Ink & Insight Issue 5 (January 2026).

 Dear Crafters ✍️,

                                              

Welcome to the fifth edition of Ink & Insight!

With each new edition, this magazine becomes a little more layered- shaped by voices, ideas, and creativity of our ever-growing Content Crafters community. 

These pages carry stories that speak softly and loudly, poems that pause time, and reflections that stay with you long after reading. This edition is a celebration of consistency, connection, and the joy of sharing words in a space that values every voice. We're delighted to have you here, turning these pages with us once again.

With gratitude and ink stained smiles,

Team Content Crafters.

Editor's desk:

Jui Purohit,

                                                         

Founder, Content Crafters.

Editor, Ink & Insight.

 Hello readers!

I'm a published poet and a writer who collects words -just like we collected stamps in our childhood: too many yet not enough! Ergo, my first book of poetry is 'Words became Poetry'. Later, I published two more books, 'Words Became Poetry - All About Love' and 'Echoes of Seasons'. Five online published novellas and numerous blogs added to my kitty, and with a passion of storytelling, I intended to start a community to encourage more writers. In a hope of growing together with them, sharing words and shinning together, I started Content Crafters.

And here, I wear two hats -as the founder of Content Crafters and the editor of this e-magazine, Ink & Insight.

Through Content Crafters and Ink & Insight, my aim has always been to nurture creativity, celebrate consistency and help writers see their words find a meaningful place.

As you read through the pages of this edition too, I hope you smile, pause, and maybe even pick up your pen again. Because Ink & Insight isn't just a magazine, it's a reflection of each of you and your craft.

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Swati Mohandas,

Creative Partner Content Crafters.

Co-editor, Ink & Insight.

Hello readers!

I have always been drawn to words, their power and it is thrilling to see my work take shape. My debut poetry book, ‘Myriad Whispers‘ has been a dream come true and the award is a cherished recognition. I have also had the pleasure of contributing to anthologies, sharing my musings with others. 

Content Crafters is a community that celebrates creativity and when the creative partner role came up, I knew I had to jump in!

I am looking forward to reading, sharing and creating prompts that ignite imagination.

Ink & Insight, is an e-magazine that spotlights on the incredible power of words, showcasing talented writers and engaging readers in a shared love of literature.

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                                            Penfluence

Where powerful pens leave lasting impressions, and our prompt winners leave echoes long after the page is turned!

Winning posts of the Month of January 2026 - for all prompts across the platforms.

• Twist-it Tuesdays is a weekly challenge that takes place on Tuesdays on the Content Crafters' WhatsApp community platform. 

We provide a prompt on which Crafters are expected to submit a short poem, short writeups or a quote. We cannot be more grateful for the smashing number of entries that we receive for 'Twist-it Tuesdays' every month. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each and every crafter who participated in this challenge and enlightened us with their amazing poems, writeups and quotes.

As a token of gratitude, we are featuring the winning entries for January -

Week 1:

Prompt - Write a poem on 'A fresh dawn' but make sure each line begins with 'yes'.

Sunita Menon -

Yes, a fresh dawn took birth within 

Yes , it hasn't been the same since 

Yes, it taught me that prioritizing isn't selfish 

Yes, indeed its self love at its peak

Yes, to everyone and everything isn't me anymore 

Yes, finally it dawned that "No" isn't negative at all.

Shilpa Chakravarty -

Yes, the stories can end

Yes, the lives come to an end.

Yes, your beauty might become stale

Yes, your wealth may keep you well.

Yes, time will take away everything in its tide,

Yes, your kind deeds will not be forgotten- the world will celebrate

Week 2:

Prompt: Write a paragraph of 5-6 lines about Lohri/Sankrant evening with family tradition, brought back a flood of memories.

Poornima Sivaraman -

This day, the smell of Til and jaggery, spreads around the house. The tilkut, tasted yummy, some with sugar and some with gud. The market gets filled with Tilkut, the tasty and delicious sweets. That aroma of freshly prepared Tilkut from various house in our apartment, draws the kids to that house. A joyous time, people wishing each other, happy Sankranti, Lohri or Bihu; the purpose is the same, to enjoy the fresh crop and move ahead in life.

Sujata Maggoo -

The fire of Lohri blossomed into the night, Memories rose with the sparks, soft and uninvited. Dadi's hands knew the prayer by rote; her hands were slower now, while mom's sarson ka saag carried winters we once shared. Laughter went around the fire and my eyes met the light—for those still living in the fire, long after they're gone!!

Bhawana Sethi -

As the Lohri bonfire crackled, the scent of wood smoke and roasting peanuts instantly pulled me back to childhood. I watched my father circle the flames with rhythmic blessings. In the kitchen, the steady beat of my mother mashing sarson ka saag felt like the season’s heartbeat, grounding us in tradition. Seeing the cousins join in reminded me that these rituals never truly grow old. I realized these simple family habits are the golden threads that stitch our history together.

Week 3:

Prompt: The silence after - share a poem of 5-6 lines.

Poornima Sivaraman -

Memories linger as the day draws near, 

Of my dearest parents, I hold so dear,

My eyes may swell, 

yet my heart still knows ,

The joy of the love that forever flows.

My father’s hand upon my head,

My mother’s meals, by love well fed.

With these sweet thoughts my soul is free,

My heart is filled with gratitude and glee.

Nibedita Rajguru -

The warmth of a cold winter evening

Ebbs now into a distant sphere.

