Finding Voice in a World of Metrics: Insights from The Art of Creative Writing
Recently, the Symbiosis Centre for Research in Media and Creative Industries marked the publication of Professor Ramesh Menon’s book The Art of Creative Writing. The event was more than a formal book launch — it became a tribute to Menon’s amazing journey as a journalist, author, educator and mentor. Faculty and student alike touched on personal stories of his discipline, consistency, and uncompromising belief in the transformative power of journalism. As an adjunct professor at the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC), Menon has inspired generations of students to view writing not only as the professional skill but also as a way of personal practice (writing as a practice of creativity, resilience and empathy). The session was a reminder of the reasons behind why we need writing in a world often defined by speed, metrics and efficiency.
One of the common threads of the conversation was misconception about writing being an inborn talent. Menon instead emphasized that writing is a skill that’s developed through practice, dedication and discipline. Writing, he noted, helps with communication and critical-thinking, while being also a form of emotional healing. Drawing from his own journey and the stories of others, he illustrated the potential of writing as both a therapeutic and life-changing activity. A memorable story about Picasso highlighted his point as he says that creative mastery is not born overnight, but has to be nurtured from years of experiences and persistence. Reflecting on a past work environment where meetings were lengthy and one-sided, Menon gave a vivid account of how he would write secretly about fiction during such hours — a playful act that turned out to be a very powerful creative exercise. Out of this experience came 14 methods for stimulating creativity from writing letters to your future self to drawing a “life tree” or even practicing the art of “doing nothing.” He identified the practice of solo travel, morning pages, and goal-listing as ways for people to shake things up and recall their creative powers.
Another main concept delved into was that of empathy in storytelling. Menon referred to how you need to listen, observe and connect with kindness when writing effectively. While empathy can be a difficult thing — especially in bad situations — it also happens to be what makes writing authentic and relatable. He also gave practical advice: build resilience, boundary checking and remember the power of ‘showing, not telling’ in building characters. This technique, he proposed, enables readers to have more depth of connection with a narrative. The event included narratives centring on the interplay of discipline, defiance and resilience. The story of Aditya, who opted to defy his father’s dream of seeing him become a professor and instead wanted to pursue the field of management, showed how personal struggles could develop into interesting character patterns. Similarly, Radhika’s experience of being asked to resign despite her loyalty and hard work emphasised the human costs of corporate cost-cutting. Together, these stories helped drive home Menon’s point that getting inside the lives of characters — capturing the emotions, silences, and non-verbal cues that their faces give off, helps make a story (or collection of stories) richer and more impactful.
The discussion also addressed the recent state of AI in content creation. While recognizing the usefulness of AI as a research tool and an assistance tool, Menon warned against accepting it as a substitute for human creativity. He argued that what gives writing its unique power is emotion, empathy and lived experience — all of which machines cannot replicate. Reflecting on a Japanese author who unveiled that they had written just 5% of their novel (with the aid of technology propping up the rest), Menon reasoned the shifting contours of content creation. Yet he stressed how important it was to develop one’s unique voice: originality may not be commonplace; but authenticity is indispensable. Closing the session, Menon asked writers to be structure-oriented while writing fiction. Detailed character sheets, clear outlines of plots and intention to plan, he suggested, offered a strong basis for creativity to flourish. Citing his own experience of 10,000 words of writing without structure — and only later feeling the need to rewrite as he gathered letterform after letterform — he reminded students that creativity benefits from not only freedom, but discipline.
The reading session of The Art of Creative Writing was not only the occasion for celebration of Professor Menon’s new book, but an invitation to ponder on writing as a life-long practice. From empathy to structure, from traveling alone to disciplined daily effort, the session provided a useful tool box as well as philosophical insights to anyone wishing to write. At SCRMCI, where the media and communications are fundamental to academic and professional life, Menon’s words struck home. Writing, he reminded us, is not all about making content — it’s about finding voice, building empathy, and developing meaning.
