Issue IX: Welcome to Wonderland Feature

Issue IX : Welcome to Wonderland was met with a variety of submissions providing some of the most epic reads. From stories of enjoyable carnival rides to tales of something much darker lurking behind smiling faces, we got to experience it ALL!! So, what better way to celebrate these pieces than to share the inner thoughts that the writers had as they created them. We've mainly included pieces where the writers had more to say about their process and inspiration. Keep on reading to know what these pieces meant to them!

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POETRY

A Trip Into Memory Lane - Ivory (@astra_written) 

This piece depicts a carnival worker being part of an accident that kills those on the ride they work. I wanted to subtly depict the less glamorous side of wonderland, that still becomes a spectacle. There are a lot cases of inguries and accidents at carvinals, fairs, circus's and some of those are complete accidents, and others were entirely preventable. I think its interesting to consider the specatcle side of wonderland in this darker way, almost like these places entice you in with a sense of thrill and new experiences, and the danger is marketed as part of the fun. Even the performers themselves in circus' train a lot to make sure the risk of harming themselves and other performers is as low as possible. (i love the circus and fairs btw)

Beware the Carnival - S. Parmele (@sophiaa_parmele)

It’s basically about a haunted carnival wonderland or the downside to it. While it uses characteristics of “wonderland” it’s meant to represent larger themes such as self esteem, addictions, etc.

Wonderland - Noor ul Ain Ahmed (@noorativ.diaries)

"My poem, 'Wonderland', delves into the unsettling experience of ‘Alice in Wonderland Syndrome’ a neurological disease characterized by a person having an odd perception of their own body or the world around them, making them feel alien and bizarre. Through sensory details as well as an imaginary, almost utopian setting, the poem explores the disorienting voyage of someone slipping into a world where reality bends and wraps. The twisted version of Wonderland becomes a metaphor for the altered states of consciousness, where every step further down the rabbit hole blurs the lines between what is real and what is imagined.

Initially, I saw Wonderland as a metaphor for the unconscious mind, where mental illnesses like schizophrenia can emerge, distorting one's perception of reality. But then I added a unique twist, exploring the concept of 'Alice in Wonderland Syndrome', where bizarre physical experiences, like sudden changes in body size, can occur. The title's reference to the neurological disorder suggests connections to Lewis Carroll's story. Yet, subtle undertones also suggest the poem might be about the altered states induced by drugs, where individuals experience a kaleidoscope of emotions, detachment from reality, and a carnival of voices in their minds. My poem leaves the reader questioning its true meaning.

Thus, the theme has close ties with my poem, I describe the carnival scene happening in the person's head, an individual stripped far away from reality and red herrings that allow you to add diverse elements to the poem. On the surface, this poem is about Todd's syndrome but as a reader, you have creative freedom to analyze this poem in any direction you want.

It can be be about a person experiencing a high-time, euphoric dopamine release from taking drugs or a very ingenious character that might be imaging a bizarre scenario or someone who's just having an unusual dream. The possibilities are endless!“

Roller Coaster - L.R Anderson (@FantasticFantasy._)

I wrote this piece with the song wonderland by Taylor Swift in my head and I wanted it to showcase the magic of a new experience and finding love in an carnival under the strung lanterns and stars glimmering above; an experience I consider to be rather forgotten in these modern times.

Misfortune - Elizabeth Maxwell (@lizniprose)

"My poetry piece is written in the form of a Dizain. It draws on the setting of a carnival most. with the ""lights"" and the ""teeming crowds."" I also included a fortune teller into this idea of longing for love and feeling like it is always out of grasp. The narrator believes her fortune must be wrong if she is present in a place that's meant to be so full of joy and love, and yet she is unable to find her one.”

wonderland's call - Chaitra Shidhalingannavar (@imcnonymous)

I think this poem represents wonderland not just as a physical place, but a state of mind where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred. It explores the themes of self-discovery, longing and identity. It begins with the search for solace amidst chaos, but ends in harmony with it.

Born to Flee - Carrie (@c93rie)

"Through using carnivals as a repeated motif, my piece expresses how dreams gradually glow fainter as we grow older. By portraying carnival rides as an imagery of childhood memories, I aim to evoke feelings of nostalgia, allowing the reader to reminisce about the short-lived rides and the fun we associate with them, at last connecting it to the broader theme of lost dreams. 

Furthermore, by bringing the sky-wheel to life and incorporating a conversation between it and the narrator, I hope to add a lively touch to the otherwise silent carnival at night. Overall, I believe this small element enhances the sense of mystery and fantasy, which many imagine when reminded of the echoes of a carnival. “

Carnival of the Stars - Rose Phoenix (@blazing_blossoms)

Well, I took some of the things expressed plainly in the prompt. Like the carnival setting, for example, the misdirection and distortion. Then I sprinkled in my imagination, and the strange twists and turns of navigation this imagination of mine. It also paints images that flashed in my mind as I read over the prompts. 

