London Writers' Salon #104: Rupal Patel — Lessons from the CIA, Building A Creative Practice, Prioritising Time & Writing Non-Fiction
May 4, 2024
Rupal Patel, an ex-CIA agent and author of 'From CIA to CEO,' shares her unique journey from intelligence analysis to creative writing. She discusses applying CIA tools to enhance personal creativity and productivity, emphasizing self-awareness for optimal work energy. Rupal dives into her transformation from a battlefield analyst to an aspiring author, stressing the importance of diverse voices in literature. Additionally, she introduces the HLLH quadrant for task prioritization and challenges the conventional notion of happiness by advocating for embracing 'aliveness.'
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Afghanistan CIA Field Experience
- Rupal Patel volunteered to serve in Afghanistan, working as the primary civilian intelligence briefer to top officials.
- The experience was both professionally challenging and a test of resilience as one of few women in a male-dominated war zone.
Unpublished CIA Novel Journey
- After the CIA, Rupal wrote a novel based on her agency career, describing it as Sex and the City meets Homeland.
- Despite interest from agents, she lost creative momentum and hasn't published it yet, though she plans to do so at the right time.
Utilize Book Coaches for Accountability
- Hire a book coach to provide structure, homework, and deadlines for writing a nonfiction book.
- Developing a clear outline and initial chapters accelerates the writing and submission process significantly.