Last year, I experienced a reading slump unlike any other. I didn’t have any new books to read, and worse, I simply didn’t feel like reading. At. All. It was awful because I’ve always prided myself on being a bookworm, and because of bookstagram, I felt like I wasn’t productive as a reader.
Read MoreTypically, I keep an A5 ruled journal. I used to be selective about the journals I bought and what I wrote in them. Since I first started journaling, my collection of full – and empty – journals has grown over the last three years.
Read MoreIn 2019, when I first took my love of writing seriously, I started to explore and learn more about the craft of creative writing. Commitment and constant inspiration for a writing project are vital, and it also helps to have a system in place for success.
Read MoreThe circus arrives without warning”. If you’ve read the book, you know what this quote means and the excitement it instills – for readers of Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” and fictional patrons of Le Cirque des Rêves alike. One of my favourite parts about this book was the subtle, magical setting.
It had a soft magic system that only existed inside the circus; no one questioned where the magic came from, only that it was there, and it was enjoyable. Her style of writing was so lovely to read – and an influence on my own prose, I like to imag
Read MoreChristmas is one of the loveliest times of the year. Sitting here typing this, all I can think of is the meal prep, the strenuous dessert-making, the excitement of staying up late, and opening presents at midnight on Christmas morning.
It’s a wholesome holiday, more a time for being with family and friends more than anything; and also for expressing gratitude for the year behind you and wishes for the year ahead. In saying that, I know this holiday can also be the absolute worst!
Gift-giving is, surprisingly, the toughest part about Christmas.
Read MoreIt’s never too late to learn something new. We have our whole lives to explore different hobbies, skills, and interests. Too often, I daydream about skills I wish I had so I could live my best life, and then I become entangled in the idea of gaining these skills so quickly in a short amount of time, despite there being no rush to do it.
Read MoreBinge culture, the long-term relationship we all have with our Netflix (or other) subscriptions. So much has changed over the last few years when it comes to watching tv shows and movies online. I have noticed it for myself and the way I consume TV and film, and also books.
What I love about online streaming is how accessible and stress-free it is. In saying that, streaming online can also be the absolute worst! Today I’m sharing the pros and cons of binge culture and online streaming. This post is, as always, based on my own experiences. If you’re curious to learn more, stay a while, and keep reading.
Read MoreProductivity and being organised can have many meanings. It can mean accomplishing daily goals or setting aside time for the activities you love or using your time more wisely. For me, it also means having a clear sense of direction and helps me stay focused every day.
Being organised and creating my own planning system is like my past self’s way of looking out for my future self. Past me has taken the liberty to figure out everything I need to do in the future, and so when I wake up the next morning and feel a little aimless, all I have to do is consult my planner to know my intention for that day.
Read MoreJournaling is one of the only ways I know how to express my creativity. It’s a medium that seems halfway between writing and painting. For a while, I’ve been neglecting my journals, mostly because I haven’t been able to print photos and other elements and create the beautiful pages and collages I want. I switched to a digital journal for bullet journaling and daily planning too. But the more I see pictures of aesthetic, pretty journal pages on social media, the more I want to return to my old hobbies.
Read MoreOne of the best, and sometimes most infuriating, parts about being a fantasy and science fiction writer is whether to write too much or too little about the fictional world. I never overlook the little things in my creative writing, the things the readers do not see, like plants, places, animals, and more.
It feels like giving up easily to rely on things that already exist in our real world. Hence, I make it my mission to craft parts of my fictional world from nothing, like a lot of my favourite authors. Consider the Mockingjay from “The Hunger Games” or the rare plant Jurda Parem in the “Grishaverse” or the existence of Daemons in “His Dark Materials”.
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