Cat People - Gabriella pitts (@frankeng1rl)

This poem is based upon a film called Cat People, which was a veiled metaphor for the repression of female sexuality and mental health. I believe it suits the theme because of the caged animals of a circus, which is how the narrator views herself. A caged animal who will die where she’s trapped.

Neon Faces - Gina Hui (@dollface_magazine)

I chose to write about a carnival setting, specifically a carousel and I used it as a symbol of spiralling out of control. It mirrors how me and most people feel, and how we disguise it with superficial joy.

Crowd of One - Theodore Gray (@_worlds._.muse_)

its from the view point of a person stuck within himself. He surrounds himself with bravado to navigate the stage called life and suffers from paranoia, loneliness and depression{all are mentioned symbolically in the poem. Nothing is expressed vividly, hence i assume no need for disclaimers.}. The poems talks about this duality.

The Brightest Star - C. Poserio (@pristineagony)

"Instead of all the flashing lights and loud noises one would usually find in a theme park, there are some parts somebody can find some peace with a special person, like at the very top of a Ferris Wheel, right above everyone and everything.

And despite all the noise, there's a special feeling when you take a break from the overwhelming nature and find that lovely, silently shared moment.”

Take Me Back - Sakura (@drifting_tempest)

"Take Me Back" tries to connect the themes of childhood, nostalgia and attending carnivals with friends. While the theme tries to welcome the person into a land of joy and never-ending magic, this poem offers closure by speaking of carnivals as a thing of the past. By counting till 16, and using the elements we see in fairs or festivals, the lines resonate with the childhood part that's stuck within all of us.

When things were easy and dreams were like cotton candy, we could go on care free. Carnivals, hanging out with mates and such like, are what implies this poem is connected to a "Wonderland" of childhood.”

Portrait of a Contemporary Angel  - Julia Hui-Ming Howe (@justjuliafied)

Portrait of a Contemporary Angel captures a darker side of the Wonderland theme by portraying the surreal and exploitative world of child performers. When every aspect of yourself is turned into a spectacle, when your sole purpose is to entertain, what part of yourself will remain? 

Not a wonderland. - Radhey (@radhey_mani)

Wonderland is often perceived as a positive emotion, to which I agree. At the same time, not everyone's definition of wonderland is co-related to happiness. Through my piece I wish to convey a different, darker version of wonderland, one that reflects the struggle of millions of women who try to rise strong even after experiencing sexual assault (SA). It also aims to reflect their strength and resilience, how they try to defy their pain, and how they reclaim their power and dignity.

Welcome to Wonderland - María Miralles Viu (@miralles_viu)

The poem tells the story of how sometimes you can get so caught up in the flash and razzle-dazzle of a person that you don't realise it can be all fake. It's about trusting too quickily, getting lost in Wonderland with no way to make it back home because what was home before them anyway?

carnival nights - Mee (@mees.quill.pen)

I've basically written about how the world itself is a wonderland, a carnival, because there are always new and strange twists and turns that aren't always particularly brilliant and yet people choose to go through them every day and every night.

Wonderland’s Wonders - Kalia (@ckrayonkid)

It tells of a carnival that welcomes everyone, no matter the circumstance, and allows them a chance to explore what brings them joy. From the performances to the dazzling lights, no soul too weary for this carnival party.

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PROSE

Never-ending Ride - gillian (@gill._.iannn)

My piece is about finding both solace and terror in the meaningful memories of the past. In the beauty and chaos of the vivid moments where people continuously come back to, like going through your favorite ride over and over again just to feel something whether it’s the sheer adrenaline rush from the lights and movement or the chilling atmosphere when it makes you dizzy and nauseous. 

Inheritance - Lucy Radcliffe (@bylucyradcliffe)

My piece plays with the idea of 'wonderland' in a more chaotic space. There is a deeply personal and emotional landscape presented which plays with reality as it blends with distorted realities. The piece pushes the boundaries of what is real and what isn't, with the first person narrative and personal connections, it is even tip-toeing the sometimes blurred lines between fiction and creative non-fiction. The carnival setting is a modern-day wonderland, bright, loud and dizzy. The spinning rides and disorientating experiences within the port-a-potty, (the typical bathroom at these port-a-pottys) reflect the protagonists inner turmoils with grief of a parent, addiction and the fear of inheriting such struggles. 

