What you'll work on
Novel or novella, film or short film, web series. We'll look at your story together and work out which medium suits it best, and why. You'll learn the steps to decide this for any story you write.
Find your medium
An introduction to how a novel, a film and a web series are built. Where a story begins, how it moves, and how it ends in each form.
Learn the basic structure
Long, uninterrupted writing hours, writing exercises, and honest feedback from Nihal, Chirag and the group.
Write the first draft
How to approach publishers, producers and platforms with your story. What to prepare, who to reach out to, and how to pitch it.
Take it to the market
Who you'll write with
Facilitator
Nihal Parashar
Nihal Parashar is a Mumbai-based writer working across literature, theatre, television and OTT. He is the author of Patna Ka Superhero and Left Right Left, both of which have featured on bestseller lists. His third book, Sajan Yadav Ki Jasoosi Duniya, is scheduled for release in December 2026.
His screenwriting credits include The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (Star Plus, 2017) and the web series Shiksha Mandal (Amazon MX Player, 2022). As a playwright and director, his play Patna Ka Superhero premiered at Prithvi Theatre in August 2022 and has since travelled to venues across India and internationally.
He has also built an audience through digital storytelling, creating content around history, literature and cinema.
Nihal runs Writer’s Room by Nihal, a writing community that brings writers together to develop ideas, exchange feedback and explore the possibilities of their stories across formats.
Guest Writer
Chirag Garg
Chirag Garg | Writer & Actor
Chirag Garg is an actor and screenwriter, and a graduate of the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD). Over the years, he has built a rich and diverse body of work across films and premium OTT content.
He is the creator and writer of Dupahiya Seasons 1 and 2 (Amazon Prime Video), earning nominations at the Filmfare Awards for Best Story and Best Dialogue, along with the Screenwriters Association Award for Best Story.
His writing credits also include Mandala Murders (Netflix), Kakuda (ZEE5), and Be Happy (Amazon Prime Video).
Chirag is one of the mentors at the Netflix Climate Screenwriting Lab, where he brings his experience and insights to the next generation of storytellers.
Currently, he is developing several series for leading OTT platforms and working on feature films, continuing to explore new stories and build a body of work across streaming and theatrical cinema.
Day 1
Arrive and settle
Check in and rest. In the evening, a welcome circle where everyone shares the idea they brought, then a bonfire.
How the five days flow
Day 2
Find the heart and the medium
Character, desire and conflict. Then the big question: is your story a novel, a film or a web series? Writing exercises and a long writing block. In the evening, Chirag talks about how an idea becomes a show.
Day 3
A day out
A day off from the desk. We go out together to the monasteries, the tea gardens and the open skies of Bir, with a writing exercise on the road.
Day 4
Shape the draft
The longest writing block of the residency, and one-on-one feedback with Nihal and Chirag.
Day 5
Read and take it forward
Everyone reads a part of their draft. Then we talk about how to approach the market with your story, and close with a final circle. Checkout by 1 pm.
A home in the mountains
Terra Poetica is a boutique Himalayan stay in Gunehar village, just outside Bir. It’s a quiet house with a garden, a mountain-facing terrace and warm vegetarian meals, and for five days it’s all ours.
11 seats. That's all.
We've kept it small on purpose, so every writer gets real time and attention.
Twin sharing room – same gender · 6 seats – ₹35,000 Dorm bed · 5 seats – ₹30,000
What's included
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4 nights' stay at the residency
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All meals during the residency
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All sessions, exercises and feedback
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A one-on-one session with Nihal and Chirag
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A day out in Bir, with transport
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A welcome kit
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A copy of our shared diary-book after the residency
Request an invite
The Writer's Room By Nihal
© 2026 by Shahriar
Call/ Whatsapp - 9649277482
Email: mailsforshahriar@gmail.com