Embers in the heart still glow,

Curling smoke from the kitchen,

The aroma of cooked food.

Footsteps echo, bangles chime,

Fragrance clings to me.

I see you nowhere,

Ached by the shadow of your memory.

Bhawana Sethi -

The forest breathes a sigh of silver mist, 

where ancient giants fall to dust.

The river song is one the stones have missed, 

a fading pulse beneath the rust.

The world moves on, though green turns into grey, 

as nature’s heart slowly slips away.

Sujata Maggoo -

Dad-When you left, time did not stand still—just I.

Your absence became the space in which I found strength.

We wanted different skies, yet shared the same roots.

and in this truth, I learned to let go without breaking.

I go on, softer but braver,

carrying your memory with me like my-secret courage.

Durriya S -

A lone scent of her handkerchief

A brisk feeling of her breath

A warm sunrise on cold winter mornings

A dictionary without any spoken words

A gift – wrapped up with unwrapped essence

A crushed flower with only a fragrance

You dwell within the unsaid, unheard

A sacred feeling – Pure to the core

Like a mother – I’d say – Mother -MAA-SI.

Shilpa Chakravarty -

The dusk lures me more than dawn,

I ruminate, whatever went right or wrong.

Some dreams were pursued,

some responsibilities shared.

Some promises we considered as our utmost sacred.

As breeze moves, and birds begin to fly to their nest,

I pause to think, my calculations and rumination rest:

We parted, not for the lack of love

But because some promises mattered much more than us.

We parted ways, but flowed like the two banks of a river,

The dusk of our lives wasn’t meant to culminate together.

Sadagi Mushrif -

Had I known that was the last time we met,

The last meal we shared, the last words you said,

I would have been gentler,

Spoken more softly,

Listened to you patiently.

How ridiculously carefree we were—

Laughing, teasing, making fun of each other,

As if time were endless,

As if goodbyes were unseen.

Now I wonder:

Should I feel guilty for that ease,

Or grateful for those heart warming moments?

Shashi Thakur -

As the day of my mother’s death anniversary comes

nearer in this month,

 I vividly remember her final departure

from these worldly moments.

She expressed her inklings of

leaving her life a few days ago itself. 

Her instincts cautioned her 

and thus she had stopped arguing with all,

keeping dignified grace.

Mummy also maintained a serene face and calm voice,

hiding her years of bodily pain to the people around.

She thought why disturb her loved ones, before her final destination.

And the day came on 26th Jan 2003, when she left for the final abode peacefully

forever in her sleep.

Week 4:

Prompt: Write a poem from the perspective of a shadow in 5-6 lines.

Pavithra Srinivasan -

I am yours and you are mine

I may be unnoticeable to you,

But I am always with you.

You often say you are alone,

Even when you have me.

And the greatest irony is,

You say you are alone, even when

you’re standing right in front of me.

Shilpa Chakravarty -

She walks beside me in the dark,

And hides behind me, in the day.

A companion, who has complained never,

She grew with me, silently, over the years.

Forbidden it is for me, to look at her,

But she is inseparable, and shall remain forever

Until death do us part.

Sunita Menon -

You are never alone, even if you try

A silhouette much like you follows, day

and night

Knowing everything sometimes more than you'd imagine

In joy or sorrow, through darkness or sunshine

From birth onwards till the time you bid goodbyes

I'm your shadow, I promise to be always by your side.

Durriya Sakharwala -

My Missing Shadow.

Blood-strained eyes wait for you

My eyeballs dance in and out

To watch my black silhouette dance.

I, her silhouette move furiously

Inside her grave, to flee on the full moon night

Where’s my prey I wickedly ask?

As the long nails dig deeper

I find my foul supper

Together we now bounce, in a trance

My lost shadow murmurs – Find me if you can.

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• Wordplay Wednesdays  a weekly challenge on Facebook, gives our writers a chance to spin a 100 word story on the given prompt. A prompt that instantly sparks imagination and nudges you to come up with a narrative that can be heartfelt, quirky or even one that leaves the readers with goose bumps.

The winners of January 2026 are -

Week 1:

Prompt: Time pauses for everyone except one person.

Winners -

Shilpa Chakravarty -

A sudden fall in oxygen-level was alarming. Was the pulse-oximeter faulty? Mid of April, new year in Bengali almanac— and two days later there would be a deluge of grief! Lockdown— midnight —an ambulance came for help— 10,000 INR— her last attempt. Suddenly, it started raining. Utter chaos! Government hospital was full—doctors tired— emergency care unavailable. She ran from table to table to complete the paperwork. Everyone had given up. Time had stopped the world around her, but she could buy time, just enough to hold her father’s hand, till he breathed his last. Hope flowed down her eyes.

Jayanthi Kiran -

I struggled to find my way out.  I was met with an eerie silence....a proof of the catastrophe that had happened  earlier.  The bombing had caused unbelievable destruction to life and property. It was a miracle that I had survived.  I managed to claw my way out from the debris.  I limped ahead and  looked around.  The once bustling market space had been reduced to debris.  Bodies lay strewn across the road. Black fumes emitted from the remains, clouding my vision and making me cough uncontrollably.  I wondered was I blessed to survive or cursed to view this disaster.

Week 2:

Prompt: Capture the feeling of harvest -without using the words farm, crop, field or season.

