Tag: journal

Of How Maybe Everything Came Into Existence

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 8 Comments

It felt like it hasn’t been that long since I released a new book. And quite understandably so, too, since I just released Unspoken Words back in January. Yet here I am, writing a blog post about how my third book came into existence. It feels almost surreal, because just one year ago, I would’ve never dreamed of producing two new books in such a short time.

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Maybe Everything

Have you ever fallen in love so hard, you couldn’t help but see everything through a rose-tinted glass?

Even as I am writing this post right now, I find it hard to pour everything on the pages, because just like with 3 (Tiga) and Unspoken Words, Maybe Everything is also a very personal project for me—one that I never intended to publish when I was still in the process of writing it. Continue reading “Of How Maybe Everything Came Into Existence” →

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My Writing Playlist: Maybe Everything

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 5 Comments

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The Cardigans – After All

Aoi Teshima – Lullaby of Birdland

Anggun – Fly My Eagle

I wrote the majority of Maybe Everything when I was heartbroken. So quite naturally, the songs featured in this writing playlist are the songs I used to listen to during the moments when I couldn’t stop thinking about my romantic interest. Even now, I still recall the evenings I spent during my commute just listening to the songs and staring out the window—wishing fervently for the pain to end.
Continue reading “My Writing Playlist: Maybe Everything” →

Bon Voyage

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 2 Comments

There’s just something about marriage that excites people. The other day, when Felicia—my friend of 8 years and counting—announced her marriage, I couldn’t be happier. I genuinely wanted to congratulate her from the bottom of my heart, because I was truly happy for her.

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Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-black-long-sleeved-shirt-and-woman-in-black-dress-888899/

But at the same time, there is this lingering, quaint loneliness in the corner of my heart, whispering the advent of a certain end. Continue reading “Bon Voyage” →

Getting Back into Writing

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 4 Comments

Recently, it feels so hard convincing myself to write something new. You know, be it a novel, a short story, or even a short poetry. There’s always this inexplicable part of my heart that just wouldn’t listen, no matter how hard I try to tell myself to write. Something is clearly holding me back, and I don’t know how to fight it.

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Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/beverage-black-coffee-blank-coffee-365637/

Maybe the cause of such phenomenon was my fear of expectations. Of living up to a certain standard. Of not disappointing anyone with lousy, uninspiring prose. I’m constantly haunted by a phantom of failure—a projected hallucination of all the walls around me crumbling, should I fail to live up to everyone’s, and my own, expectations.

Continue reading “Getting Back into Writing” →

Watching the Knots Unfurl

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ Leave a comment

Don’t you find it funny that people drift apart for no reason?

The other day, I accidentally met one of my childhood friends in a shopping mall. The very first thought that came to my mind once our eyes met was, “Crap, now I have to make small talks.” And I don’t know if my friend realized it, but during that moment, the only thing I wanted was to escape from him, go home, and bury myself under a pillow.

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Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/architecture-black-and-white-building-business-264471/

Yes, I have been called an introvert a number of times, but I really doubt being an introvert would drive me so much that I couldn’t enjoy a short, innocent meetup with an old friend. Especially since nothing bad ever happened between us; it’s not like he was my ex, or he bullied me in school. If anything, our past relationship was cool. Continue reading “Watching the Knots Unfurl” →

My Writing Playlist: Unspoken Words

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 2 Comments

KEMUNING

Femme – Kajiura Yuki (梶浦 由記)

Shizuka na Hibi (静かな日々) – S.E.N.S. Project

Lost Memory – S.E.N.S. Project

Itsuka Dokoka de (いつかどこかで) – Hama Takeshi (濱剛)

Deja View – S.E.N.S. Project

Since I completed the first draft of this project during Lebaran Holiday of 2017, I didn’t really need the music so much. But still, there were some really difficult scenes that prevented me from going on a full writing sprint at times. These songs were what I used to listen to whenever I was feeling stuck at writing a certain scene. Continue reading “My Writing Playlist: Unspoken Words” →

My New Year’s Resolution for 2018

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 6 Comments

Depending on when you are reading this post, it might be 2018 already. I had considered to post this right when the year changes, but decided against it since I would most likely be celebrating the coming year with family and close friends. And I never liked scheduled posts since it doesn’t feel personal.

So please allow me to say the following:

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

2017 had been a great, smashing year for me. I got to finish a new book, open my very own Tokopedia shop, and even successfully arranged my own writing retreat. And although some hardships were to be expected, I am very satisfied of what I had accomplished in 2017.

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My newest book: UNSPOKEN WORDS, is now available in your nearest bookstores (Indonesia only)

Continue reading “My New Year’s Resolution for 2018” →

Of How Unspoken Words Came into Existence

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 7 Comments

When I ran a poll on Instagram the other day, a surprising amount of respondents requested for me to post more information about my upcoming book, Unspoken Words.

Some requested for information regarding the characters, some about my outlining process, and the rest were an equal mix between my writing process and publication date. The response, of course, took me by (a pleasant) surprise.

To be honest, I had been mulling over the idea of sharing more about Unspoken Words. And there is a good reason why I haven’t been as active as I wanted to be in sharing information about the book:

I didn’t know how to talk about the book without spoiling everything about it.

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Let’s just say, this novel is the most personal one I have penned so far, and writing it had been an emotional roller-coaster to me. Just like when I once wrote my debut novel, 3 (Tiga), finishing the manuscript for Unspoken Words actually left me in a state somewhat similar to being hungover. Continue reading “Of How Unspoken Words Came into Existence” →

My Writing Playlist: 3 (Tiga)

~ Alicia Lidwina ~ 2 Comments
3 (Tiga)
No, I’m not releasing an album. I just edited the picture myself out of boredom

A lot of people has been asking me, what kind of music do I listen to when I am writing my novels?

Now the truth is, I don’t necessarily need music to keep me in the zone. Of course I listen to them, but I wouldn’t consider music as my absolute writing essentials. I do have to admit, that music can help writers picture certain scenes better when used—which is practically what I am using music for: to help me write certain scenes that would be rather hard to write otherwise.

Below are the tracks I listened to when I was writing my novel, 3 (Tiga)

 

Continue reading “My Writing Playlist: 3 (Tiga)” →