Amrita C
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amritac.bsky.social
Amrita C
@amritac.bsky.social
230 followers 110 following 360 posts
Writer, stuck in an unholy mesh of buildings and spreadsheets. Lover of dictionaries. Hot chicken enthusiast.
Also this - https://amritachowdhury.com
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amritac.bsky.social
A teeny tiny excerpt from the manuscript with the word "shirt" in it. Flashback chapter that shines on the MMC's parents and background.

#WIPSnips #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #AmEditing #AmWriting
An excerpt from the novel the Song of Half Written Lives
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Printing out my manuscript to get a fresh look at it, feels...surreal. Like whose work is this? Someone wrote all of this?
Gearing up for a full weekend of DIY projects and supporting artist friends at Handmade Chelsea 2025.

#amediting #amwriting #writingcommunity #fictionwriting #5amwritersclub
November 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Haven't done these in a while. A quick excerpt from my WIP with the word "push" in it, where the MCs are talking about growing old.

#WriteSky #WIPSnips #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingPrompts #AmEditing
A quick excerpt from my WIP with the word "push" in it, where the MCs are talking about growing old.
October 13, 2025 at 9:09 AM
amritac.bsky.social
A year ago, I scribbled a quick note on some paperwork during a random work meeting (photo 1). I had only just started on the first draft of my manuscript.

And now I have beta reader comments like these.

#amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #writesky #5amwritersclub
October 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
amritac.bsky.social
The thing about being south asian is you could have a massive bowl of rice for breakfast and no one will bat an eye.
In other news, it's okay to add more chapters/scenes to your manuscript even if it's at draft 4. Anything for the story.

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writesky #amediting #fiction
September 7, 2025 at 10:08 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Well, I missed #5amwritersclub. But here, take a look at this scrumptious English I had for breakfast today.
50% edits done to Draft 4.
I don't want to speak too soon, but maybe I'll be ready to query in the new year.

#amwriting #writerslife #writingcommunity #amediting #writesky #fiction #writing
September 2, 2025 at 10:23 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Working in the coffee shop today. Quick-sketched a few passersby. My betas are now done with Act 1. All the simultaneous editing has been hectic and glorious.

Do you edit simultaneously or do you wait for all feedback to get in first?

#amediting #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity
August 31, 2025 at 9:11 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Portrait drop! Veera Sen, my FMC.

Did this while still on my first draft. Yes, I'm out of practice. Might be nice to get a professional to do it. But then, I can hold her in my head and I'm not writing fantasy/sci-fi, so maybe this is enough?

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writesky #characterart
Portrait drop! Veera Sen, my FMC. Did this while still on my first draft. Yes, I'm out of practice. Might be nice to get a professional to do it. But then, I can hold her in my head and I'm not writing fantasy/sci-fi, so maybe this is enough?
August 12, 2025 at 10:54 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Small excerpt from my short story Captain Asterix that was published in Apricity Magazine this year, on not knowing how to grieve what you never had.

The story is here - apricitymagazine.com/portfolio/ca...

#amwriting #shortstories #literaryjournal #writingcommunity #writesky #writing
excerpt from a short story called "Captain Asterix" in Apricity magazine, written by Amrita Chowdhury
August 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
amritac.bsky.social
A small excerpt from a WIP I barely talk about but is very close to my heart, that has the word "positively" in it.

#AmWriting #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WIP #WIPSnips #BookExcerpts #Writingprompts #NovelWritng #Fiction
A small excerpt from a WIP I barely talk about but is very close to my heart, that has the word "positively" in it. They were good. Fucking good, he thought, as Terry would say. Positively smashing, as Dad would say. Not that Terry or Dad would ever be seen near a samosa. Some of the crisp pastry got stuck in the corners of Chris’s braces. He’d dig them out later. The potatoes and peas filling inside burnt his throat. Made him wince in pain. The spice made him sweat. But he crammed it in his mouth. He bit into a corner of the second one and steam escaped in a wispy curl from its insides. Harpreet giggled softly. “Your ears go red when you eat spicy food.” He lunged forward, grabbed her pigtail and gave it a yank. She swatted at him furiously. He stood a foot taller and her short, pudgy arms were no match for his skin-over-bone limbs. A dinner roll trying to wrestle a breadstick. – The Severed (WIP)
August 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Some days are blanket hopelessness.

And other days are like this 👇

#amediting #betareaders #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity
This section is fantastic. You've nailed the banter, the power dynamics, and the characterizations of both Veera and Sameer. If Elmore Leonard was still alive, he would be giving you two thumbs up for the dialogue. The characters are fantastic, the dialogue is sparkling and the underlying tension is palpable. This is incredibly strong and a joy to read!
August 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Been quietly working on a project for my local writing group - an extensive Notion template of an "author's dashboard" that allows management of all projects in one place, from start to finish.