Kalpana Mlacw -

Sia's dream had finally fructified, looking at the marigolds dancing in the sunlight was a joy. As she moved ahead, kashideo offered her freshly crushed sugarcane juice, it was ambrosia. "Sia di, you are coming to our house for Lohri bonfire, aren't you?", an excited Rashi shouted. Sia replied in affirmative. Evening saw her watch the spread of til gajak, jwar ki phuliyaa and moongphali, everything was a product of hard work, she and her team had put in, over the last year. Blessed with ancestral land and armed with an Agriculture degree, she had made the right choice.

Anwesha Bhattacharya -

The tide turned as the sun entered the sign of Capricorn, by the Hindu calendar.The northern hemisphere glowed with a newfound warmth, and the skyline was dotted with migratory birds.

Every home and hearth in India, prepared for the new tidings, with delicacies tingling the tastebuds. Crowds thronged near bonfires, while women and children danced merrily to celebrate the bounties that nature yielded.

Amidst all the fanfare, the kite festival heralded a clear blue sky, inviting everyone to enjoy the festive fervour.

It was a time to let go of grudges and embrace the positive aura!

Nibedita Rajguru -

My hands ploughed through the muddy pot until the soil loosened. I sowed the seeds, watered the pot, and kept it under the sun.

 One day, two green sprouts emerged. I smiled at the plant; the plant smiled back at me. Days passed, and we grew together, holding each other firm. Its branches spread wide as its roots dug deeper, anchoring themselves in the same soil that steadied me.

 In tending the plant, I learned patience, resilience, and care. We drew strength from the earth and light, growing quietly side by side, sustained by time, trust, and shared becoming.

Week 3:

Prompt: Begin and end your piece with the same sentence, but give it a completely new meaning at the end.

Janaki Balsubramanian -

I locked the door behind me. 

Morning smelled of soap and wet roads.  My bag was light. My heart was loud. People said go. I believed them. I thought leaving was strong. 

Years passed fast. The calls became short and rooms felt empty.  I learned how quietness can hurt.

 

Tonight the same door waits. Someone sleeps inside, trusting me.  I breathe slow.

 Staying feels heavy but true. Leaving would be easy and wrong.

 

The night listens, like it knows my name already very well now too.  My hand turns back.  I choose to stay.

 

I locked the door behind me.

Week 4:

Prompt: Write about gratitude without saying thank you.

Janaki Balasubramanian -

I look at nature and learn how to wait. The sun does not rush the morning. The rain does not argue with the soil. Trees stand through heat, storms, and silence, growing in their own time. From them, I learned that delay is not denial. I learned to pause, to breathe, to trust slow progress. When answers did not come, the sky still changed colours. When I felt stuck, seasons kept moving. Nature taught me that patience is not weakness. It is quiet strength. Because of this lesson, I now grow calmer, deeper, and kinder with time.

Marilyn Evans -

In a world crowded with virtual friends and artificial minds,I often pause to wonder whom my heart holds close. It turns toward the universe for protecting me. I always acknowledges auto drivers for  dropping me home safely. Gratitude  to my coach Karuna for believing in women empowerment and giving course in AI and Digital skills; it is building my confidence. I think of my late brother's support at hard times. Gratitude to writing platforms and some friends who encouraged my voice. Finally, a stranger who gave me ten rupees after my purse was stolen during the final year exams.

Charulata Panigrahi -

I had never felt awkward in the new home because of you.You were always by my side.We were of same age and and you became my soul sister.You were a great admirer of me.Years passed. One day the words from your mouth," you should", made me achieve something, I wanted desperately, but apprehensive to take up.You made me proud.

You passed away suddenly making me and your brother heart broken.You are no more, yet wherever you are, you must be thinking of my well being.The best sister-in-law Kanaka, I miss you a lot .

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• Thursday's Titles is a weekly challenge that takes place on, Thursdays, on Content Crafters' Instagram platform. Here we provide a picture prompt and the task is to give it a title in one line, a caption or a quote or a micro-poem. 

We are grateful to all the Crafters who wholeheartedly participate in this challenge every week -consistently.

Winners for the month of January 2026 are:

Week 1:

              

Sujata Maggoo -

             

From cracked soil,

a quiet courage rises

proof that beginnings

don't ask permission,

they simply grow.

Week 2:

            

Bhawana Sethi -

            

One heart beats,

Two lives begin.

The whole world

fits in a small hug!

Shilpa Chakravarty - 

           

In your eyes, I see my childhood,

In my eyes, you see yourself, 

You were my first poem,

My cherub, my heartbeat, my little elf. 

Together we will overcome our failures,

And bring out each other's strength!

Pragyan Parimita Nanda -

           

Pain transforms into pleasure,

A moment to cherish,

A mother is also born,

Bringing new life into the world.

Week 3:

           

Amrin Sathar -

          

Rain painted everything in blue hush,

leaving memories full and benches empty.

Shilpa Chakravarty -

         

Oh! The misty evening's desire, to pen with golden ink,

a tale on the drenched lanes!

Week 4:

          

Bhawana Sethi  -

Sun-dipped. The lake drinks the light, 

until the sun, a burning coin,

is tucked into the pocket of the hills.

Sujata Maggoo - 

The sun melts into water, painting dreams in gold,

where sky and river whisper stories never told.

Pragyan Parimita Nanda  -

Dawn breaks, offering another day to be reborn

and filled with new hope.

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   Poetry corner

Where creativity rhymes! 🎵

Sometimes prose isn't dramatic enough, so we need tiny lines and big feelings.

And some words remain with us forever.....

