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by Car As usual, I will be providing a list of quotes to inspire your writing for our latest issue. In this issue, we want to hear about your point of view on games. We want to read about what games symbolize to you. You could write about the relationships you form and strengthen while playing games, or the challenges the games exhibit. Although this theme is open to submissions that are serious, sad, silly, joyful, and everything in between, it can still be difficult to find writing inspiration. So, I hope these quotes will help to spark your creative mind! “I’m afraid that sometimes you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.” - Dr. Seuss “Game night: The night that brings out the most excitement!” - Metromag “Don’t play games if you can’t afford to lose.” - Germony Kent “Life is more fun if you play games.” - Roald Dahl “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” - Albert Einstein “It’s your game; make up your own rules.” - Barbara Corcoran “She remembered who she was and then the game changed.” - Lalah Delia “I think the reason that I like so many different games is because I like the way my brain works when I’m playing games. It’s more fun.” - John Romeo “Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism, the way you play it is free will.”  - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” - Babe Ruth “We should always be strategizing our next move. Chess. Never checkers. Unfortunately, some of us are still playing connect four.” - Tola Lawal “The score never interested me, only the game.” - Mae West “Some people play the game, others change it. Which are you?” - Anonymous “I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades.” - Demetri Martin “We didn’t lose the game; we just ran out of time.” - Vince Lombardi “Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we.” - Phil Jackson “The key is not the will to win. Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” - Bobby Knight “Gaming brings people together.” - Lisa Su “If you’re playing a poker game and you look around the table and can’t tell who the sucker is, it’s you.” - Paul Newman “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.” - Shigeru Miyamoto “Half the game is mental; the other half is being mental.” - Jim Mckenny “Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece.” - Ralph Charell “Neon lights and joysticks, that’s where I belong.” - Unknown “I think it’s wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.” - Steven Wright “It’s not how you play the game, it’s how you place the blame.” - Don Simpson “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is?” The opportunity to play.” - Mike Singletary “It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.” - John Wooden “Just be patient. Let the game come to you. Don’t rush. Be quick, but don’t hurry.” - Earl Monroe “Arcades, where dreams are born one quarter at a time.” - Unknown “Playing games is the best time of your life, and the more games you get, the better it is.” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer “Games shouldn’t only be fun. They should teach or spark an interest in other things.” - Hideo Kojima “Games are all about taking risks.” - James Altucher “I can’t play your game because I’m always ahead of it.” - Sissy Gavrilaki “The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose.” - John Mcenroe “If you’re not prepared to lose every friend you have over a board game, you’re not playing hard enough.” - Unknown “Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules.” - Ashleigh Brilliant Hopefully these quotes will help inspire your writing for Issue VII, and any other projects you may be working on! Submissions will be open from March 1st - April 1st. More updates and information can be found on our Instagram, @rewritethestarsreview. Follow @rewritethestarsreview for more!

by Milica Filipovic By definition, fanfiction is a form of literature that derives its characters and other aspects of the storyline from pre-existing published works. For most readers, fanfiction has become a cure for the heartache of finishing a good story. It gives writers and readers alike an opportunity to follow the characters they’ve grown attached to as they explore new adventures from different writing styles. While fanfiction often cannot be published, it has many benefits for struggling writers. So, how can indulging in fanfiction benefit your own writing? Here’s a few good reasons to pick up this hobby. 1. Instant writer’s block cure: Not having to do all the work Coming up with a world of your own is a challenge to say the least. To go through the process of creating characters and relationships and settings can drain the energy from any hard working writer. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to start with characters and backstories already prepped for you? Well… I think you know where this is headed. When writing fanfiction, you’re simply building off already established characters and placing them in new plotlines. Many writers take this approach to get through rough patches of their WIP. When your main project seems too daunting and puts too much pressure on you to write, fanfiction could be an alternative to get your brain thinking. Additionally, writing fanfiction means you cannot publish any work you create (unless you change the details to avoid plagiarism claims) and it won’t encourage you to abandon your WIP. Some popular novels that started out as fan fiction are the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer and The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. In short, if you’ve got a bad case of writer’s block you should sit down and write a new story set in a universe that’s already created. 