Testimonials |
| Shomit Mitter has a wonderful laugh. In the course of working with him on my first novel I have come to understand Shomit’s laugh as an expression of his capacity to empathise. It is also a measure of his genuine delight in human beings and the art of telling their stories. It is at its most joyous when he stumbles on something surprising, unexpected or original in a story. He laughs when he is caught off guard or when he learns something new. That’s what you want in an editor.
I met Shomit when, after many years as a film and television writer, I was setting out to write my first book. I was full of trepidation. It didn’t take me long to leave that behind. Shomit invites the kind of risk taking that can produce wonderful material in an atmosphere of trust. He makes the work a shared endeavour and through that takes much of the fear and anxiety out of the process. That is not to say he is at all coy about giving feedback. He tells the truth. Unerringly. One is still standing after a session of notes because it is always clear he is doing it for the betterment of the work. And it does get better. Shomit reads and responds from the deep meaning of the piece rather than the mechanics of structure and plot. That is not to say the technical and craft dimensions of the writing don’t drive his thinking, but they have their proper place, behind what it is about and who it is about. If you like, he attends to the soul of the story first, then helps one find the language with which to honour it. Over the past many drafts of my book we have worked minutely around the problem of the “voice”. It’s not a simple thing to locate when you are writing about very diverse characters and worlds, but somehow he helped me find the voice of the novel itself. Then he attended to its consistency. I know from years of working with many script development executives, how rare and refined a function this is. Shomit is an editor of quite unusual intelligence with a deep sensitivity to the craft and to the context of the story. He has the intellectual capacity to embrace the paradoxical and to celebrate the mysterious. I am hugely grateful to him for all he has done to help me arrive at something I truly could not have achieved on my own. And, of course, I am grateful to him for that laugh. |
 |
| I was referred
to Shomit Mitter to guide me through my first foray into a serious
writing project. I have found him invaluable in many ways. He helped me work out
what sort of story to concentrate on and has guided me through the
necessary planning stages. When it comes to commenting on the detail
of the plot, he is suitable ruthless in pointing out implausibilities
and very helpful in throwing ideas into the mix to help you see
a new way forward. His detailed comments are combined with an ability
to encourage and give credit
where he feels it is due. The exchanges are mostly by e-mail and his responses are very prompt, which is a great help in keeping the momentum of the project. I sense the stimulation he feels in helping with the birth of a new book, not just correcting a completed draft, and this is exactly the sort of editor I was looking for.  Nicholas Berwin Banker |
|
| I am a fiction writer with four novels published
by Penguin (Ancient Promises, Accidents Like
Love & Marriage, Afterwards and Rani).
A fifth (Secrets & Lies) is due out this June.
Shomit Mitter worked as an editor on my fourth book, a historical novel called Rani that is approximately 450 pages in length and was published in January 2008. Anyone familiar with creative writing will know how awkward first drafts can be, but Shomit brought what I now know is characteristic good cheer, generosity and calmness to the task. He read the work swiftly, with keen interest, and maintained written notes as he went along, a valuable set of ‘directions’ that were extremely useful as I began work on the second draft. After finishing reading the manuscript, Shomit also provided verbal feedback in a face-to-face meeting where I was very struck by his ability to maintain a broad-brush vision for the book without losing grip on the finer edits that were required to tighten the work and improve its pace. Characterization appears to be an area he is particularly skilled at. Although it is an area of fiction writing that I consider to be my own forte, I learned a great deal about making characters create their own destinies from Shomit, while also picking up a few ‘tricks’ in driving the narrative forward! I have worked with other editors, both at my agents and publishers, and know from (sometimes painful!) experience that most cannot maintain the kind of tact and equanimity that helps lubricate the awkward process of editing. Shomit is blessed with all these qualities and is an excellent listener too. The frankness that is important in an editor is delivered in a non-abrasive manner, and in an atmosphere of equality, neither patronizing nor obsequious. Finally, his contacts in the publishing world are worth their weight in gold. I know of at least one top London agent who will sit up and take close notice of a manuscript that arrives on his desk with the ‘Shomit Mitter Mark of Approval’ stamped on it!  Jaishree Misra Author |
|
| After
having written a story that had made front page news globally, interviewed
British royalty to pop superstars, and had a high-profile eponymous
interview slot first in the Evening Standard and then the Express,
I decided to become An Author. I attended a residential writers' course and endless writers' group evenings (mostly eating dinners),
had innumerable angst-ridden conversations with long-suffering colleagues