Sadagi Mushrif -

(Illustration: Sadagi Mushrif)

'Blissful ties'

On a breazy summer night

some time past midnight,

my eyes open. 

I see you, lost in enchanting dreams, of which I could guess a few.

Of all the games we play my favorite is watching you. 

Your twinkling eyes and that naughty smile is what I adore in you. 

Kind, innocent, playful and always ready to ask 'why', 

you are the shining star in my sky. 

With a heart full of gratitude I close my eyes and drift away thanking these blissful ties!

Shashi Thakur -

Year Of Dreams -

Half of January already passed

but I still feel euphoric or enthralled.

As if magic moments have decided

for me to plan realistic goals ahead.

New year starts with challenges new,

fresh perspectives to amend issues few.

I'm at the window to enjoy my coffee brew,

and smile to see tree leaves with dew.

Every year for me is a special gift,

to finish and start afresh passions swift.

Without holding a single grudge and rift,

I bless all and seek inner strength to lift.

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                           Member Book Spotlight 

Where books born from passion are featured with pride! 📘

This is our way of honoring the authors among us- shining a light on their journeys, their books, and the words that deserve to be read far and wide.

We don't just write......We Promote. We Shine. We Inspire.

You'll find new voices, real stories, fresh reads. Supporting creators in our own way.

This month's Spotlight is on Durriya Sakharwala, for her book 'Pouring Poesy'.

Available on Amazon.

Durriya Sakharwala:

I started my writing journey after my son's birth. One day I thought of writing about my motherhood journey and that's how I found back my lost passion to write. 

From Fictional to non-fiction accounts to writing poems I've explored diverse writing genres and have also ventured into content writing. This is my first poetry book.

Writing for me means expression in its best form.

To watch the 'Member Book Spotlight' video,

click here -

Youtube Video

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The Crafting Table

Where conversations spark and ideas simmer!

Every writer carries a different inkpot of thoughts. Here we pour them together -sharing the responses from our polls, weaving many perspectives into one creative conversation.

We had asked the Crafters -

"Writing alone or with a community?"

Durriya Sakharwala - Both.

Amrin Sathar - Alone.

Bhawana Sethi - Writing alone.

Shilpa Chakravarty - Both.

Swati Mohandas - Alone.

Shashi Thakur - Alone.

Pragyan Parimita Nanda - Both! With community enhances more ideas and inspiring too.

Arwa Saifi - Both.

Sheetal Dhandhukia - Alone but with Music.

Priya Gole - Depends on the state of mind.

Poornima Sivaraman - Community.

Marilyn Evans - Both. I write with ideas coming to my mind, community prompts help in getting new ideas to pen down.

Manju Srivastava - With community.

Shirin Munshi - With community.

Nibedita Rajguru - Community.

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  Community Highlights 

Where we relive the buzz of the month!

We have started a new challenge this week  'Insight Shots', every Thursday 9 P.M. to Friday 9 A.M., on WhatsApp community.

-For the crafters who craft their musings in the stillness of the night. 

We gave away badges to few members who caught everyone's attention with their musings.

Prompt - If your heart wrote one line tonight what would it be?

Sujata Maggoo - PROSE PRO: I stopped asking permission to shine, some truths bloom only when claimed.

Vrinda Ramesh - TONE TITAN: I crave no gold, nor glamour, nor fame, for all I'm a poet in vain...These verses, once a part of me, to the world I set them free.

Arwa Saifi - MOONLIT WORDSMITH: At night, my thoughts fall into tune, my pen keeps pace with the moon.

Poornima Sivaraman - INK MASTER: The calmness of this night sparked my throbing mind, to write beautifully.

Bhawana Sethi - PACE PRODIGY: Silent stars above, quiet thoughts within, crafting magic while the world sleeps sound.

Prompt – What if ordinary things started talking back?

Nibedita Rajguru: SENTIMENT WRITER:

a. My pen-

I carry your broken thoughts and

colour it with my blue. Did you feel better?? I ask in silence

b. My pillow-

I will absorb your tears and tiredness

Tomorrow, you wake up to the fresh light.

Poornima Sivaraman: HUMOUR HACKER:

a. I take your weight the whole day, my sofa whispered slowly, 

Have mercy please!

b. My Crochet needle- Thank you so much, you are handling me so well to bring

out your creativity.

c. My Fridge-  "Have mercy and do not stuff me like a soft toy and overload me, I cannot

take it anymore dear".

Shweta Ankur Gupta: TONE TITAN:

a. Pen –

Since days you haveN't held me like you always did,

It's time your thoughts and my flow is in sync.

Arwa Saifi: PHRASE ARCHITECT:

a. The door said, “Open slow or fast - just don’t stay stuck inside the past.”

b. My coffee mug said, “Wake your spine - life starts better after nine.” (9pm)

Amrin Sattar: WORDS OF SOUL:

a. My alarm clock whispered, “You don’t hate mornings. You hate the life you wake up to.”

b. My bed laughed, “You come here to escape, not to rest.”

Ananya Gadade: HEARTFELT SCRIBE:

a. The nightlight mocks me,

"You fear the dark, yet blot out the light in your life. How pitiful".

b. The coffee table tells me,

"Put back your scattered novels. You only cherish their world to escape yours".

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                       'Reigning Queen' 👑 of January 2026 is

                                          Shilpa Charavarty

                                     

This crown goes to you, as your pen ruled supreme across all the prompts of Content Crafters' platforms, winning the maximum spotlights and stealing the show with your creativity. Your words didn't just answer the prompts— they inspired, sparkled, and set the bar high for all of us. Here's to your reign, may the ink in your crown never dry!

