Husain Journal

Whether one admits it or not, it happens all the time. We look at a huge project and feel that wave of cold dread washing over our bones. I’m going to tell you a shameful secret about myself. It could ruin the little reputation that I have, but let it come. Years ago, I started writing a huge novel, but the tyranny of the project overwhelmed me. So I gave up on it. Did I just tell you that I failed? Exactly. I had just started my 21-kilometre run when I felt a heaviness on my chest. The enormity of the distance for an untrained person like me was powerful enough to wipe out all the motivation. Yes, I tell you, right on your face, I had wanted to crawl back into bed. I felt the game’s over. Finish. But I told myself to keep running, even if I didn’t reach the target. And so, I kept at it. As far as my novel is concerned, well, I couldn’t complete it, but I wrote two books and covered huge distances in marathons. And wh...

Have you ever sat down to write without a specific topic in mind? I often do this, and while it might sound unstructured, I’ve found that it leads me to some of my most valuable insights. Today, I decided to give myself a ten-minute writing session without a clear plan, just to see where it takes me. For me, this approach isn’t just about filling the page — it’s a way to break free from predictability. I’ve realised that in writing, painting, or any creative pursuit, breaking away from what’s ordinary is essential. People, including myself, seem to enjoy variety. When everything feels too predictable, people tend to lose interest, and the effort can start to feel ignored. That said, I’ve also discovered that finding the right balance between novelty and familiarity isn’t always straightforward. While surprises in creative work can keep things fresh, too much of it might feel overwhelming or disconnected. For instance, in my own writing,...

Here’s the thing about hiccups: they’re often disguised as opportunities. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that every moment — good or bad — has something to teach us. Yes, some days, no matter how much we plan, life throws curveballs. Today was one of those days for me. Half the day has passed by, and I’m finding myself mentally drained, feeling as though I hadn’t accomplished anything concrete. Yet, as I reflect on the day, I realize it wasn’t a complete waste — far from it. A Slow Start with a Bright Spot The day began with a small but meaningful success: I offered my morning prayers on time. It was a quiet moment of gratitude and reflection, setting the tone for a promising day — or so I thought. But soon, the sluggishness set in. Despite my initial enthusiasm to write and hit a thousand-word target, I struggled to focus. Restlessness crept in, and my productivity felt like it had hit rock bottom. ...

For the past several days, I haven’t allowed myself the luxury of writing freely. Today, before diving into anything else, I’ve decided to hit the keys and reach at least 500 words. If I manage to cross 1,000 words, that’ll be a delightful bonus — but I’m not setting my sights on that just yet. Why? Because aiming too high can often feel discouraging. Instead, I strive to find a balance between setting a challenging goal and keeping it within reach. This balanced approach is something I’ve honed over time. Tasks that are overly ambitious can drain motivation because they feel insurmountable, while tasks that are too easy fail to provide the thrill of accomplishment. Striking a middle ground helps me stay motivated and ensures that I don’t fall into the traps of burnout or complacency. The Power of Balance in Goal-Setting 1. Confidence in Consisten...

I’ll reward myself with a cup of tea after pouring down my thoughts in writing. Today, I don’t have a specific topic in mind to write about. Not having a clear focus might seem like a disadvantage, but when I look at it differently, I realize it's actually a blessing. Why is it a blessing? Because without a specific topic, I’m free to express my thoughts as they come to me. This often sparks my creativity in unexpected ways. Many of my blog posts have come from this kind of free, mindful writing. It’s also a therapeutic exercise for my mind, helping me calm the mental rush and clear away the clutter. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There’s more to life than just increasing its speed.” In today’s fast-paced world, the advice to slow down carries more weight than ever. So, I’m grateful for an activity that not only helps ...

Resistance: The Hidden Force Keeping Us Stuck There’s a quiet but powerful force inside us that sabotages our best efforts to create meaningful change. It’s resistance — and it’s always lurking in the background, making us second-guess, hesitate, and even procrastinate on the things that matter most. Resistance isn’t just something writers face when they hit a creative block. It’s universal. Whether you’re launching a business, changing careers, or diving into any big, bold project, resistance is there. It whispers doubts into your mind: What if this doesn’t work? What if I’m not ready? It wraps your heart in fear, holding you back when you’re on the edge of greatness. And what happens next? We freeze. We stagnate. We stand at the threshold, stuck in place, too scared to leap forward. But here’s the twist — deep down, we don’t want to stay stuck. We want to feel like we’ve done something , like we’ve taken the plunge, like we’ve c...

It’s weird, isn’t it? You’ve got all the time in the world. You’ve got exciting projects lined up, just waiting to be tackled. But… You can’t seem to fire up your engines. You can’t even get the car rolling. You tell yourself that if you push through and get to work, you’ll feel fulfilled, make money, and even take a step closer to the dreams that stir your soul. But that pep talk? It falls flat. It fizzles out like a dud firecracker, despite all the right words. And what do you do next? You start thinking you’re lazy. Unmotivated. Maybe you’re just not cut out for it. Your passion’s drained, and your enthusiasm feels like it’s vanished into thin air. But then, you remember—you’ve been here before. You’ve faced tough spots like this, some even worse. That thought gives you a little comfort, but it doesn’t quite ignite the spark—the one where the words flow effortlessly,...

