Don't be afraid to bleed on paper, for it is through vulnerability that we create our best work. So go ahead, let your pen flow and see where it takes you.
Prompts
Prompts are crucial for a literary magazine, inspiring writers to explore new ideas. They encourage debut writers to step outside their comfort zones, enhancing their skills through fun challenges. By engaging with prompts, writers identify areas for growth and gain valuable insights into their craft. Ultimately, these exercises promote development and create a vibrant writing community!
P1: Happy International Literacy Day!
Written by Odero Clara
The masks worn by all the Asylees in the Holy Hotel
In George Orwell’s book 1984, he says, “If there is hope, it lies in the proles.” The proles are the normal, everyday people who live in the lower parts of society. Orwell means that these people, who don’t have much power, could still change everything if they realized their strength. Even though they are treated badly and kept busy with small things like entertainment, they still have the power to make change.
This idea is important for us today. Just like the proles, we, the everyday citizens, can change society if we work together. Ordinary people have the power to make a difference, even if it feels like we don’t. A good example of this is when people come together to fight for justice. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement started with regular people standing up against racism. It grew into a global movement because people were brave enough to speak out and fight for what was right. The same can be seen in the fight against climate change. Young people like Greta Thunberg started speaking out and now there are many people fighting for the Earth’s future. This shows that when people care and work together, they can make big changes.
Also, social media helps us organize and spread our ideas. In the past, it was harder for everyday people to share their opinions or organize protests. But now, thanks to the internet, we can connect with others and make our voices heard. This is how ordinary people can join together, like in the Me Too movement or labor strikes, and demand that things change.
Even though we have more power today, there are still problems. In 1984, the government controlled everything, and it tried to stop the proles from thinking for themselves. Today, we face distractions like entertainment and advertisements that keep us from focusing on important things. We also see powerful people or companies trying to stop us from making changes. But this doesn’t mean we are powerless. We can still fight back by coming together, sharing ideas, and demanding change.
Just like the proles in Orwell’s book, we have the power to change things if we realize it. We need to stay aware of what’s happening around us and work together for a better world. If we do, we can be the ones to bring hope and change, just like Orwell thought the proles could.
Written byTrinya Adan
The women in their dresses and masks.
In a quiet, secluded garden, where the air is thick with the scent of blooming jasmine, two figures sit together under the soft glow of the evening sun. The sound of a distant bird's song fills the air, but it's the silence between them that speaks the loudest.
She leans back against the stone bench, her fingers gently tracing the petals of a nearby flower, not looking at him, but her body is turned toward his. The warmth of the sun bathes her face in a soft, golden light, but her eyes, half-closed, seem distant, lost in thought. The quiet hum of the world around them contrasts with the quiet intensity of the space they share.
He watches her from the corner of his eye, unsure if he should speak, knowing the weight of words could shatter the fragile tranquility of the moment. Instead, he lets the silence stretch between them, feeling the weight of it, like a delicate thread pulling them closer.
There is a certain softness in the way she breathes, the way her hand moves slowly, almost unconsciously, brushing against the grass. It’s as though she is aware of everything but chooses to let it go, allowing the moment to unfold in its own quiet rhythm.
"I feel like I've been here before," she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper, the words meant more for herself than for him. "In a dream. Where everything is still and yet alive."
He doesn’t respond immediately, allowing the moment to breathe, but something in the air shifts as if they are both tethered to the same quiet longing. The unspoken words, the emotions that flutter like hidden butterflies beneath the surface of their conversation, are palpable.
"It’s as if time slows here," he finally says, his voice low, carrying a sense of reverence. "And when time slows, the things we don't say seem to matter more."
Her gaze lifts to meet his, and for a moment, they hold each other’s eyes in silence. There’s no need for further words. The garden around them, the gentle rustle of leaves, the soft colors fading into dusk—everything seems to confirm what they both feel but cannot fully express.
The moment lingers, fragile as the evening light, filled with the allure of what is unsaid, what is felt, yet never spoken aloud. There is an intimacy in the way their silence wraps around them, deeper than any conversation could reach, a connection built not on words, but on the understanding of the space they share.
P2: Happy National Authors Day!