2. Reconnecting with your writing While fanfiction is considered “not a real form of writing” by some authors, it has a reputation for taking root in readers’ hearts. Writing fanfiction can be an emotional experience for yourself and anyone you choose to share your work with. For readers, fanfiction lets them connect with characters they love on a deeper level. A well known beloved fanfic that had readers brought to tears is “All The Young Dudes” which can be found on an online nonprofit for fanworks. The story was written in the Harry Potter universe during the time of the marauders and has since grown a large following. This example is one of the ways readers have renewed their admiration for their childhood novels all through the help of fanfiction. However, for writers, fanfiction stems to a greater extent from a longing for more content. Writers have the unique ability to pick up a story from where it left off and make it their own. This type of literature forms personal connections between the creators of fanfics and the stories they’ve adapted. Many writers find joy in reconnecting with the books they cherished when they were younger. It’s a reminiscent feeling to look back on these characters with a new perspective and take them on new journeys. Not only can writing fanfiction help you connect with your childhood novels, it can also help you revive your love for your WIP. By exploring other author’s characters in depth, you are bound to find some similarities to your own characters. Fanfiction can help you dig deeper into your characters’ and make them more 3D for your audience to truly understand their actions. 3. Perfecting your craft The same way writers do exercises or short stories or prompts to enhance their skills, fanfiction can serve the same purpose. If you’re looking to brush up on your skills and style, writing fanfiction could be a fun and creative approach to this goal. A few examples of skills you could practice while writing are descriptive imagery, plot development, and in general, letting your personal style flourish. By taking the pressure off your conscience that your story needs to be amazing, you can freely nurture your hobby and build confidence in your writing without the added risks of failure. While writing fanfiction won’t necessarily make you famous, it can and will benefit you as a writer in many other ways. If you’ve got writer’s block or are just looking for something new to try out, why not fanfiction? We sure think it’s a great idea! References: Sutton, Jandra. “3 Reasons Why I Love (And Write) Fanfiction | by Jandra Sutton.” Medium, 8 February 2017, https://medium.com/@jandralee/3-reasons-why-i-love-and-write-fanfiction-d15c0a140e6e. Accessed 24 February 2024. “Fanfiction: Why Every Novelist Should Write It.” The Novel Smithy, 26 February 2019, https://thenovelsmithy.com/why-write-fanfiction/. Accessed 24 February 2024. McMinn, Jessica A. “5 Benefits Of Writing Fan Fiction (And Why You Shouldn't Dismiss It) – Writer's Edit.” Writer's Edit, https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/5-benefits-of-writing-fan-fiction-and-why-you-shouldnt-dismiss-it/. Accessed 24 February 2024. “The Benefits of Reading Fanfiction for Students' Writing Skills.” The Baltic Times, 11 April 2023,https://www.baltictimes.com/the_benefits_of_reading_fanfiction_for_students__writing_skills/. Accessed 24 February 2024.

by Madhusree and Jason Wu. Oftentimes, we perceive art to be purely instinctual –a writer slaving over his desk while the inspiration strikes its bells, leaving his nights bereft of dreams and flesh devoid of sustenance. We love imagining a poet transcending her body and soul, becoming one with Goddess Saraswati (Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, flowing water, abundance, wealth, art, speech, wisdom, and learning), as she pens down the verses from heart. In essence, the romantic notion of artistic creation is shrouded in purple prose –the darker the hue, the better to encapsulate the artist. The romanticized image of the tormented artist before the canvas, deep in the cups and fuelled by divine inspiration is a narrative deeply ingrained in our cultural perception of art. And while this sentiment is certainly a very romantic one, it often belies the messy affair, that is art. Makers of Works Artists –be it authors, painters or musicians– are often portrayed as lonely figures in the dark, engaged in an intense ritual with their muses and demons. Even in real life, such artists do often engage in intense rituals, of pleading with their landlords for rent pardon. While the affluent can afford to be 'true' to their voice and embrace a "daring" approach in their pursuit of greatness, the majority are more likely to be in a pursuit for actual sustenance, than for perfection. When survival becomes more pressing than being a part of some transcendental revelation, the common folks are often required to turn towards more “commercial” forms of art, i.e. art that is guaranteed to sell moderately well, and not cause much trouble or upheaval with the general public. Necessity is not necessarily the mother of invention, especially when said necessity is leading to unfed mouths and unpaid debts. Creativity Of The Works Creativity is not a divine gift bestowed upon a chosen few. When we turn our noses down at an artist because their art is lacking originality, being “lazy” or not being “serious” enough, we forget that art is not fast fashion. Even paintings clearly made to be hung in living rooms instead of galleries, or stories which faithfully follow an age-old formula, demand considerable acumen and artistry than we realize. “Constructing” art is no easy feat - it often involves being in a staring match with a blank page, grappling with the absence of even inspiration, and wrestling with the challenge of translating thoughts into words. It is a veritable feat in technique to be able to express yourself when you don’t feel the need. Constructing art sometimes involves the generation of entirely new concepts unknown to the world, which in itself, is an incredible feat on its own. The flowy, purple prose that often accompanies panel discussions of great art may satiate the panelist’s imagination, but it is this gritty, unglamorous reality of the creative process that truly defines many of the phases in an artist's journey. Finale The processes that occur behind the works that creators make have many hardships and challenges. It’s often ignored when viewers see the work as they only get the final version. They don’t see the many drafts and mistakes overshadowed by the glamorous finale of the complete work. But as spectators of the works, we need to take in the work as a whole, including its past. The slow process of constructing art is truly what makes it precious. Follow @writer_jasonwu on Instagram for more!

