Nowadays I am writing a regular column for the newspaper 'Loksatta' and my colleagues want to know more about this writing process.
About 3 years ago, I wrote my first article for a newspaper and it was on 'depression in menopausal women'. I think my first boss, Dr Harish Shetty refered my name to the editor. I was very hesitant to write in Marathi. So the first time I sent the material in English and she translated it for me. The article came out very well. My concepts and her translation- an excellent combination.
Thereafter slowly I began to get requests to write more articles. But now I had to write in Marathi itself- another challenge. I speak Marathi very well but writing and typing was another thing. Generous use of dictionary and Google transliterate solved the problem. And the excellent editing inputs- 'kept the technical points at the same time maintaining the readability of the article' (in the words of one of my colleagues who was kind enough to review and give feedback).
I get a small honorarium for my efforts. I have never had to pay for getting articles published. In the initial years I did approach some newspapers with articles; but I learnt that writing is their job and they really dont need any articles from us. So I stopped sending such requests.
After writing articles, many persons and patients have contacted me for their troubles. This works both ways- I get some work and patients get to know where to find the person who can understand their problem and give them treatment. Somehow it adds to my credibility, so just by writing articles now I am supposed to be a better doctor also. Maybe now, that my thinking and knowledge are public- the judgement about my competence is easier. Or that the public is counting on the newspaper to have chosen 'only a competant doctor' to write.
I take my writing very seriously. I read all material on the subject. I review all patient histories relevant to the topic. I am meticulous about sticking to deadlines and word- limit. And I check what I have written. But of course I am not a writer- and my editor always manages to give a wonderful makeover to the article, putting the most appropriate words and phrases. Journalists are wordsmiths- and I have been lucky to have been guided by the best of them in writing my articles.
I feel it is a very good opportunity to revise the topic, learn new things and a different way of serving patients. I have really learnt a lot and will continue to learn from this experience. And I really agree that the written word has the unique power to communicate, impress, give relief and bring change.