Writing with Ease As I sit here writing, I'm striving for ease. I'm not forcing the words—I'm letting them flow. To make this writing process a breeze, I need to think about something light and freeing. Maybe a vacation or a retreat in the woods, surrounded by nothing but nature. A change of scene, something refreshing. And that’s the beauty of imagination—it can transform everything. It can shift the way you write, the way you express yourself, and even the way you feel about writing itself. Now, take a moment and imagine you're actually in that serene atmosphere. Picture yourself sitting in the woods or on a sun-drenched beach, breathing in the fresh air. Can you feel the calm? The clarity? It’s like a reset for your brain. Imagine the impact that environment would have on your writing. It’s not hard to guess. Writing can be fun. It doesn’t have to be this heavy, stressful task. The tone you choose—light or heavy—mak...

Great Writers and Their Craft Great writers are clear thinkers, driven by an insatiable desire to be heard. They write not to appease doubts, but to pour their thoughts onto the page, often without even realizing the act of writing itself. In that flow, they trust their instinct, yet they know the first draft is rarely perfect. Their words require constant rewriting, editing, and refining until they achieve the right form. Writing is tough. And when faced with challenges, it helps to remember this simple truth: writing is difficult precisely because it demands so much. But that’s the reality of it—and great writers accept that struggle as part of the process. What sets great writers apart is the space they create in their minds, reflected in the clarity and rhythm of their sentences. They don’t just write about a topic—they infuse their personality into their writing. Readers are drawn not just by the subject matter, but by the ...

Feel your writing confidence hitting a snag? Take heart. It happens with everyone. Implementing these 6 writing tips will instantly put your swag at the next level. 1. Hate the gentleman who focuses on data You’re talking to people, not presenting thesis. Readers don’t want you to bombard them with empirical facts and figures. Don’t sermonise. Tell ‘em a story and tie data in it to prove your point. Don’t underestimate the power of storytelling. It has always touched our souls and will continue to do so forever. 2. Hate introductions An artist isn’t a respecter of conventional rules. She bends them. Shun conventional introductions: Firstly, it may be mentioned that the deep importance of technology is felt by everyone, no matter whatever field you belong… In the beginning, we would like to state that the issue of health has become a major concern for everyone, and therefore… During present times, we know the fact that inflation is soaring, and consequentl...

"I only write when I'm inspired, so I see to it that I'm inspired every morning at nine o'clock." Peter De Vries Yesterday while I was cradling my daughter to sleep, I played a podcast by Seth Godin called Akimbo. (Podcasts and audiobooks are great timesavers!) Seth talked about writer’s block, and condemned it completely. He said that there’s no such thing like plumber’s block or engineer’s block, but people say that they’re going through writer’s block. Having balked down repeatedly by the same sentiment, after listening to Seth's podcast, it has got clear to me that writer’s block is a clever way of saying that I’m not afraid of putting my work in public, but there’s an internal problem, beyond my reach, which is impeding me to go forth. It’s also a smart way of saying that we’re willing to engage in hard work, but a mysterious problem of our mind is preventing us from doing so. The naked truth though? We're scared. Scared of be...

Ever found yourself avoiding projects that entail risks of failure and mind-racking work? Yeah, I’m talking of work that you put up to be reviewed and judged. Not the work that you tinker around with to fill up your time with a ‘productive’ activity – which is for the sheer sake of practice. Not the work that you know you would shove away so that it gets lost in the dark gulf of obscurity. Here I rather am talking of work that stands the hair-raising risk of rejection, failure, condemnation. Work in which you squeeze out your heart and soul and blood. Not 100% sure if you thirst for risk and are prepared to be slapped with rejection even after putting out your best – but I confess here that yes, I try several crutch activities to avoid work that entail risk and toil. This is the reason why before publishing on my blog, I feel hesitant – because I fully know that my work would be up there to come under people’s scrutiny. I instead prefer to read something which melts away...

And the question without further delay– What if you get only 4 hours a day for working? Not a minute more. 4 hours mean 4 hours – working for a minute more is going to give you a heart attack. Sound foolish? But the truth is that throwing on yourself challenging questions and then letting your mind answer them brings you incredibly closer to success. As your mind kicks around in hammering out solutions, you uncover a cluster of mind-quickening tactics implementing which amazingly ramps up your progress. I habitually ask myself challenging questions. By the time I get their answers, I hit upon an eye-glittering treasure trove filled with gems that can speed up my progress manifold. Recently I asked myself: How am I going to work if I have only 4 hours a day to focus on my writing? The following solutions bubbled up to the surface. And though I primarily focus on ‘writing,’ you can replace it with ‘work’ or to whatever you want to fill the blank with. 1. Putting...