Issue VI: Dreams of a Caged Bird garnered many beautiful submissions, and to honor these wonderful pieces of writing, we decided to feature the inner thoughts of our writers and what their pieces mean to them. Please keep in mind that not all submitters are featured due to their personal preference, but you can read their writing inside Issue VI. Note: Their social media handles are also listed in brackets if you want to support them. Poetry Prose Creative Non-fiction POETRY Afra - March (@zaraapens, @zaraytheartist) My piece "March" touches on the sensitive issue of bullying. It subtly shows how the narrator would have been an entirely different person, had she not been bullied/harassed. Also, this incident somehow prevents her from flying and pursuing her dreams the way she wanted to. Cairo Evans - the musings of a worm My poem is a first person story about a worm who dreams of seeing rain. They die in the rainstorm but are satisfied as it is their life's dream to be in the rain. I was thinking about birds, and somehow got to the phrase of "the early bird gets the worm". I wanted to write about the worm, as I believe even worms have aspirations and dreams as well. I feel like a worm in the grand scheme of the universe, so small, so unimportant. But I have dreams and I want to achieve them. Sumo - Caged spark within (@thesnugglyducklings604) Caged spark within', is about the wish of an artist to not let their voice, their 'spark' to be heard by the world because they think it won't light anybody's skies, and won't help anybody. But after a desperate plea of their inner voice, they decide to let it go into the world on its own, and even if the voice reaches only one soul, the artist's hungry heart and eager soul would get their due, and they would feel heard. Both these poems use flight as a medium of freedom and happiness as a way of breaking their cages. All of us cage our voices into the four walls of rationality or practicality, and so they burn in agony inside. Be it an empty relationship, or a caged inner voice, both of these need freedom from, and so, one should use optimism and happiness to uncage oneself from these. Sumo herself used to cage her voice, as she thought nobody would understand it the way she would. That is certain. But the thought, that many people would listen to her voice and have their own unique ways of understanding it, also drove her to let her voice fly into the sky, and have its own flight. Caged dreams have a way to ease the soul. And so they should be left free, for others to see their awe-some flight too. Kyra Allyson - starved (@lykasticker) I think my piece serves as the embodiment of desperation — similar to that of a caged bird. It illustrates a deep desire to be loved and cared for while highlighting the contrast between people in relationships, and those who drown in the shadows of isolation, which mimic the loneliness of a caged bird. I hope others who empathise with this piece can break out of their cage and seek lasting relationships. Kate Waters - Sandbox (@writinguntil) My piece is a poem I wrote after I lost several friends due to my disability. “She is a sandbox girl” is a poem about marching forward despite the pain that holds you down and escaping to build the life you deserve. Fatima Shad - Caged Lovebird (@fatimashadpoetry) This poem plays a vital role in displaying how the yearning for our long-distance beloveds can shatter us like sand's grains, yet we have all the courage to run towards them, even bare feet, walking on burning coals or a land under our feet that's blazing hot in the fire of our beloved's absence's ache. We do all that we can, but we must know if the person we're doing it for is worth the courage and efforts. Devon Webb - My Diginity (@devonwebbnz) 'My Dignity' is a self-empowering piece about standing your ground & maintaining kindness when 'caged' by the cruelty of others, & daring to dream of a better world. Tatum Bunker - I Plucked On My Own Feathers (@tatum_tot24601) This piece is about not accepting change and worrying about the future too much. Worries can be like a cage, they trap you and attempt to ensure that you can never break free. Ripping off my feathers, as stated in the poem, is a way of saying that I will stay wallowing in my own worries and misery. Ellen Alfredson - Lovely little bird, dream on dream on! (@_ellen.alfredson) My poem is about about being a big dreamer with a big passion for something (in my case writing), but feeling stuck because of where You live and how uninspired your surroundings are, and how they don’t have big dreams like you do, and because of that can’t really understand you. Therefore, the cage, and ”breaking free” means not letting your dreams, passions and goals be limited because of the lack of passion, inspiration, or support in your surroundings. The poem is also encouraging young people to dream on, dream wild, dream big and dream free, and pursue their passions, despite it all. When I saw the theme for this issue I knew immedietly what I wanted to write about. The poem is about being a big dreamer with a big passion, but feeling caged because of where you live and the people surrounding you. It’s about feeling uninspired, unsupported or not understood because of the people around you being ”non dreamers”, but still breaking free from the cage by not limiting your passions, dreams and goals because of them. I think many young artists of all sorts can relate to the feeling of people around you not understanding your passion, and my piece is about encouraging people to dream on anyway. To keep dream on, dream wild, dream big, and dream free, despite it all. I think my poem would fit in the magazine because it showcases the bird’s cage as a specific space where, instead of fueling your passion and dreams, you feel as If your dreams are sinking, but you dream on, dream on, dream on anyway. And you don’t step back from it, because your passion is leading you, and you know you’re going the right way. And so, dream on dream on! Ray Shubert - Heard (@down_the._.rabbit_hole, @the_library_archive) This poem displays the emotions of feeling trapped and alone inside yourself, and dreaming of something more. To me, this poem is about breaking out of your own self destruction and depression to grow and do great things. I was inspired by my own experiences with mental health struggles and how isolating and intense it is, especially feeling like you are facing everything alone and being scared to reach out for help for fear of judgement. I want to make an impact through my writing, and I aspire to help people know that they are never alone, and they can always be more than their struggles. Serennus - V. Morina - The colors of dreams (@serennus) It shows you the felling's of the bird and its efforts toward its dreams. I usually don't make any magazine submissions but this time was different, the theme of this one was what inspired me and gave me the urge of wanting to write something about it. How someone might relate is by listening to the feelings of the character in the poem, how the character felt and wanted to always reach for what they wished for. T. A. Jones - Write You Into Oblivion (@taj.the.poet, @tajthepoet95) Muses live on even when they shouldn't. And we provide them with shelter with our words. With our memories. But not all muses are good. Sometimes they leech, take, and dig themselves into our cores. To be honest, we shouldn't take it. Not when there's better people and things to write about. So I used this piece as a battle cry to let those muses leave through the words. Until they're gone and inspire no more. T.A. Jones - Black Phoenix (@taj.the.poet, @tajthepoet95) I wrote this piece with the intention of transformation and evolution through death. About Black death and how we elevate, intoxicate, and appreciate culture with everything we do. Black, brown, and forgotten communities fight for the right of remembrance and all that we do to be seen. I’m just happy that through this piece, the words got something out of me. Michelan "Mi·I·Mi" Le'Monier - When Did You Last Look at Heaven (@mi.i.mi07, @thinkingpositive07) "When Did You Last Look at Heaven?" is about remembering a time of peace. Often we get stuck in this endless cycle of "grind culture" for the sake of survival; which, while it is important to have a livelihood, the constant motion of work takes us away from moments of stillness, rest, and appreciation creating a sense of martyrdom. In this poem, I sit in the last moment I felt life was still and dream to create a life that is filled with moments like that. And sometimes, that can feel unattainable given the demands of everyday life. This poem was created during a moment of self-reflection. It was inspired by conversations I've had with other adults (primarily young adults adjusting to adult life) who are navigating life changes and transitions, but don't have a lot of space to process said experiences. And because BIPOC people are often under-resourced, there is little support (at least that is widely known) to help them. As someone who is fortunate enough to have had support at a young age and straight out of college, I think it's important that I provide support where I can. These poems are meant to provide new perspectives and a softer lens on periods of growth and change to alleviate a lot of the hopelessness that can often come with new phases of life. I hope that people will read these and feel they are not alone in being frustrated while trying to find themselves, what makes them happy, and their way through life. Elisabeth D. - Watching you from afar (@elisabethdwrites) 'Watching you from afar' is about not being able to reach someone, or, more precisely, having to stay far from them, here in a 'golden cage' because the relationship isn't healthy anymore. It's about taking distance to find peace, but finding pain in it too. And it is also about dreaming of a different life, where you could be happy together. I think that is why it fits the theme pretty well. This poem is actually a very personal one, because it's vaguely inspired from my own experience in a friend group when I broke up with my ex boyfriend, who also is a part of this friend group. It's a strange experience and, at some point, I had to take some distances. I think that's what this poem is about: having to watch someone from afar to avoid self destruction. Overcomer Olajide - Dreams in Broken Bottles (@Titilope.olajide) Dreams in broken bottles reflect yearning for aspirations that seems out of reach like a caged bird desire for flight. it depicts the fragility and vulnerability nature of dreams, the doubt associated with unfulfilled dreams. It encourages reader to embrace their inner self, find solace and get a hold of their dreams no matter the circumstances. Shu J. Liu - dreams of a high-achieving dove, yet no more than a pigeon (@wlvshuu) "dreams of a high-achieving dove, yet no more than a pigeon" was inspired from my own personal academic struggles and high-achieving academic expectations. I wanted to express the contrast between how society in general views pigeons and doves, when they are technically the same creature. Doves are held at a higher regard with far more love than your average pigeon receives. It's similar academically; students with higher grades are held up with more respect by authority, while those with lower grades could be looked down on. It causes all "pigeons" (here representing your average student) to pretend to be as wonderful as a dove (representing a model/straight A student) in order to achieve academic validation. I hope other teens can relate to academic pressure (well, "hope" wouldn't be the right word, to be fair), and for all those who do: you do not always have to be perfect. One grade does not define who