Super excited that it's complete now! 😍

#amwriting #amediting #writingtools #writingcommunity #writesky
Notion template, writing tool for authors looking to manage all projects in one place, from start to finish.
July 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
amritac.bsky.social
I hereby declare that I will spend the rest of the day basking in the glory of a super-excited beta reader leaving a super-flattering comment on a part of Ch 2, even when she and I both think it could do with some more interiority.

#amediting #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #betareaders
July 24, 2025 at 12:40 PM
amritac.bsky.social
I am going to post comments from my betas.
Randomly.
Without any context.
Starting with this one, which makes me smile.

#amediting #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #WIP #fictionwriting #betareaders
July 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM
amritac.bsky.social
A little excerpt from the WIP that contains the word "together".
From one of my favourite chapters that I absolutely loved writing!

#WIPSnips #AmWriting #AmEditing #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #FictionWriting #WIP
A little excerpt from the WIP that contains the word "together". From one of my favourite chapters that I absolutely loved writing! #WIPSnips #AmWriting #AmEditing #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #FictionWriting #WIP It includes the following text: Of all the names she had expected to hear that day, Paddy Thomas was the last one on the list. Singer of songs. Lover of cricket. Follower of rules. She had wrapped his name up in an unbreathable piece of plastic, tightly enough for it to asphyxiate, and tucked it away in a lightless corner of her memories that she forbade herself to visit. Her mind rushed to put the pieces together. There was no need to close her eyes to see him flashing his white, manic grin at her from across the lobby of the Jamnagar Circuit House. She could conjure up his face against the dark windows of the taxis or against the large backs of the red double-decker buses or on the render of the Tower Bridge any time she wanted.
July 18, 2025 at 8:12 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Little snippet from the manuscript that has the word "locker" in it.

Tbf, the story does have military elements, so "locker" has been used a fair amount. But this one gives away the plot least.

#amediting #amwriting #WIPSnips #writingcommunity #writesky #writingprompts #novelwriting #booksky
Little snippet from the manuscript that has the word "locker" in it. Tbf, the story does have military elements, so "locker" has been used a fair amount. But this one gives away the plot least. #amediting #amwriting #WIPSnips #writingcommunity #writesky #writingprompts #novelwriting #booksky Squadron Leader Rajat Gawande, stood at the head of the room, and cut through the chatter. “Alright, gentlemen, we have a busy morning. Today’s exercise will be a simulated interdiction strike over the Punjab sector. Two to attack, the rest will provide cover. Objectives are simple—hit the target, avoid getting shot down, and try not to embarrass yourselves.” Sameer raised his hand. “Sir, if Paddy’s leading the strike, I’m requesting a transfer.” Paddy leaned back in his chair lazily. “Relax, Sharma. If I’d wanted to shoot you down, you’d never see it coming.” “Oh, bullshit my boy,” Sameer shot back and the room erupted in sniggers and groans. Gawande rapped on the table. “Save it. Focus. Call signs—Paddy, you’re Viper One, strike lead. Dhanuja, Viper Two. Abbas and Sharma, you’re on escort with Falcon Flight. Keep them covered. Chatter stays minimal. Any questions?” Silence. “Wheels up in thirty. Dismissed.” They filed out towards the locker rooms. Paddy nudged Abbas, who still seemed half-asleep. “If you pass out mid-flight, can I have your comics collection?” “No,” Abbas shook his head solemnly, “I’m having those buried with me.”
July 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Here's a confession: I'm envious of writers who have had the experience of their characters taking over the plot and the turns. Because that never happens to me. For once, I would like to stop crafting and weaving, and have the characters tell me what to do 😭

#writesky #amwriting #writingcommunity
Here's a confession: I'm envious of writers who have had the experience of their characters taking over the plot and the turns. Because that never happens to me. For once, I would like to stop crafting and weaving, and have the characters tell me what to do 😭
June 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
amritac.bsky.social
My novel is set in the backdrop of the Kargil War in the late 90s, and this excerpt is a scene from the MMC's POV, with the word "hair" in it.

#WIPSnips #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompts
My WIP is set in the backdrop of Kargil War and this excerpt from the manuscript is a scene from the MMC's POV, with the word "hair" in it. #WIPSnips #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #WritingPrompts
June 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Haven't written today. Haven't gone to work today. Hanging out in the studio for a change.

#amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #artlovers #artist
June 10, 2025 at 11:41 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Quote post with your last, current and/or next reads 📚💙

Last: LUSTER by Raven Leilani

Current: LEGENDBORN by @tracydeonn.bsky.social

Current: THE STORY OF A BRIEF MARRIAGE by Anuk Arudpragasam

Next: HEART LAMP by Banu Mushtaq

#Books #BookSky #AmWriting #Bookstagram #BookClub
June 9, 2025 at 11:07 AM
amritac.bsky.social
Excerpt from a short story in progress.
When Jaswinder meets Mei Ling.

This one will also be in my first collection 🥂

#WIP #shortstory #amwriting #excerpt #writingcommunity #writesky #writing #writingprompt
She was Jaswinder Singh Bhatia but she was Jassi in Harrow. She was Mei Ling Xiaowei but she was Mary in Harrow. Across from each other, Jassi existed amongst brown cardboard boxes with stickers peeling off of them, and Mary on the second floor of a multi storey apartment building that had a swimming pool on the roof terrace. Mary bought her weekly fill of vapes—grape, mango and lychee—one of only those three, and a stick of Chupa Chups from Jassi’s cornershop. The tiny tattoo of an air plane on her wrist at the end of her pristine white left arm, delicate and twig-like, would present itself shyly from under her sleeves. She always extended that left arm to pay for the goods. Jassi tried not to place her own arm, sunburnt a shade too brown and hairy, too close to it. “Nine fifty,” Jassi said, trying hard to pronounce it right so it didn't come out sounding like a lead-bottomed fifdy. She hastily smiled at the delicate girl but she needn’t have bothered because the delicate girl never noticed. The doorbell jingled when it opened and closed. The little shop lay silent and Jassi stood behind the counter as still as she possibly could, her mind’s eye tracing the little air plane on Mary’s arm, as if it was a child’s water tattoo. — WIP Excerpt from a short story in progress. When Jaswinder meets Mei Ling. This one will also be in my first collection 🥂 #WIP #shortstory #amwriting #excerpt #writingcommunity #writesky #writing #writingprompt
June 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Excerpt from my main WIP that has word "dude" in it!

These boys are about to be thrown into the middle of Kargil.

#writesky #writingcommunity #wipsnips #wip #amwriting #writingprompts #literaryfiction
Excerpt from my main WIP that has word "dude" in it! These boys are about to be thrown into the middle of Kargil. Paddy blinked away when he realised he had been staring at the map for far too long. The contour lines had started to swim. The ridges shaded in pink, the valleys drenched in sickly yellow, the squiggly fluorescent green line that ran across the map—marking of the Line of Control—all of it began to blur, like watercolour bleeding into tissue. Mushkow. Dras. Gindial. Kargil. Chulichan. Batalik. Turtuk. Each name stood like a gravestone on paper, and together they formed the front line of a war that hadn’t been declared, only whispered into being. The ops room was empty. Briefing ended an hour ago. “Paddy, you coming?” Banjo called from the doorway, silhouetted against the corridor light. “You still have an appetite?” Paddy asked, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hell yeah.” Banjo grinned. “Dude, you can either eat or think too much. I choose…eat.” Paddy followed. Eggs, toast and coffee did seem easier. – TSoHWL (WIP)
May 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
amritac.bsky.social
From one of my favourite strips, because I've lost count of how many times this has happened.

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writesky
May 26, 2025 at 9:11 PM
amritac.bsky.social
Tiny excerpt from my short story "Receptionist" (Bridge Eight, 2020) that has the word 'silence' in it.

Read here 👉 www.bridgeeight.com/receptionist...

#writingsky #writingcommunity #writingprompts #amwriting #shortstories #wipsnips #wip
Tiny excerpt from "Receptionist" (Bridge Eight, 2020) that has the word 'silence' in it. “Can I be..rec-ep…receptionist?” you ask him one evening. He has not even started sweating yet. The hair on his chest that roll down in a line to his navel and goes further below, are dry and wave slightly under the air stirred up by the ceiling fan. His face goes a little stiff. But he still doesn’t look unkind. He dismounts you. “Do you want to?” he asks. You sit up straight on the bed and a small pang of trepidation appears. You can feel it hanging in the air, behind you, waiting for you to speak. It breathes down the back of your neck. The words are stuck at the back of your throat and every second that you stay silent, the fear grows an inch. The mother who died when you were born, grows, the uncle who left you in front of the chai stall at the edge of G.B. Road, grows. Deva and Girija Madam grow. The Doctor in front of you, waiting for an answer, grows. Every one of them grows bigger with every second of your silence. But you swallow and lay back down. The Doctor leaves after twenty minutes, and you get dressed to go find Deva.
May 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
amritac.bsky.social
A little excerpt from one of my pieces "The Mountains Move Too", which is housed with Barely South Review.

This one has a little boy who one-upped me up at Death Valley.

barelysouthreview.com/the-mountain...

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #AmWriting #WIP
May 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM