a journal of the little things that matter
I would like to take some moment and dedicate this blog post to thank several very kind souls who had helped me a lot in 2020. These are the people who stuck with me through thick and thin—they are the reason that I’m still here; alive and kicking; appreciating life in all its form and wonders.
In alphabetical order:
Continue reading “Gratitude Journal: Early 2020”I don’t know why, but I just have this very strange attraction towards somebody else’s wishlist. Not to be confused with being covetous or anything, but there’s just something so inspiring and weirdly… whimsical about seeing what sparks creativity and productivity in someone else—even more so if the person is a creative.
You know, like how you couldn’t resist but to wonder what kind of fountain pen did Tolkien use to pen Lord of the Rings? Or how you wonder what kind of cooking utensils do Martha Stewart use in her own personal, home kitchen?
Knowing what other people use in their own creative endeavors, for me, brings tremendous joy and relief—joy because now I know more stuff I could use to make my own life easier; relief because at least I’m not the only person who hoard stuff, and think that the right pen and paper makes for the best writing experience—the same way the right keyboard makes all the difference when it comes to typing my next novel-length project.
Continue reading “Wishlist for 2020 and How I Plan to Use Them”To be honest, I haven’t done a lot of shoppings this past month, because of the widespread virus and all that jazz. But that doesn’t stop me from having a few personal favourites from my own stash–some of them I bought during my trip to Japan, while some others I just have lying around my room.
By the way, this is also the first time I’m doing this kind of post, so I’m not 100% sure if anyone would be interested in reading them. I do, however, really enjoy reading (or watching!) other people’s favourite items, what’s in their bags, what’s their writing setups, etc., so I digress.
I somehow made it like a trend not to include the acknowledgements page in my recent books. There is a valid reasoning for that, however, in case anyone thinks that I simply don’t have anyone to thank for. On the contrary, I would much rather post the acknowledgements on my blog instead, out of time (and space) constraints.
In any case, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the following individuals for their gallant contributions toward the completion of Polaris Music Dingin.
I’m going to be brutally honest; I never had any intentions of publishing “Polaris Musim Dingin”. It’s true, you can ask my editor about it. It took months for me to let the very idea of publication simmer in my head before I finally relented, and let the book meet its readers.
Tomoki Miyoshi – Winter Journey’s Tale
I have to admit, I wrote Polaris Musim Dingin so fast that I didn’t have the time to look for songs. For the longest time during the drafting process, I just listened to one song, and it carried me through almost all the scenes I wrote.
Continue reading “My Writing Playlist: Polaris Musim Dingin”
Have you ever felt “cold” inside? Not the kind that comes naturally when the temperature drops, but the kind that haunts you whenever you feel alone and helpless–whenever you feel unwanted?
When I was writing this book, I was at the lowest point in my life. Back then, it felt like all the walls were collapsing on me, and I didn’t have anyone I could share my problems with. Life, in all honesty, felt like a torture. It took my everything to stay sane–with writing being my sole solace of comfort.
So maybe that’s why I managed to finish writing this book so fast; in 7 days.
Maybe that’s why I was so entranced by the story I was trying to weave; because just as the characters in this book struggled and danced and thrived in my head, I secretly had hoped that I, too, would find strength within myself to do the same.
And if there is anything I’d want the readers to take from this book, it is strength.
The kind of strength that could save you.
The kind of strength that brings hope;
not the strength to withstand everything–
but just enough to get you through another day.
🌟”Polaris Musim Dingin“🌟
Available in bookstores: January 14, 2020
Originally written for a prompt submitted by @jessieivn
Continue reading “Scars – a poem”My ideal writing day starts at 7 in the morning, and usually happens only during the weekends.
The morning routine is not that complicated; I usually wash my face and brush my teeth, apply a light toner and moisturizer to my face, and check my phone for messages as I boil some hot water for my morning caffeine fix.
Continue reading “What My Ideal Writing Day Looks Like”
Originally written for a prompt submitted by @autumn5kye
Alicia Lidwina 