you are. Take care of your mental health before your academics — trust me, it'll help you a lot in the long run. Eli Ernst-Fontaine - Escapism (@starboy_eli) "Escapism" is a metaphorical piece I wrote about the teenage life I am not able to live due to my disabilities. The poem in itself paints the portrait of two boys, with a seemingly ambiguous relationship. In reality, the poem is about writing a story, perhaps based on a blurry dream the author had one night. I chose this to stay an ambiguous metaphor because I am not sure what my dream truly is. After all, the caged bird ignores what lies in the outside world. Cheryl Tan - Rainbow Sister (@implausiette) Rainbow Sister is about being queer in an Asian conservative country, and the problems that arise with it. Any dreams of love and marriage are instantly quashed beneath discriminatory laws enacted. Rainbow Sister also happens to be the title of a traditional Mongolian-Chinese song. Alex Gemstones - Barricade boys (@alenon_alenin) 'Barricade boys' is dedicated to those who are willing to go as far as putting their life on the line in standing for what they truly believe in. This piece is inspired by several characters from the French novel Les Misérables by Victor; to be precise, it features a group of young revolutionaries, including students and working class men, in 1830s France, who started an uprising with the aim of overthrowing the monarchy and bringing back the French Republic. However, their revolution was short-lived, as they were greatly outnumbered by the national guard who quickly extinguished the opposition, leading to the death of almost all of the revolutionaries. The characters whom the poem is based on are very special to me, as they are an inspiration to keep fighting for my beliefs and to stand my ground even when the circumstances are against me. I hope that 'Barricade boys' will inspire the readers to take a stand and to be fierce and proud of what they believe in; however, in no way do I encourage the readers to die for their cause! Zac Hudson - The parakeet dreams of being a cassowary (Zac.writes) Birds are a wide and varied concept, from wild birds to domesticated or caged ones. My poem is told from a caged bird idolising the wild and undomesticated cassowary which is native to the rainforests of Queensland Australia. Your prompt, I have been trying to be more adventurous with my writing and one of the easiest ways I've found to do that is by tackling literary prompts I wouldn't normally gravitate towards. My poem has a major theme of freedom and I think that resonates with teenagers because we often crave that sense of independence as we grow older. I'm also really proud of this piece specifically because I was able to use an Australian symbol like the cassowary which I think lends this work a new voice that really reflects me as a person and what I want to achieve with what I create. Ellie Coul - Tick, Tick, Tick (@elliecoul.writes) No matter your species, income, social status, or will to live, no one can stop time from passing. "Tick, Tick, Tick" emphasizes time's unforgiving nature as an inescapable boundary. Portraying a snapshot of a moment in a hospital waiting room, the poem describes various people living different lives who find themselves in the same situation: desperately wishing they could grant the person they love more time. When the theme, "Dreams of a Caged Bird" was released, I thought about the universal boundaries of the world. Having experienced loss, my mind automatically went to the concept of time, which controls nearly every aspect of life. Embracing the idea that a heightened awareness of the passing of time evokes a feeling of being trapped, I wish for my poem to speak to anyone who yearns to break free from the bounds of time. Maryam Hedayat - Drained Success (@06oliver.twist) I can’t swim and as a result of that I’ve grown an aversion to deep waters and being in water in a larger sense .In the same way I can’t swim, I can’t give merit to any of my achievements and thus feel as if I’m drowning in all my failures regardless if they hold any substance to my work.This feeling of drowning is then reaffirmed with my metaphorical ‘poseidon’ , god of the seas’.The poseidon in the poem can be anything to anyone reading , teachers , friends , family , critics, just anyone who consciously or unconsciously pins you down back to those feelings and essentially controls your motivations like the seas.The poseidon for me is myself and how i ‘hem myself in’ into my feeling of underachievement whenever I feel as If I am going to rise or when I even try to do so.To neatly summarise , ‘Drained success’ was inspired my own aversion to water and failures and thus also created the meaning. I think teens these days will understand this same fear or disappointment to failures academics or otherwise to the point they feel trapped or drowned. But I do not think they should deny these feelings nor feel any regret or shame in having them as everyone will have them when falling down and getting up through the course of life , such feelings can also make you strive for more and break barriers in doing so enabling you to create from ashes. Edison once said, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I've successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” Alice - An Ode to the Lost (@aliceswips) My poem relates to the theme of Issue VI by using the metaphor of a caged bird to portray a person with a wonderful voice who is trapped by society for the sole purpose of entertaining it. As a result, not being able to escape, the person becomes a mere shadow of themselves. However, this does not stop them from guiding other birds like them to prevent them from being caged, even if it means doing so with a whisper. Although their dream of singing is unattainable, they hope others can achieve theirs. The inspiration came from one of my characters: Caroline, from TNIC. She is indeed a caged bird who couldn't escape her own destiny, but kindly helps lost souls to find their light again. I hope that when the novel is published, Caroline will be able to help people find their way in real life too. Teresa M. Medina - Elephant (@louvre_in_blue) It is about the feeling of being closeted for a long time and the inability to say it while you feel that you can't hold it inside for any longer. I think it fits the theme in the way that queerness is a rather beautiful thing (bird) but it's inside a hostile and constrincting place: the world (cage), and at the same time the whole metaphor represents the lack of freedom of the whole situation. It is maybe a little bit gore in some way, but I felt like realism was a key part of this and I thought that sugarcoating it would make it look like less of an issue, which wasn't what I wanted to convey. This poem is about how painful it is to be closeted as a queer person, which is something that people often see as easy or light, but is actually excruciating at times. I think it can be a topic that resonates with many young people that might find themselves it this situation and are feeling or have felt any of these things. And I think it may be helpful to everyone struggling to get rid of their own elephant, crocodile, or whatever beast is consuming them. I hope they know they're not alone in the cage. Prose Geneviève Laprise - In the Dark (Writer_Gen) In the Dark is written from the point of view of Happiness. Happiness is trapped in the darkness when depression arises; therefore, it is like a caged bird that is asking to be released. Happiness is like a caged bird, but the cage is of our own making. Happiness is understanding and requests he is let out when Depression is ready. I wrote this story because I was feeling a little down, and I started thinking about how we make our own happiness. If Happiness is a person, what happens to them when the dark thoughts begin? I was also thinking about the struggles we go through to let happiness back in. Phoebe B.H. Mercury - The road is long (@spitewantsmealive) It is a piece about a man who is too afraid and to weak-willed to accomplish his goal. He is compared to a caged bird because of his own incompetence to become free or to at least, overcome his pitiful condition. He does not desire change, even though he suffers because of his constant mediocre state. It illustrates how the human can be its own enemy and that even a devil, may be less ditstructive than one's own self imposed limitations. It showcases the consequences of a plain life and how fear and maybe superficiality becomes a trap. Leslie Teel - Exploding Kittens and the Experiential Ferris Wheel (@leslie.teel) Young people with dreams of education and becoming good adults can also be trapped by them. By others' and their own expectations. By all the work necessary at such a young age to fulfill those dreams and expections. Obligations to peers, families, school, the very future. Sometimes they might just want to be a kid for a night. Adia Reynolds - So Falls the Cuckoo Bird (@cryptic.cryptid.writes) This piece is about being thrown from all you've ever known and trying to fly. This lesson is bittersweet. Learning you are capable, but only being forced to do so because others stopped supporting you. I wrote this from the perspective of an original character who I'd associated with a cuckoo bird even before this prompt was released. This character is a testament for standing up for what you believe even if it means being expelled from the gilded cage that you had grown to love. Ayumi Inoue - Outside the Zoetrope (@in.iyoume, @peniyoume) "Outside the Zoetrope" follows a young girl trapped to her responsibilities as a daughter and child to a poor family. While she hopes to live like other children her age and go to school like it was a matter of course, she remains by her mother's side to help her with the house as she is aware of their reality. It might not be about dreaming big or dreaming wide, but it is about dreaming free - like a caged bird does. While I originally thought of writing a piece about hoping for freedom and dreaming big, I became interested in the idea of dreaming for a normal reality - a mediocre daily life where one can simply live and not be bogged down by pressure and expectations. Sometimes the chance of living a mundane life is really all people want. However, sometimes, experiencing a mundane life is not a luxury that people can afford. Thus, I write about a caged bird trapped in her responsibilities as a daughter and child to a poor family, who can only hope for a normal life. Perhaps people who feel the same - pressure from having to succeed, provide for the family, or be a reasonable child - will be able to see themselves in the child. Owl - the Bird and the Girl (@owl_writes) the Bird and the Girl is written from two POVs - that of a bird (an owl) and that of a girl. There is a parallel of the bird freeing other birds, and the girl freeing children from their respective cages, but not leaving themselves. It ends with the bird's dream of flying free. Everyone has their own cages that they need to break out of. Mine is the cause of all my recent problems, but also my main source of motivation. Birds symbolize freedom but this owl has accepted that breaking free may not be possible. Roukia Ali - Laney is Leaving (@roukiaa9140) The real main character of my piece, Laney, is indecisive about leaving the certainty of her old life behind, and the only one she feels understands her, her younger brother Eddy. However, she knows she wants to leave for new adventures and horizons, as symbolised by her obsession with a bike she gets herself. Caged by feelings and enforced ideas of responsibility and rationality, it is only through encouragement and empathy that she can be "free to roam" . I was inspired to write this