I haven’t shared any posts lately about my process of writing, because truthfully I haven’t had anything exciting to share and I haven’t had any experiences of new discoveries in terms of process. This month, a couple of things happened. I started reading Ursula K. Le Guin’s brilliant book Steering the Craft: A 21st-century GuideContinue reading “100 words – a writing exercise in condensing.”
Tag Archives: memory
Memory, Loss, and Absence in Akram Musallam’s novel The Dance of the Deep-Blue Scorpion
Book review The Dance of the Deep-Blue Scorpion by Palestinian writer Akram Musallam, forthcoming by Seagull Books. English Translation: Sawad Hussein. An excerpt from my review of the novel, published in The Markaz Review: Akram Musallam’s novel, The Dance of the Deep-Blue Scorpion, originally published in Arabic in 2008, is a meditation on loss, absence,Continue reading “Memory, Loss, and Absence in Akram Musallam’s novel The Dance of the Deep-Blue Scorpion”
What I never told my mother
I never talked to my mother about the countless sexual harassments I have experienced. Now I will never have the chance. When I asked my daughter, after her suicide attempt, why she had never come to me and told me of the bullying she had quietly suffered for years at school, her response was thatContinue reading “What I never told my mother”
Creative Writing Workshop
I am excited to invite you to join my creative writing workshop, and embark on a journey of discovering your own creativity and your unique voice. I will be sharing my own process of writing, inviting you to experiment, guiding you gently on your journey, and offering constructive feedback. In 2017, I left my paidContinue reading “Creative Writing Workshop”
an exercise in capturing memories
The Big City I am five years old. It’s summer. We live at the edge of Senec, a small town, only a half an hour drive from the big city of Bratislava. Senec is so small there is no public transportation inside the town. There is only one bus station; the bus takes adult peopleContinue reading “an exercise in capturing memories”
The act of getting smaller while growing up as a girl
On the experience of growing up as a girl, when the body begins to change. I relate to this so much. Will be writing a short piece about this, and am interested in hearing similar or different experiences. Any women who relate to this? Your thoughts? How did you feel when your body started toContinue reading “The act of getting smaller while growing up as a girl”
walking through the hell of memory
walking through the hell of memory I won’t be tied down by – memory of your ugly acts. My body won’t be wrecked just because you – desecrated it violated it damaged it. All these wounds of mine – they are mine to claim. I will make beautiful art with them. Continue reading “walking through the hell of memory”
triggered – excerpt from “Taboos in Arabic” work-in-progress
An excerpt from “Taboos in Arabic,” my current writing project Trigger warning: post-trauma, sexual assault. With Suleiman, time redefined itself. Often, we didn’t have any need for words and we would only sit somewhere for hours, back to back or side by side, our bodies touching. And it was enough, for me. We lived inContinue reading “triggered – excerpt from “Taboos in Arabic” work-in-progress”
The cartography of my body
Come, don’t be afraid Take a closer look At my body. Can you see the map? I’ve mapped out the battlefield, Especially for you. All the wars fought on it. To the North – the ruptured country To the East – the desert of pain To the South – the river of blood To theContinue reading “The cartography of my body”
on depression – memory, at the hospital
A memory: I walk outside to smoke a cigarette, or three. I get a horrible coffee from the vending machine – need caffeine, don’t care that it tastes like shit. The time is somewhere between one and three in the morning – I lost track of it. This night, the longest in my life. IContinue reading “on depression – memory, at the hospital”
Writing in the Margins 