Will it surprise you if I tell you that you already have everything you require to get successful? For a moment, it might even look ludicrous to you. But maybe, by the time you reach the end of this post, you might get convinced of your foolish, imaginary fears that are holding you back in the trenches you have forged for yourself. Maybe by the end of this post you’ll get convinced that you don’t need more talent, more skills, more connections, more of nothing which you’re presently hoping for… To your astonishment, you might instead uncover that what you need is to break your mental barriers, the ghosts and enemies for success that you have housed in your heart. Ready? Just bear with me for I’m going to be harsh and brutally honest with you. Your fears! 1. You fear hard work Admit it, you could be not working with your full potential because you fear hard work. This is the case with me. If I argue with myself honestly, I’ll know that I could have performed man...

Is writing really hard? I think so, but if we practise it since our very childhood, it can get natural for us. We rarely and very rarely feel a hurdle in talking. But if we’re asked to write what we talk, we’ll begin to feel an obstruction. My daughter is of 2 years, and it’s a real struggle for her to speak. She hems and haws and gasps and checks herself multiple times before uttering 1 little broken word. This is with all the children. But as they touch the age of 3, you can’t keep them from talking and twittering and cheeping about all those innocent nothings. Do we ever tell them that talking is tough? That it’s meant just for a tiny privileged few? That they’ll have to be really lucky and talented and gifted to learn it? No. Never. But this isn’t so with writing. Well-intentioned teachers and parents tell us that writing is terribly complex. In writing, they say, we need to care deeply about punctuating and spellings and all those cobwebby rules of semantics....

“Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.” Rumi It would be just the right thing to bravely put up my writing on the blog, and let people judge. Certainly, some folks aren’t going to find my posts useful, but for their sake I can’t hold myself back in the trenches. It’s said that a tiny minority of likers of a product make it super popular. Therefore I need to keep this truth in mind that only a tiny minority will appreciate my posts; not everyone is going to get bewitched. In truth, it’s not even practical. If I’m honestly and thoroughly honing my craft of writing, it’s appreciable because I’m doing something worthwhile. But amid this hustle and bustle of burnishing my craft, I must see to it that my passion to amass more money and power doesn’t go overboard. The desire for money and power has to be in proper limits because it’s the pomp and glitter of this desire which blindfold people. Yes, it makes us careerists, ambi...

Ever noticed how few writers draw so vivid images by their writing as if you were watching a film? Ever smelled that mouldy basement odour, setting your teeth in the creamy coatings of that thick chocolate, hearing the screeching of that broken bench, and felt like writing with the same appeal? Well, I’m intrigued by the idea of showing images in my writing instead of just furnishing information. Painting moving images through our writing connects to our unconscious mind and addressing all the senses of our reader. “When you trust images to do the work for you, most of what spills on to paper is unconscious.” Adair Lara Want talking about twinkling stars? Instead of telling that the stars were twinkling, show their reflection on the rippling waters. Drawing pictures on paper isn’t that easy. It requires a great effort of our concentration, of being present in the moment to observe things around. If we're saying that ‘The weather was inclemently cold,’ we...

Maybe you would have come across a great advice and had even felt its fascinating merits tapping the core of your heart. But, lack of implementation or mental laziness – or whatever you call it – had kept you from plucking its fruitage. The same happened with me when long time back I heard the super successful blogger Jon Morrow advising his readers to give subheads to their pieces. To my joy, recently I was shaken by the idea of doing whatever is presently in our hands to scale up our progress, so I started to take this top tip in earnest. Here’re 6 benefits that come when we begin to use subheads in our works: 1. They give clarity to the reader William Zinsser said that the reader’s subconscious need is for order and to feel that everything is fine at the helm. If this need of his remains unfulfilled, he feels deprived of the clarity that he searches for. He feels put off and looks at the nearest opportunity to click away from the piece. With proper subheads, poi...

Want to make your points stickier and more impressionable? Tie them up with something which the reader is so familiar with that he can feel it like the beating of his heart. Because he knows in his bones how hard is a rock, he will quickly grasp what’s it to have a rock-solid confidence. Because he knows like the flow of his blood how pure is the morning dew, he will better understand it if you liken it to a lady’s tears. Branching out from the same tree of comparison, metaphors, similes and analogies are 3 fruits of language, as old as expressions. They’re figures of speech, so anchored in our daily talks, that we don’t even notice that we’re pulling them out. If sprinkled with care, they add juice and flavour to the prose. But if they get in the hands of those who know not how to use them, they’re like blunt blades that don’t trim the grass neatly – instead they make it look untidy. Talking about the difference between metaphors and similes: A metaphor says A is B, w...

I think and talk enough about how to improve myself. I do the same about shedding my unproductive activities. It’s not that I’m not implementing what I’m reading, but it feels that there’s more that I need to do to ramp up my improvement further. I also feel that brooding all the time about improvement and success can turn counterproductive. I must have days when I should write only for pleasure. Writing can be a great pastime to entertain my mind. These days I have written quite a bit, and now I’m feeling like putting it down for some time, maybe for a day. Today I don’t feel like writing on my blog, but the word that I have inadvertently omitted needs to be put back because it’s rendering the entire sentence meaningless. Had it been a typo, I could have afforded to go without changing, but it’s a clear mistake, and this is the reason why I have to set it right forthwith. No matter however much I strive to write lightly, it happens that I feel a heaviness in my heart when it...