piece when I was sitting near a park one day, watching people go by on their bikes. Some people walked alongside their bikes, and some sped by on them. I think it's a great symbol for individual freedom and how attached we are to it, and taking your freedom into your own hands by your own merits. I hope Laney herself is a relatable character in terms of her passion, but also her emotionality. Not wanting to seem selfish, but also wanting the freedom of one's own path, has always been a contention in my life---I sometimes feel like a bird in a cage, yearning to fly, but scared to fly away, wondering if maybe the cage is safer, or even expects my conformity, and I want my story to relieve anyone who feels similarly. I think it's a great fit overall for this magazine because Laney passes on this lesson of leaving your cage to grow onto Eddy so he can reach his own personal definition, which I think embodies spreading the message to a wider community, like ourselves as writers. Just as we all have our own personal definitions of what being a caged bird means in this issue, the same applies to how we have all taken in that message. Lauren D. Fulter - Cheeseburgers and Dragons (@laurendfulter_author) Inspired by my own experiences working a fast food job while longing to be a full-time writer. It deals with a more realistic side of "chasing your dreams" in the sense that the characters can't afford to chase their dreams just yet...but are driven and motivated by their dreams of seeing their dreams of dragons become a reality one day. I had been eyeing this magazine submission ever since the theme was announced. I loved the theme, and toyed with multiple different ideas. Nothing really struck a chord with me, and I ultimately decided to skip out of this magazine. That was until the night of January 2nd, when I woke up around 2am with an idea. I quite literally pulled out my laptop and wrote it right then and there. The story turned out far simpler than my original drafts (which consisted of fairies trapped in glass jars in a world far more fantastical than a burger restaurant). I don't see many young writers talking about the realities of BEING a young writer. We aren't established yet, and hardly any of us can afford to write full-time just yet. Working a day job is a necessity for so many, even if it's something as simple as fast food (which I worked on before going to college!). While making burgers wasn't my dream job and was merely a means to an end, I found an unexpected treasure working there. I got to meet real people and hear their stories. Many of which inspired me and taught me so much about the real world. The story is simple, but the message is very personal to me and so many other creatives dreaming out there. Kathryn Harry - The Boy and the Butterfly Net (@kathyrn._.jane) My piece focuses around a timid young boy who struggles with both his fear and the pressure of appeasing his father, feelings which make him feel trapped within himself. I wrote this piece at the Lewis & Clarke Fir Acres Writing Workshop last summer and was inspired to write it by the friends I made there. It was a piece I wrote very freely, tapping into my inner child. I wanted to express the growing pains we begin to experience at very young ages, when the bright world of our own making begins to clash with a solemn reality. My friends were very encouraging as I wrote it, and I am very thankful to them. Creative Non-Fiction Heetal Binwani - Life Cycles (@heetalofalltrades, @StarSpeckledSkies on Wattpad) My piece is about my own life, and how the expectations of society and family have made me feel trapped. Art is a passion of mine - I have loved to make art for as long as I can remember. However, as I grew up, I gradually came to realize that there was no viable way for me to chase a career in art, even though art was what I loved, even though it was my dream. I picked my college major only recently - and I remember confiding in my friend that I had never felt as trapped as I did while researching majors and narrowing down my options. Because even though I had an interest in the STEM field, and in neuroscience, my chosen major, it wasn't really what I wanted. Art was. But jobs in the arts can be incredibly unstable, and they don't pay all that well - it wasn't an option for me, and it certainly wasn't an option for my parents. I felt like I was being backed into a corner while picking my major - and it absolutely terrified me. It was that conversation with my friend that inspired this piece. This work covers my life, from age 5 to age 17, and explores how my dream of becoming an artist first flourished, and then died, as well as where I am regarding that dream now. I think other people will relate to this piece because it's a fairly prevalent problem in our society. STEM fields are often the highest paying, for good reason - but that means that it's often hard to justify the cost of going into an art field, considering that STEM fields have so many more opportunities. Even the friend I confided in struggled with the same thing; if money weren't a problem, she said, she'd go into music. But she's going into psychology, because music, with its high risks and no guarantee of a payoff, is simply not viable for her. People shouldn't have to choose between what they can live off of and what they love - but they do, because that's the society we live in. I think my piece is a good fit for your magazine because it is raw, it is real. You say that you want work that makes you feel something, and that is exactly what I aim to do, with each of my stories. Although I usually write prose, I chose to submit creative nonfiction this time, because the story I'm telling is one I've lived through - it's going to be more real than any fictional world I could think up for this prompt. Follow @rewritethestarsreview on Instagram for more information about upcoming issues.