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 Interactive Corner

Where creativity gets collaborative! 

This month's '1500 word blog' prompt is -

'I didn't quit, I just took a different route'.

Send in your entries by the end of February 2026 to our email id: contentcrafters03@gmail.com

Last month's prompt for 1500 word blog was -

'What no one tells you about starting something from scratch'.

Here are the beautifully penned entries -----

1. When no one tells you about starting from a scratch.

There is a romance to beginnings. We like to think that that first step is infused with courage, that first day filled with clarity, that first attempt applauded by the universe. Days One are iconic in social media circles, full of lined notebooks and mugs, smiles so bold they are fearless. But no one warns you about the reality of that first day. It’s less like dawn and more like being able to breathe underwater.

I know this because I’ve started many things with just the intention in my pocket—classrooms with no confidence, pages with no words, dreams with no directions. And every time, the truth has unfolded slowly, sometimes in pain, but ever with honesty.

“Nobody warns you that excitement wanes much faster than fear.”

“The first adrenaline rush will wear off in a hurry. After the announcements are made and the congratulating dwindles to a trickle, the silence will follow. This is where the nagging of doubt escalates. You wonder about the wisdom of your decision, the timing of it all, your own skill. The world will not wait for your rebirth. It will spin on in ignorance.”

“No one warns you about the middle, the part where you’ll be lonely, often People applaud at the finish, and they cheer at the start, but the in-between? “That’s where you walk largely unnoticed." It’s a place where Progress isn’t made, where hard work isn’t necessarily followed with reward. It’s a place where you question whether anyone sees you, whether anyone even cares. 

And the loneliness in that place isn’t a result of a failure—it’s a result of something so real it needs to be built in secret before it can be made known

One thing nobody warns you about is the humbling effect of having to begin from scratch.

You are a learner once more. Titles fade away. Experience bends the knee. You will be learning from mistakes that are awkward and embarrassed, asking questions for which you are sure you have the answer. Your ego will revolt, but it is humility that will instruct you far more rapidly than ego will.

“You will not be told how many times you want to quit. Nobody tells you that. 

In no big way. In the background. On normal days when nothing bad happens, but nothing good happens either. Days of slow movement, lower levels of motivation, and mounting responsibilities. Dropping out would seem rational and even smart. "But what keeps you going isn't motivation; it's commitment." "It's the difference between the emotional and the disciplined choice." Develop the disciplined choice.

“Nobody ever told you that comparisons will steal your joy.”

     “Creating Your Own Theology,”

You will look at others who began sooner, who progressed more quickly, who reached further. They will offer a comparison of your mere manuscripts to their defining DVDs. What you will not observe are the struggles they underwent in secret. Comparisons are not good at accounting for time or respecting difference. Your start in life need not resemble anyone else’s success.

Being a beginner, no one warns you that it will change you.

And it’s not only on the outside that the change happens; sometimes the change even happens on the inside. You find yourself being more courageous without even noticing it yourself. You find yourself being stronger without feeling the need to shout about it to the world. You find yourself becoming more patient and resilient and confident without even needing to seek recognition for the same.

No one can prepare you for the fact that the support that arrives may be from the most unexpected sources—or that it won’t arrive at all

Some people you hoped would stand by you won’t. Some strangers will believe in you before members of your own family. This hurts, but it also teaches you discernment. You learn to walk without applause, to ground yourself rather than needing constant support. Belief in self becomes less about a rallying cry and more about survival.

"No one explains that learning self-respect begins with starting from zero." 

You learn to respect your own effort, even if it's not great. You learn to occupy space without waiting for permission. You learn that just showing up takes courage. You learn to measure success, not by how quickly you can accomplish it, but by how honestly you can attempt it.

No one can prepare you for the fact that the support that arrives may be from the most unexpected sources—or that it won’t arrive at all

Some people you hoped would stand by you won’t. Some strangers will believe in you before members of your own family. This hurts, but it also teaches you discernment. You learn to walk without applause, to ground yourself rather than needing constant support. Belief in self becomes less about a rallying cry and more about survival.

And finally—and no one prepares you for this—you will almost suddenly begin to understand it all.

You won’t be crossing any borders in any grand, cinematic fashion, but in subtle alignment. You will look back and see just how far you’ve come, starting with nothing. The scratches you began with will be turned into tales of strength.

Beginning something from scratch has nothing to do with proving the world. It's about meeting yourself, with all the shortcuts removed, with all the certainty removed.

As long as you are standing in the starting point, in uncertainty and anonymity, know this: you are not late. You are a warrior. And each and every step that you make, including the shaking ones, matters.

"Beginnings are not intended to be perfect. Beginnings are intended to be honest. And honesty, in the long run, always builds something that is worthy to stand upon."

So if today feels too much to bear, remember this: everything remarkable you've ever admired started as a fragile concept carried by some resilient soul who refused to quit on a day just like today. You don't have to know it all; you only have to remain. Remain in the doubt, remain in the un knowing, remain in the slow days and the silent victories. One day, someone will look at what you built and call it "inspiring," never knowing how many times you almost walked away. Let this be your silent vow to yourself: I will keep going-not because it's easy, but because my beginning needs a future.

