Laura,
  But of course >>the internet is a fascinating place to find complete *****s<< if that's what you're looking for. But then, it takes all sorts to make the world.
  Shakespeare
  
  
• From: Shakespeare (@ 202.88.232.162) on: Fri Jun 22 11:28:57
  
  Laura,
  Moreover it doesn't take great writing skills to realise two things -
  
  1.) that if this Indian illegal immigrant from north New Delhi has to have any degree of authenticity then one has to chat with somebody from that milieu.
  
  2.) people from that milieu are not exactly the sort who have the wherewithal, the knowledge, the time, or the least inclination to sit in front of a computer and chat!!
  
  Life's tough. Writing about it is even more so. Mr.Bowdler, I think you can take most of Mr. Prassanna's words as good, relevant, knowledgeable
  advice from someone who obviously knows his literature, if not his manners. Take heed. You won't regret it. Come, take a trip to north New Delhi. Who knows. It could be just the thing to puncture your presumptions and put you on your way to becoming a true, empathetic human, and may be, a good writer too.
  Good luck!
  Shakespeare
  
  
• From: Naveen (@ 63.121.196.169) on: Fri Jun 22 12:16:21
  
  Barrie asked for information from people who knew North Delhi. He offered to send parts of his story. What he gets is:
  -) read a little before you begin writing and better still, take writing classes
  -) live in the places that you want to write about
  -) invitations to visit India
  -) any help we could give would be useless to you.
  -) recommendations to walk through Southall in England
  -) advice as to what an artist should know, how a writer should write etc.
  -) information on the nature of the world wide web and life in general (tough)
  -) the interesting idea that illegal immigrants do not, as a general rule, have access to, an understanding of or an inclination to use the web. -) how Barrie needs to lose his presumptions and become a true and empathetic human being.
  
  
• From: Shakespeare (@ 202.88.232.162) on: Fri Jun 22 14:21:10
  
  That's the magic, Naveen!
  
  If this is what you get for twiddling a few piddly plastic keys on a stupid computer then think of the wealth of knowledge and information that awaits someone if they were to take up all the other suggestions that you have so kindly reiterated above!!
  
  I swear its all true. Honest!!
  
  Would you believe me if I also told you that no novelist or writer, however accomplished or well established, would dare to base a central character on hearsay, internet or otherwise.
  
  Sincere, unpretentious literature begins with oneself and all that is around one's own life in very real, very unvirtual terms.
  
  And as for computer-savvy illegal immigrants from north New Delhi who can sit and chat on the net, oh, c'mon Naveen, haven't you been to India? or haven't you taken a walk through Southall?
  
  I have. Both.
  
  Shakespeare
  
  
  
• From: Naveen (@ tcache-wm01.proxy.aol.com) on: Sun Jun 24 19:04:21
  
  I haven't been to Southall or anywhere in England outside of the airport. Is it anywhere near London or "Richmond, Surrey" - wherever that is? I'll be there for a very short and busy week in July.
  
  As for computer literacy in general, all I can say is: you'd be surprised. Even villages and small towns in Tamil Nadu seem to have at least one Internet kiosk (or whatever it's called). It's about as ubiquitous as the typical roadside tea-shop.
  
  I wonder if Barrie is reading our stuff and wondering how the hell all this is related to his question! It may not be "literary" fiction that he's aiming at, you know.
  
  
• From: Shakespeare (@ 202.88.233.18) on: Fri Jun 29 04:41:30
  
  Naveen,
  It was laura and her vulgar, colloquial putdowns that pissed me off, really. Prassanna was giving Barrie just the right sort of advice any good creative writing prof. would like to pass on to aspiring, well-meaning beginners.
  
  There is no, but no, fiction that one can tackle sitting in a room. One has to have seen it to be able to write about it. Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) is one of the most famous and singular exceptions that goes to prove this truism.
  
  And, I'm sure it will be a while before a beginner can aspire to that kind of adventure.
  
  Southall is a "little India" between Heathrow airport and London. Can't miss it. Looks like little India, complete with clothes drying on line etc.! You should be able to fit it into a half day schedule. Good luck.
  Shakespeare
  
  
• From: N.R.Srinivas (@ 202.54.94.54) on: Sat Jun 30 11:33:43
  
  Dear Barrie,
  
  I have lived in Delhi for a long time. I'll be glad to help you with any details you require.
  
  Regards.
  
  
• From: sanjay (@ ) on: Sat May 29 07:32:11
  
  sure...now why should a guy from India want to go to England illegally? Well the real reason is that a million englismen came to India illegally and shat here during the 'glorious' Raj. So it important for Indians to fart in England now.
  
  Did they come with a Visa...or just cum in their pants. The visa was stamped by the illegitimate east India co.
  
  When the queen got an orgasm and decided that they had already decimated the aboriginess, the Red Indians and the MOaris and captured chunks of SOuth Africa...the goras thought India was not worth the while. There was enough real estate for her creatures to live in. Maybe Barrie should write a story abouut this truth....
  
  

Want to post a response?