February was a month of fast-paced days, hours that felt like minutes, and nights that ended too soon. I became used to rapid, short breaths, the constant whisper of stress, and a schedule that felt like it would break me.
March, the month of Ramadan, found me like a beautiful pause, a deep breath, a cool breeze wiping the sweat from my brow.
Ramadan: Finding Allah in Nature Read More »
I stared. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the frozen figure. Anyone walking across the wooden bridge past me would’ve avoided the weird Muslimah caught in a trance. But I didn’t care, knowing that I could be witnessing something straight out of National Geographic, minus the British commentator. I waited, holding my breath, not wanting to miss the slightest movement to prove my suspicion. It had to be what I thought it was.
Be Like a Bird: A Ramadan Reflection Read More »
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Monthly Daybreak Dispatch Newsletters Read More »
Let’s face it: writing is a lonely business. Some writers thrive on that solitude, soaking up the silence, communing with nature, or staying up all night while the muse is playful and sleeping all morning. Other writers experience that solitude as an energy slump – a necessary part of the craft but only necessary enough
Talk Amongst Yourselves: How Writing Conferences Can Keep You Going Read More »
The best way to learn a language is to move where people speak it. The best way to learn to swim is to jump in and get wet. And the best way to get your wordsmithing on is to immerse yourself in poetry. Poetry is a special kind of reading – it’s words on
Words of Wonder and Wonderful Words: Poetry as Muse Read More »
Every January 1st the Facebook group Anse & Co.’s 50 Book Challenge resets. For bibliophiles, it’s like the beginning of a new school year – all fresh notebooks and sharpened pencils, full of possibility and potential. The entire year laid out before you like an empty landscape to decorate with the books that will entertain
A Year of Literature – by Najiyah Maxfield Read More »
The harsh reality of our lives is that many individuals face injustice – especially those who belong to different social groups. Literature has become a leading platform through which many advocates of social justice seek to change the way mainstream individuals view the world. In the book Shooting Kabul, N.H. Senzai does just that in
Social Justice in Literature: Shooting Kabul By: Isra Cheema Read More »
I have a number of resolutions for this new year. Last year flew by and with it, a myriad of intentions and plans that snuck away in the middle of the daily grind. I imagined happy writing places in great detail to ensure I was mentally prepared to conquer any obstacle that wiggled its way
Writing Resolutions for 2018 by Afshan Malik Read More »
When you are ready to market yourself as a writer, you will hear lots of different terms that may overwhelm you at first such as finding a literary agent, hiring a publicist and landing a publisher. These can be confusing for new authors who are trying to navigate their way into the literary world and
10 Ways to Invest in Yourself as a Writer By Tayyaba Syed Read More »
Books that are geared towards teenagers and young adults are one of the most popular and growing genres in the literary world. The Guardian even notes that over half of young adult novels are read by adults. Whether its fantasy, science fiction, chic lit, or historical fiction – young adult books have a beautiful authenticity
YA Novels by Afshan Malik Read More »
