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Continue reading →: 8 Key Social Media Marketing Tips for Writers to Elevate Online PresenceWhy social media marketing for writers? In today’s digital age, social media has emerged as an invaluable tool writers can use to expand their reach, connect with readers, and promote their content. Here I go a little deeper into basic social media marketing for writers and share tips tailored to…
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Continue reading →: آب را گل نکنیم: Let us not Muddy the Water by Sohrab SepehriI am studying Creative Writing at the University of Arizona and, in a nod to my heritage, I am learning Persian as a second language. As part of the department’s end-of-year Persian showcase, my professor invited me to translate a contemporary Iranian poem into English and learn the original poem…
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Continue reading →: 25 Creative Gift Ideas for Writers this Holiday SeasonIf you’re struggling to come up with the perfect gift for the writers on your holiday shopping list, check out this guide to 25 creative gift ideas for writers. From journals to fidget cubes to literary-themed tumblers and perfumes, this gift guide celebrates the writer’s lifestyle.
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Continue reading →: Still Life with GazaIt’s day six in Mexico and the coffee jar is empty. We walk down the dusty road to the restaurant as the sun cries in the ocean behind us, the beautiful ocean, seagulls crying . . .
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Continue reading →: Blood MoonHe holds the world in his stomach. He holds a pomegranate that he breaks with hands the size of my feet . . .
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Continue reading →: 11 Best Gifts for Poets and Poetry Lovers in 2024If you’re struggling to come up with the perfect gift for the poets and poetry lovers in your life, it’s time to explore 11 of the best gifts for poets and poetry lovers. From exquisite fountain pens and fine paper to immersive poetry workshops and thought-provoking poetry craft books, this…
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Continue reading →: Poem ImpendingI tied twilight in bunches with rosemary from the rafters. In summer I brewed it between copper and winter . . .
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Waking up to Thrutopia by Conny BorgelioenI am delighted to share a book review of Waking up to Thrutopia by Conny Borgelioen, a beautiful poetry and essay collection that, divided into three connected parts, chronicles the author’s struggle with a chronic illness. This book serves as a means to work through the difficult times in search…
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Continue reading →: Pink HydrangeaCoffee brews thick and foamy today with hints of equinox in the cream. It is a morning to sit and mourn with summer dew as sun sweeps the grass dry and the hydrangea flowers reach for September . . .
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Whistler of Petty Crimes by Eileen Ike WestI recently had the pleasure of reading Eileen Ike West’s debut poetry collection, Whistler of Petty Crimes, and am delighted to share a book review of this transportive poetic narrative. The poems in this book are not short as each one imparts a story that plays into the narrative of…
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Continue reading →: Henna SummerPoised on the lips of the world, midnight dances, her smoky darkness filling the cracks left by moisture and scratches. Where she loves and bleeds, so bloom the roses.
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Continue reading →: Book Review: In the Shadow of Rainbows by Selma MartinIn anticipation of Selma Martin’s debut poetry collection, In the Shadow of Rainbows, I am delighted to share an advanced review of this beautiful and moving poetry collection. Each word reaches down into the reader and lays the foundation for something greater, something deeply personal, something that begins to heal.…
Hi,
I’m Layla
an untraditionally Slytherin word witch who grew up unschooled in rural Virginia studying Creative Writing and Film & Television at the University of Arizona.
I am passionate about story-driven travel and food writing. Here you’ll find college life and travel content, creative writing and how-to guides on how to write, edit, and market your work. May the words flow!
All inquires: jayaavendel@gmail.com
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