Tekua—My Short Story (Now) On LOLWE, Finding My Way Back To The Muse and Other Updates

"Some things don’t make sense." And so it began!

Dearest Gentle Reader,

Yeah, an opening doesn’t get more Bridgerton than this!

But don’t worry, we are not doing this.

What we would, in fact, do is scream (with excitement) at the next bit of news I am about to share.

My heart is in my mouth (in a good way), as I type this. I can feel the excitement coursing through my veins—the intensity of the pulsations, a lucid dream sort.

September 27, came with the news of one of my short stories, “Tekua”, published in the recent edition of LOLWE.

Excited yet?

Well, I am! And have been since I received an email from them months ago about shortlisting my story to be part of the September 2024 issue.

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to get my art published by them. Previously, my submissions were returned with…you know what: rejections. “…we are sorry but…”

When I think about this, my widely read article, Dear Young Creative, Rejection Is Not The End Of The Road, comes to mind.

Dear Young Creative, Rejection Is Not The End of The Road

I won’t bore you with a monotonous sermon about how you need to still create even when you get hit by several rejection emails. I am sure you know this. And if you don’t, you should give that article a read. You might find it helpful.

Now, to the burning question, “Where do I read the story?”

You can read the story below:

TW - suicide

Once you have given it a read, feel free to come back here, let’s have a conversation about it. I want to hear all your thoughts about it.

Finding My Way Back To The Muse

I have been thinking about writing lately, which is something I have not done in a very long time. Surely, I have scribbled a few poems here or there, and written screenplays (that have been produced) but have not had to really think about my craft, to think about writing (in its wholeness), to feel inspired—the ecstasy of considering myself a “writer”.

I don’t know how/why it happened but for some reason, I lost it—the spark, the itch, the uneasiness and ease, the jolt of emotions. What is worse was the fact that I didn’t feel it go. I just knew a part of me was missing but I didn’t pay attention to what was. I walked around, not writing for days (sometimes months) but all seemed Okay. Or maybe that was my way of coping—that if I pretended that the one thing I cared most about, the one that made me feel whole wasn’t there again, I wouldn’t get to feel the void.

Thankfully, I recently found myself in an environment (an update about this environment will come in a separate post) that is rekindling this dead flame. I have found myself thinking and dreaming about writing (again) and it is the best feeling ever! Though intimidating because I, every ten seconds, question if I still have it in me. I guess what matters is that I have started! And I can’t wait to see what comes out of it.

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📚CURRENT READ:

We, the Survivors by Tash Aw

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Please, don’t forget to:

and:

and:

Love you lots,

(imagine me making a heart shape with my fingers)

Alpha