APRIL, a list:
Loss and grief are something to accept as they come. There’s no denying, no keeping it in. You just let it happen and show and it’s okay because you’re hurting. Even the selfish kind of hurt is valid.
Feeling under the weather at the start of the month felt so fitting for the up-and-down weather that is April. Take care of yourselves, dress warm when you should and take your vitamins!
I treated myself to a bag I’ve wanted for a while-the Maison Kitsune tote bag, and a hair mist that I’ve been eyeing-Eau de Sens by Diptyque. I haven’t treated myself to much recently so writing down my new purchases makes me feel like I’m taking care of myself.
I’m having trouble feeling neutral about my body these days but I will get there again. It’s always a rollercoaster and never a linear experience. I think I don't have to be all that positive and preachy about how I feel in my body, I just want to feel neutral.
I went to Berlin for a weekend for a writer’s retreat and aside from visiting a lot of bookshops and book store cafes, shopping at the Muji store and drinking a lot of coffee and wine, I met old friends, I met new ones, sat in the park, and caught up with them. It was a lovely getaway for a bit, not thinking about work and focusing on my writing in a new environment. I came home with newfound inspiration and drive to finish my manuscripts.
I’ve been feeling a bit like losing/missing out on social media when it comes to sharing things about my works in progress with my mutuals. I’ve been writing for myself a lot, quietly, and not sharing any snippets online at all, which I don’t think bothers anyone, but it does make me feel a bit distant from the writer’s community. To see your support still reaching me with every little tweet here and there still—it warms my heart!
I wrote a poem every day for the entire month of April for Escapril hosted by Savannah Brown on Instagram. When I peak at Insights, which I very rarely do because I have likes hidden and turned off for most of my content, I find it mind-boggling how many people have seen some of my poems! I’m surprised I managed to be so consistent, and I feel grateful for every read.
#AUGUSTORIES:
Looking for something to do after Escapril? I’m hosting my own poetry prompt project in August where you can participate and attempt to write a poetry or short prose piece every day for the month of August. AUGUSTORIES is about reminiscing and challenging yourself and having fun with writing when you’re in a writer’s rut. It’s about finding your love and passion for writing again.
Prompts will be posted in July!
BOOKS I’VE STARTED:
Notes on the sonnets by Luke Kennard: Luke Kennard recasts Shakespeare's 154 sonnets as a series of anarchic prose poems set in the same joyless house party.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: I only found out how problematic Plath was after purchasing her work. I originally got The Bell Jar and Ariel because her work is known to express a sense of alienation and self-destruction that has resonated with many readers since the mid-20th century. Still, I can’t quite ignore what Plath has been criticised for as a person behind her work while reading. I’d love to hear opinions on this.
Breasts and eggs by Mieko Kawakami: the novel paints a radical and intimate portrait of contemporary working class womanhood in Japan, recounting the heartbreaking journeys of three women in a society where the odds are stacked against them.
TV:
Finished Juvenile Justice: A tough judge balances her aversion to minor offenders with firm beliefs on justice and punishment as she tackles complex cases inside a juvenile court. A harsh but sadly real and raw show based on true events with incredible acting performances.
Started My Liberation Notes: Three siblings, exhausted by the monotony of day-to-day adulthood, seek to find fulfillment and freedom from their humdrum lives. So far this seems right up my alley–relatable, low-key and true to life. A lot of great quotes that I’ve started to put down.
Dreaming is a shore
for a ship that never docks.
Nonetheless, I still belong to dreaming.
— Adonis, tr. by Khaled Mattawa, Selected Poems
wait what. i am about to read the bell jar and omg, pls tell me how was she problematic because i don't want to love her works blindly :(
it'd be so upsetting if she's a total sh*thead :\