And then when the strength is borrowed and the faith is thin, remind yourself that rest is not defeat. Stopping is a component of the journey. Even the land stands idle between the seasons, finding the courage to grow. And you are permitted to stop and breathe and begin anew without any guilt. And starting from ground zero does not require strength but integrity in simply showing up as you are instead of as you should.

"One day, you will understand that the uncertainty you resented is the reason for your resilience. The unanswered questions led you to learn curiosity. The fragile days led you to understand compassion – for yourself and for others who are rebuilding in the quiet, just as you are. What you're creating might not look loud or legendary yet, but it is grounded, and roots take time to develop in the dark before reaching into the sunlight."

So begins—

There with shaking hands but an upright heart,

Begin where you are, not where you wish you were.

Defeat is a teacher but silence is a companion.

and may the hope of the quiet rebellion of humanity

Since “from scratch” is not empty— its Soil.

- Sujata Maggoo

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2.  What no one tells you about starting something from scratch -

Problems faced when you start anything new.

Yes this  is true, when you

start anything new, how many come for help?

Whether a newly - wed girl enters  her new home, which she adopts as her home life long. Lucky are those girls, who are taught to adjust to her  new environment, her ‘Sasural.’ 

Life of my great grand mothers and our grandmothers or my mother's time. They were

married in their teenage years. They were not educated either. They lived  in a joint family mostly. They must have watched their mothers working hard silently. No-one asked them if they had had their food or not. 

Why were they not educated

about how to start their journey after marriage.?

They learned from their own 

experiences. Many struggled a lot in different  ways as not much support they had. Half  of  their lives were spent on taking care of the children. 

Period of the development of education

In my mother's  time, a very few were educated as all were married early. They were told to adjust in their new home and not to complain. They lived without regret their whole life, that is what I felt in my younger years but now when I am a grandmother, I sit and recollect my early married life. At the  young age of twenty- two , I got  married. Yes, I was lucky to have a  supportive husband and in- laws. In the beginning, when I started cooking, I made a lot of mistakes. My mother_ in _ law told me, “ It is ok to make mistakes and you will learn slowly and become perfect.”  “ One learns with experience. “

That gave me great strength to start from scratch and over the years, I learned all the work and now of course I am good at many things.

I have seen many women friends suffering  silently as there was no one to teach or help them start from the beginning and do the work in a better way. They tried to learn on their own.

If we teach a child to start any work carefully, they can work better and shine in their life.” Mistakes will happen but do not deter but keep trying. One day you will succeed.” Keep boosting yourself and the others even if you have to start from the beginning to get that perfection.

I have taught my children to keep trying till they are satisfied.

When I was a teacher, the young kids of eight- years -old used to get frustrated if their work is not complete or 

They were unable to do their work on time. I used to help them patiently, to start from scratch and persuade them to complete their work and see their smile and happiness on their faces.

When our children's  marriages were fixed, I worried a lot. My husband 

said, “ No need to panic , we will note down each point in a notebook and get the work done.”

Everything  was sorted out as planned. The marriage was conducted well.

My second phase of life, my writing .

During my childhood, I had the habit of writing a journal in a diary which my father used to give me. He had seen me writing my daily activities  in a notebook. This continued till my marriage. After marriage, I was busy settling down in my ‘ New Home’ for 

life long. After my children's  marriage and when I was free after many years, we were in Pune. We shifted to Pune from Patna after my mother- in - law's death. 

My husband was on tour and I felt very lonely. I was a teacher before shifting to Pune. 

My second journey of writing

I started to write my journal once  again. I missed my teaching and my mother- in - law. We had a type-writer and I started to write letters to my son and daughter again. I used to read The Indian Express . I started  to write articles and letters to the  Editor regarding some social issues and send Recipes which were published and I got some cash Award  and I still have those paper cuttings and I am glad to possess them.

My article was published 

In Women's Era.

Later we shifted to Jamshedpur to settle in a smaller and peaceful place.

When the Covid period started, all were jailed at home. When all the doors close, God opens another door. I found a writing Platform, Momspresso started by Chanpreet Kaur.

Oh! I started from scratch to write my blogs and was happy to start and share my thoughts on the beautiful  prompts. 

I could read many bloggers' wonderful  writings.Each of us learned from each other. 

I could get many tops and slowly improved my writing.

I gained confidence too and slowly found  more platforms like Asian Literary Society and The Momclan.

A relative helped me to make my own blog items. I wrote many blogs and many appreciated  my writings. This gave me a boosting to keep  writing 

There is no looking back now since 2023enjoyed  Open mic and learned to use Zoom and Canva.

Zoom meeting also, I picked up slowly.

My storytelling journey.

I became one of the Ambassadors in the Spectrum Awareness Group. They conducted Poetry Reading and Story telling sessions where I narrated my poems and my stories.

I enjoyed  doing all these things. I was appreciated for these achievements.

With my husband and children's and my blogger friend's encouragement, I gathered courage and wrote fifteen short stories for children which had a moral value at the end of each story. I am happy  to get it launched on my 75th birthday and many bought the books and the book got a good review on Amazon.

My life's greatest achievement. 

Will Power

I feel if anyone has the determination to achieve anything in their life, nothing is impossible. No age can stop anyone. Will power and support of the family should be there. One has to keep their mind , eyes,and ears open to look for any topic or prompt given.

Try to grab the opportunity and keep writing.

Nothing can stop them. Beginners like me, should take the help of trusted friends  and keep writing.

Now when many tell me, “ You have improved a lot and we love your writing.”

This boosts me to keep writing my mind out.

