Author Archive: Sweta Vikram
Sweta Srivastava Vikram is an award-winning poet, writer, novelist, author, essayist, columnist, educator, and blogger. Born in India, Sweta spent her formative years between the steel city of Rourkela, the blue waters of North Africa, the green hills of Mussoorie, and the erudite air of Pune before arriving in bustling New York. Growing up between three continents, six cities, five schools, and three masters degrees, what remained constant in Sweta’s life was her relationship with words.Today, Sweta is the author of three chapbooks of poetry, Because All Is Not Lost (Modern History Press, 2010), Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors (Modern History Press, 2010), and Beyond the Scent of Sorrow (Modern History Press, 2011). While Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors was nominated for the Pushcart Prize (2010) and Asian American Members’ Choice Awards (2011), Beyond the Scent of Sorrow was nominated for the Independent Literary Awards(2011). Sweta's books are the highest selling poetry books from Modern History Press.
Change in Creative Mindsets with Change in Leadership: Kamala Harris as the Vice President
In May 2020, I taught a virtual writing workshop in partnership with a chic, independent bookstore called Kew & Willow Books. It was a fully sold-out virtual workshop where we wrote all kinds of stories about women who have made an impression in our lives—our mothers, grandmothers, teachers, friends, or any other woman who helped shape […]
Does Our Cultural Upbringing Influence What We Write About?
I have always been curious about the world even before I learned to spell the word CURIOUS. Even as a kid, I noticed what most adults missed: be it the nine-year-old in me in India who witnessed my dark-skinned aunt rub skin whitening cream on her face daily so someone would ask for her hand […]
I Am An Author But Not Who You Think I Am!
A few years ago, someone commented on my Facebook post, “Sweta, you must be ready to retire now that your poetry book has become an Amazon bestseller”. According to this person, my royalty payments, from my poetry collection, would keep me smoothly sailing for the rest of life. I laughed so hard at the irony […]
Why We Need To Tell More Than One Story About Any Culture
I remember the first time I watched Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talks, “The Danger of A Single Story.” It moved me and stayed with me for a long time. I had talked about this very issue to some of my friends but had never heard this point-of-view with such eloquence. When a big-name New York City-based agent expressed […]
What Self-Isolation Has Taught Me About Writing…
The first week of NYC going on PAUSE, I felt something inside of me die. Don’t get me wrong; I was and continue to support remote working and social distancing to stop the spread of the virus, even on days when self-isolation makes me feel desolate. My mind has been in agreement with Governor Cuomo’s […]
How Do You Keep Creative Writing Alive In The Time Of Coronavirus?
Writing is a solitary profession and writers are labeled as folks who like to live inside their own creative cocoon that they step out off on rare occasions. But I’d like to clarify two things: Not all writers are introverts. Many of us thrive on the energy of the people around us. We are conversation […]
Why Women Writers Need To Empower Each Other
Writing is a solitary profession. The stillness and the isolation make for important ingredients in the recipe of writing. That said, no one can survive and thrive in silos forever. Wanting human connection and engagement is part of our nature and need for survival. But it gets tricky because as writers, we are very vulnerable. […]
Why Winter Is A Great Time To Write
If you look at Mother Nature, autumn is when the leaves start to fall. Letting go is the mantra and underlying message of the season. By the time winter arrives, trees become bare. Winter is a time when nature’s energy withdraws back unto herself. We see fewer birds in the sky. Days become shorter. The air becomes […]
Writing And Food: How What You Eat Impacts Your Mood And Creativity
The holiday season is upon us. It brings food, family, and friends together for so many of us. But holidays can also be emotionally charged and triggering for several people. No matter which spectrum of emotions you might be experiencing, notice how humankind expresses both celebration and mourning through food! How often do we eat […]
Is Your Perception Of Creativity Hurting Your Writing?
I was talking to a friend of mine—who happens to be a psychotherapist and has experience working with creative professionals—about creativity. The two of us go for weekly walks amidst nature where we talk about life, challenges, and wins. Both the friendship and our weekly self-care ritual is cathartic. I confessed to her that on […]
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