We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Disha Manocha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Disha below.
Disha , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I think I’m starting to understand that there are crests and troughs– like a wave. I’m a writer– sometimes I’ll be so knee-deep in a story I’m working on that I’ll have characters having full-blown conversations in my head while I’m taking a shower or cooking or whatever, and then I’ll race to type it all out before I forget. Other times (and there have been some of those lately), I can’t even get myself excited enough to power up my laptop. And I have to remind myself, that’s okay too. Sometimes, writing is losing yourself in mapping out that confession or confrontation your whole episode has been building towards, and other times, writing is staring at a blinking cursor on a blank page for two hours, before you finally cave and decide to get yourself a snack. I’m trying to teach myself to be patient and trust the process, and most importantly, what kind of process works best for me. It’s different for everyone– personally, I like some external pressure or accountability, someone setting deadlines and goalposts for me. Writing groups definitely help there, especially in getting you out of your head. And mostly, it’s about having something to be excited about. Something you can sink your teeth into, something you can’t wait to get back to every time you’re away from it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Five years ago, I moved to LA from my hometown of Mumbai, India, dreaming of being a writer for TV. Since then, I have assisted on a CBS medical drama, written and produced a short film that was accepted into several festivals in the US and internationally, written for the Disney TV Showcase for two years, and have even spent some time in development– so it’s been a fortunate, interesting journey, for sure.
A lot of my writing is informed by my experiences as an “international”– my stories are often about seeking home and community, exploring themes of identity and family in its many different iterations. I love writing unlikely allies, forced to work begrudgingly together towards some shared goal, and I enjoy messy, honest characters who, despite trying their best, are not always good people.
Currently, I’m working on a couple short films, as well as some other projects in the pipeline– so lots to look forward to!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Firstly –and this is a quality I have yet to master completely– I do think any creative endeavor needs discipline. In the same way that some people make sure to go to the gym everyday (I am not one of those people), it is important to create a routine, to create the discipline of writing everyday, or making art, etc. Preferably at the same time everyday, for the same duration, so it becomes embedded as part of your normal day. I’m still working on that one– but I hear it works wonders.
Second, I think my journey involved, pretty critically, a leap of faith. Moving my life halfway across the world chasing a dream– that’s insane. But it’s a chance I took, and I am so glad I did. Taking the plunge was what kicked off my journey– and then, of course, digging in my heels and saying, “this is what I want to do, and this is the ONLY thing I want to do.”
Third– for anyone trying to make a living in the arts or entertainment, there’s always uncertainty, and instability, and just constant curveballs along the journey. I think what helps me, amidst the buffeting winds, is zooming out a bit and remembering WHY I want to write– going back to the simple joy of creating art, for yourself before anyone else, and reminding yourself why it’s FUN.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My time as an executive in development has helped me really hone and trust my creative instincts. It has also been my first real brush with impostor syndrome– and I made it out the other side! In collaborating with other writers, giving notes on scripts, and working with writers to build their material, I now have a clear sense of my voice and what I bring to the table, creatively speaking. It’s a great feeling to lean on your instincts and feel them expanding– it makes the creative process that much more fun!
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