Reading books and winning many books, is helping me to improve my thoughts and write in all genres. 

I am happy at my elderly age, I found a way to keep myself busy , writing on some platforms and have  penned my thoughts in some Antoropod. I have four books in my  hand . I am happy to read the other's  writings and learn to improve my writing.

Things happen if you have a determined action and will to

do anything.

Writing too, one should keep 

penning regularly. The flow will come automatically and one can write more words and  may publish a Novel if they attempt.

Reading more books of all genres also helps a lot. Different Authors  have their own pattern to write. So reading regularly many books either buying them or

visiting a library and spending some time reading books can bring up more ideas. Specially for a new writer, to write from scratch, 

It would  be a great help.

My writing journey

I have done all these. Many good regular writers help me by sharing points to start a blog and how to go about it.

I think and put them in my thoughts and write.

My 1st book as an Author, many have  bought and still some  are buying.

I have not kept my book in any Book Exhibition but recently it will  be kept in two libraries, one in a big society library in Bangalore and the other in a school library in Jamshedpur.

Oh! This is one of my greatest achievements as many children and people will be reading my fifteen short, moral valued stories and  hope they enjoy reading them.

My next  bucket list is to publish my  short poems, I have written and am still writing. Maybe this year or anytime God blesses me.

I consider myself as a beginner and I know I have to travel a long distance to reach perfection and get recognized as a good writer.

I have that confidence in me, that I can achieve my goal. I write daily, so that I can boost myself and get that mental strength I can gather to improve my writing to the next level..

In conclusion, I will request each person who wants to start or think of writing, just chill and start writing small notes in your diary and small letters and blogs on any topic.

Happy writing and enjoy your work first and the others would love them. 

Lastly, never lose hope.

Hope is a great moral boost to yourself. 

Be connected with writer 

friends.

Being in touch with fellow writers and reading their posts, getting your writing reviewed, helps you.

- Poornima Sivaraman.

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3. From Scratch

No one really talks about the silence.

Not the peaceful kind you imagine when you picture beginnings, but the awkward, ringing quiet that follows the announcement: “I’ve decided to start something of my own.” There are smiles, polite nods, maybe a few encouraging words - and then, nothing. Life moves on for everyone else, while yours suddenly feels paused at a starting line no one is watching.

Starting from scratch is often romanticised as courage, passion, or a bold leap of faith. What is rarely spoken about is how lonely, unsure, and painfully ordinary it can feel in the early days.

I learnt this the hard way.

When I decided to begin my journey as a writer - truly begin, with consistency and purpose - I didn’t have a grand plan. There was no publisher waiting, no viral post, no guarantee of recognition. There was only a notebook, an old laptop that took five minutes to boot, and a quiet determination born out of years of being unheard.

The first thing no one tells you is this: your excitement will fade long before your results appear.

In the beginning, motivation comes easily. You wake up early, filled with ideas. You promise yourself discipline. You tell yourself this time will be different. But then reality steps in. The views don’t come. The likes stay painfully low. Emails go unanswered. Days pass where it feels as though you are speaking into a void.

I remember publishing my first few pieces online. I refreshed the page endlessly, hoping for some validation. A comment. A share. Anything to confirm that my words had landed somewhere beyond my own screen. Most days, there was nothing. Just me, my thoughts, and the creeping doubt that maybe I wasn’t good enough after all.

Another thing no one warns you about is how personal failure feels when you’re building something of your own.

If a job doesn’t work out, you can blame the organisation. If an exam goes poorly, you can blame the syllabus or the system. But when something you created doesn’t succeed, there is nowhere to hide. It feels like a direct judgement of your ability, your worth, your dreams.

There were moments when I questioned everything. The writing, the effort, the late nights. I watched others move ahead - some with fewer skills but better connections, some simply luckier. Comparison crept in quietly and settled heavily. And it hurt, because starting from zero means you notice every gap, every shortfall, every missed opportunity.

What no one also tells you is that support often arrives late - after you no longer need it as badly.

In the beginning, people are sceptical. “Let’s see how long this lasts.” They might not say it aloud, but you feel it. Advice is freely given, rarely helpful. Encouragement is conditional. Once you show consistency, once there is some visible progress, the same people begin to cheer. But by then, you have already survived the hardest part alone.

I often think about the days when I wrote despite exhaustion and self-doubt. Nobody applauded those moments. There were no milestones to announce. Yet those unseen days built the foundation for everything that followed.

Starting from scratch teaches you discipline in ways no textbook can. You learn to show up even when motivation disappears. You learn that passion isn’t loud or dramatic - it is quiet persistence. It is choosing to continue when quitting would be easier and socially acceptable.

Another truth rarely spoken about is this: starting small can bruise your ego.

You dream big, but your beginnings are modest. Sometimes embarrassingly so. You may have qualifications, experience, or years of unrecognised effort behind you, yet you find yourself asking for opportunities that feel beneath what you imagined for your future.

I have filled forms I never thought I would. Sent emails that were never replied to. Accepted platforms that didn’t pay, simply because they offered exposure or experience. Each time, I reminded myself: this is not where I will stay - it is only where I am starting.

There is also a strange emotional contradiction that comes with beginning anew. You are both hopeful and terrified at the same time. Hope keeps you going; fear keeps you stuck. Fear of wasting time. Fear of failure. Fear that you will look back years later and realise you should have chosen a safer path.

And yet, something within you refuses to settle.