- and then churned out a squillion words. Not for me the traditional
route of synopsis/three sample chapters/agent/publishing deal/house
in Barbados. I wanted to produce my work in complete freedom –
and did. By the end, I had an unwieldy text devoid of
any obvious narrative structure and drive, lacking developed characters,
and with an uneven style. Faced with literary humiliation, expensive loo paper or re-working my manuscript, I contacted Shomit. Journalistic sleuthing uncovered that: he'd been a tutor of English at Cambridge; was the first person to whom Arunhdhuti Roy had shown her (Booker prize winning) manuscript of The God of Small Things; was the author of two popular books on theatre; was highly recommended by the other published authors he'd mentored; had worked with Peter Brook on the early stages of the Mahabarata; and was a published journalist, broadcaster, lecturer and registered hypnotherapist. In other words, a literary demi-God who had had more lives than a Buddhist cat. In particular the hypnotherapy bit looked very appealing. "Your eyes are getting heavier and heavier...You can write that bestseller." But I had no idea whether we'd work well together. Shomit set to work on my manuscript with equanimity, gusto, focus and good humour. We had meetings, email exchanges and phone conversations. Very enthusiastic about parts of my work, he made (copious) insightful, literary observations on it which taught me a lot. Above all, he showed me how I'd set about building a house without first ensuring I had proper foundations. I had failed to clarify my central theme. I didn't have a story line that embodied that theme. I hadn't identified my hero's deep-seated character flaw nor her opponent's goal...and so on. I've worked with newspaper editors for over two decades - and rated Shomit's opinion highly. So when he suggested that I needed to make a totally fresh start, I could see his point. I did – and have benefitted enormously from the work enormously. I have also referred him to a number of fellow journalists who have as well reported back to me that they have learnt a great deal from working with Shomit.  Caroline Phillips |
|
| I had completed
writing a novel when I first mentioned it to Shomit. I needed help
with it. It’s a complex novel with several big themes and
many characters to nurture. I was surprised and delighted by his
offer to critique it. He was energetic and enthusiastic and we embarked
on the long process of working on it together. He read it and immediately
said it would have to be re-written. I groaned because that was
already my second draft and I felt I had found the balance –
but he was right. At the time he was busy with another project and
I had to wait my turn in the queue but one day we met to discuss
the structure of my story, the characters and their trajectories.
He said the basic bones of the story would have to be examined and
the characters, it seemed, would have to have their DNA re-written.
One major character was consigned to oblivion, another underwent
a metamorphosis and so on. Drawing a deep breath, I started writing
afresh. Shomit would never stint on his praise and was very enthusiastic when I did something exceptionally well. On the other hand, he did not hold back either when he felt something was not working. He has tremendous energy and was prompt in giving me feedback. In fact, at times when I dragged my feet, he would send me a chaser email! Then I reached a low point and thought of abandoning it altogether, but he talked me out of it. It was Shomit’s enthusiasm and commitment that sustained me over two years, or more, of writing the novel. He was always upbeat and encouraging. He has a vivid personality that does not admit negativity and his comments encouraged me to run that extra mile. Highly intelligent and educated, he gives generously of his time and energy. I feel he also understands our inter-connectivity, our mutual existence in the human energy field. He has the winning combination of both creativity and commitment. From personal experience, I can recommend him highly as an editor/creative partner and can’t wait to start another project with him.  Lady Mohini Kent Noon |
|
When I first met Shomit I’d just had a novel published. Although it had been accepted for publication, I knew the instant I saw it in print (which is always a bit of a shock), how much better it could have been with the inputs of someone who would have seen what I hadn’t, couldn’t. Writers need a third eye, arguably, but, vitally, they need a fourth eye too. And that is what Shomit has become for my new novel. He has been helping me see it through honing my original vision and walking me through the logistics of plot and characterization. His comments are insightful and candid and his approach patient and tactful. I realised one can read manuals on how-to-write but when you get down to it there is so much more than what they give you. We do not always agree of course but the process – via email, and Shomit is quick to respond and goad so I can’t dawdle! - is stimulating and ultimately fruitful. Shomit is unfailingly optimistic and encouraging - he makes you believe in yourself which, given the self-doubts and near-paranoia most writers have (at least I do!) is wonderfully reassuring. Usha Ramaswamy |
|
I have been working with Shomit on my first novel Kaleidoscope for the last six months and have found his help and advice to be invaluable. His critical skills have elevated my work to another level entirely, whilst his unwavering enthusiasm and encouragement for my work have propelled me forwards faster than I could have hoped for. |
|
Copyright © 2010 Dr. Shomit Mitter