The Ferris Wheel - Isabelle Villanueva (@izzu_v)

Taking place at a school carnival, the story explores magic in perhaps its most realistic form: the power of the present. A magic that the main character, Heart, comes to find for herself by the end of the story. The Ferris wheel in particular is a place that I feel is one of the most transportive places in a carnival. High above the glittering lights and sweet smells, you are quite literally in the middle of all that chaos yet somehow detached from it all at the same time. Anything could happen up there. And sometimes, the thought of those endless possibilities is all it takes for something to be somebody's wonderland. 

Not-Eliza - Owl (@owl_writes)

Most of the story is set in a carnival where strange things happen to the main character, Eliza. Gooey, black creatures lurk in the shadows and in the maze of mirrors. Yet, these creatures aren't as they seem.

The Lantern Holder - Nina V (@kyothena)

I wanted to explore the theme of the carnival by mixing it with a magical, eerie feeling, because I feel like it is the perfect setting to add fantastical elements and highlight the wonder that one can feel when entering a circus or carnival. I also chose to add a sadder twist because I think that by its anticipation it allows the reader to feel a sense of mystery and be more intrigued by what is happening, which allows them to be fully immersed in the word made wonderland.

Smiles Plastered On - Myra Gupta (@_.myraguptaa)

Smiles plastered on explain the bitter irony of the world and how the joys and jollies that were celebrated are cast aside. How demoralizing it must be. Deprecating insecurities bloom into those who don't find themselves a home and lead their lives into a pit of despair. Every human in the world is doomed and yet, everyone waits for their entry to their wonderland. 

welcome to the carnival - Yunseo Choi (@writtenbyyunseo)

It describes a horror setting of a carnival, with elements that twist reality and give surrealistic elements to the situation. It also portrays a world in which the entire construct of reality is upended, showing a 'Wonderlandian' kind of scene in which the protagonist is victim to the pitfalls and terrifying scenarios of the world.

The Once Familiar Place - FJGCSABA (@Malkia Padduyao)

Since it has this carnival vibe, I decided to make a short story about a girl who used to love going to the carnival, but, she outgrew it, as she grew up, thats when she realised how much she loved it 

red and white and red - Esther Joji (@_estha__x_)

I wrote about a mirage of a wonderland tucked into the corner of my mind amidst the chaos that usually goes on there. The wonderland seems all fun and games from the torture and heartache you've experienced, but just when you reach your peak, you come tumbling back down. My poem encapsulates the entrapment and cycling of our intrusive, degrading thoughts- like an ambulance signal, going red and white and red, with very little room to escape. It can also be interpreted as feelings of PTSD or trauma, where the past haunts your present, and where you savor the few moments of peace and forget that comes with it. 

The Peculiarities of Ophelia Roux - Joy Hazel (@jonnydapoet.priv)

Wonderland is all about whimsy, insanity, things that don't make sense, absurdity and the bizarre - and for the most part in media, that's portrayed in a positive lens, very clean, very demure, very mindful and happy-go-lucky.

But simultaneously, insanity and the absurd are scary things, and the notion that you're going insane or that something is wrong with your mind is terrifying at points (believe me, I'd know). Crazy isn't all sunshine and rainbows and tea parties with hares - it's not knowing who you are, loosing your grip on what is the most important in life - life itself.

"The Peculiarities of Ophelia Roux" is meant to tackle these themes in a way that isn't as obvious as it may seem - masquerading as a murder mystery, it's actually a story about disassociation, mental health struggles and a fear of insanity - and to me, that's just as valid an interpretation of Wonderland as any other.

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ART

Lustrous Light Show - Adowintry (@Adowintry)

My piece is one filled with many little things in it, the chaos supporting the circus theme. There is also a certain darkness and uncertainty in it that makes one notice that it is not all that it seems…

Emotions I - shahana saleem khan (@schahnasaleem)

My artwork, featuring the ceramic masks displayed in a grid-like fashion, connect to this theme by exploring the idea of identity and transformation—key elements in a ""Wonderland"" narrative. The repetition and variations of the masks symbolize the different personas or faces we encounter (or wear) in a whimsical or surreal environment like Wonderland. Each mask, with its subtle differences, might represent the various identities or emotions that come to life in such an extraordinary world.

the strangest things you've ever seen - Lilly Schymick (@lillysch25)

The piece includes many traditional carnival inspired themes. The head in the popcorn bucket is very reminiscient of a circus fortune teller in its position. The stars and the eyes show that this is a strange chamber one has wandered into. What is wonderland but just the strangest circus?

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CREATIVE NONFICTION

One Carnival Native to your Heart - Jolene Hii (@jolene.hjx)

Somewhat of a personal anecdote that reflects my own fears, wonderland as depicted within my piece exists in a carnival, which also actually only exists within one's mind. It is a lingering memory that persists past youth and pleads to be re-entered. The piece uses a carnival as an extended metaphor for the ache of aging, societal expectations, and loss of childhood.

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Read Issue IX: Welcome to Wonderland on Gumroad here.