Another thing no one tells you is that starting from scratch forces you to confront yourself. Your discipline. Your excuses. Your resilience. You can no longer blame circumstances entirely. You begin to notice your patterns - when you procrastinate, when you underestimate your own strength etc.

Growth is slow at the beginning. Painfully slow. Like watching grass grow while everyone else seems to be running.

But this is where the real transformation happens.

Because one day, almost quietly, something shifts.

Maybe it’s one message from a stranger who says your words mattered. Maybe it’s a small opportunity that arrives unexpectedly. Maybe it’s simply the realisation that you have become more confident, more consistent, more rooted than you were before.

For me, it was realising that I no longer needed applause to continue. I had learnt to trust my process. I had learnt that my journey did not need to look impressive to be meaningful.

Starting from scratch also teaches you humility. You learn to ask for help. You learn to listen. You learn that success is rarely linear. There are pauses, detours, setbacks - and they are not signs to stop but signals to adapt.

What no one tells you is that the version of you who survives the beginning is far stronger than the version who dreamt about starting. Dreams are beautiful, but endurance is powerful.

Today, when people say, “You’ve come so far,” they don’t see the nights of doubt or the mornings of exhaustion. They don’t know how close I came to quitting. And that’s okay. The journey was never meant to be understood by everyone.

If you are starting something from scratch right now - a business, a book, a dream - know this: the struggle you are in is not a sign that you are failing. It is a sign that you are building.

Beginnings are not glamorous. They are messy, silent, and deeply uncomfortable. But they are also honest. They strip you down to your intentions and ask one simple question: Do you want this badly enough to continue without validation?

If your answer is yes, keep going.

One day, the silence will be replaced with quiet confidence. And you will look back, grateful that you didn’t quit when nobody was watching.

Author’s Note

This piece was written from lived experience and quiet moments of reflection. It does not come from a place of theory or inspiration quotes, but from the uncomfortable, uncertain days that come with building something from nothing. The doubts, the silence, the waiting, and the perseverance described here are real - and ongoing.

Starting from scratch has taught me more than success ever could. It taught me patience when I wanted speed, humility when I wanted recognition, and faith when logic offered none. If this blog resonates with you, know that it was written for those who continue to show up even when no one is watching.

Every beginning matters, even the invisible ones.

- Arwa Saifi

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4. The Big and Awkward Bouncers

What no one tells you about is that it is absolutely alright to ‘have’ feelings, especially the ‘bad’ ones. Gender or age has nothing to do with them. However, they shouldn't overpower you. You can accept your big and hard feelings and emotions, show your gratitude to them (remember, they visit you to teach you an important lesson!), and learn to release them. As you do so, they gradually reduce in intensity.

Don't wait till silent endurance becomes a deadly killer. Take steps NOW.

Let me explain,

Anger knocks! Most often due to the king-size ego, you immediately absorb and react in the most unruly manner. You try to tightly hold it, but in the process you are badly injuring yourself. If you fail to vent it out, you simply suppress it. The continuous repression makes you a ticking bomb. Either way as the day proceeds, you only feel heavy and uneasy. Soon, you fall into the loop, and it starts destroying your present.

Next time it knocks, first of all, be aware. Don't be hesitant or afraid. Stay mindful. Let it come. Now, treat it as your guest. Give it a name- a bully or a rock, anything that comes to your mind. Imagine it sitting before you like a human. Look into its eyes and talk to it gently,

“I accept you as you are (very important). I know you have come for.. state the reason clearly (this step requires complete honesty). Now that I have recognised you (remember! Those childhood hide and seek games!), you are powerless. With love and gratitude I let you go (imagine releasing a big balloon, and blow with full force.!).”

Inhale, hold and exhale for some minutes. You can even try EFT and chanting OM, Ho’oponopono or any prayer of your choice or open one on youtube and listen. Pen whatever you are going through on a paper. Crush it first, burn it and then release the ashes.

Are you still feeling under its control? Go to your washroom, fill the bucket to the brim. Inhale deeply and dip your head. Now, scream and then flush the water. You are bound to feel better. After that you can light up a candle, an incense stick, and turn on some grooving music.

This technique goes well for almost all your mega bouncers- anxiety, panic, frustration, depression! Even if you are ‘just’ feeling ‘low’, immediately sense it, and start feeding your mind with happy thoughts. Keep the phone out of reach, and maybe simply move your body or stare at the trees outside.

You may find it odd and logically deviating. However, most need to be felt with the heart. Trust me, you can take every step (without hurting yourself and others) for your peace. Do all logical methods give accurate answers and solve them perfectly? Don't we act ‘weird’ or go out of our way to instill good habits in our children? Furthermore, this is far better than falling prey to loathsome addictions, popping pills and temporarily shutting down your system.

Once you acknowledge all your emotions unabashedly you slowly but steadily bring your mind under your control. This has a tremendous positive impact on you. When the mind is calm and healed your physical body picks up. You become the smoldering wick.

Look around carefully, and you will be surprised to discover how truly blessed you are. Nevertheless, you allow yourself to be coated with dust and filth. Do you think wiping the mirror in front of you will bring clarity to your life? Don't you need to brush off the accumulated dust from yourself?

- Amrita Mallik

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        Closing Notes

Another edition comes to an end, but the inspiration continues.

What started as a small idea— a home for creative souls— is now a growing tapestry of voices, colours, and courage. May the stories linger a little longer. 

Until next time, keep crafting stories that only you can tell. Keep your Ink flowing and your Insight glowing.

- Team Content Crafters.

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