Many people simply enjoy writing as a hobby, but have you ever thought of taking it more seriously? If writing is already something enjoyable to you, why not get benefits and rewards for it as well? There are many opportunities to publish your writing and there are multiple benefits to sharing your work. In this article, I will be sharing some of these benefits and opportunities. The Benefits of Sharing Your Writing Having your work published or submitting to contests can have many benefits. For example, having your work featured in literature magazines can help to spread your name and look good on resumes, applications, and as past experience. Furthermore, submitting your writing to contests can result in cash prizes and publication. In my experience, successfully sharing my writing with others is a huge confidence boost. When I first started submitting my work, I was nervous that nobody would like my work and I was afraid to step out of my comfort zone. I had to go through many rejections, but it paid off. After time, my submissions and applications were accepted. Now, I have much more confidence to share my writing! I also have much more confidence to try new things in real life as well. Additionally, sometimes editors at literature magazines would provide feedback on my submissions. This helped me improve and reflect on my work. Oftentimes, sharing your intimate work can be nerve-wracking. There will be some rejections, but also plenty of success. If you aren’t ready to experience that, don’t push yourself! Keeping writing as a hobby might be better for you right now, and that’s ok! However, if you’re looking for more opportunities and chances to broaden your writing portfolio and boost your confidence, look no further for a list of places to submit to. Opportunities for Writers If you've ever looked for writing opportunities, you may have had some difficulty. So, I will be providing some opportunities for writers to share and publish their work. Please note that there are many more opportunities out there, and you should do whatever works best for you! Online literature magazines. Online literature magazines such as @rewritethestarsreview, @wavesofwordsmagazine, @luxurylitmag, @bottleddreamsmagazine, etc. are great resources for writers. Most magazines accept a combination of poetry, prose, art, fiction, and creative non-fiction, although it can vary. Some online literature magazines even have blog submissions, which typically accept non-fiction and fiction work. These magazines can be found on Instagram and other social media platforms. One website, called ChillSubs, is very helpful with finding magazines. It shows literary magazines with open submissions, and provides more information on them. These magazines often have submissions for issues, collaborations, blog submissions, special contests, etc. Additionally, if you’re looking to grow as a writer through working in teams, many literature magazines have staff positions that handle or create writing. Writing competitions. Writing competitions accept many different genres of writing. Some even have cash prizes, publication opportunities, and other rewards for winners. To find writing competitions, you can look on social media or through a search engine, and find what works best for you! Writing scholarships. While some people believe writing scholarships are only for essays, there are also plenty for creative writing. Writing scholarships typically reward winners with money towards college and other education programs. These scholarships can be found through a search engine, social media, and are sometimes offered by high schools. Some popular writing scholarships include the Dennis Etchison Young Writers Scholarship ($500), Profile in Courage Essay Contest ($1,000 - $10,000), and ACES Scholarships ($1,500 - $3,000). Writing careers. If you’re old enough to seek out a career in writing, that is also a great option to pursue your passion. Some writing careers include journalism, author, editor/proofreader, English teacher, marketing, etc. Writing a book. Although writing a book can be a long and difficult process, it can also be worth the work if you’re ready! Some benefits can include sales, getting recognition for your writing, getting to create and share your ideas, and gaining experience. For more information on how to publish and write a book, check out both part 1 and part 2 of MG’s Tips for Indie Authors to learn more. In conclusion, sharing your writing can have benefits such as confidence boosts, cash prizes, publication, and help with resumes. I hope this article helped motivate you to share your wonderful writing, and provided resources and opportunities for you to share and benefit from your writing. Works Cited Coffey, Sandra. “30 Exciting Careers in Writing (with Salaries).” Indeed.com, 30 July 2023, www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-in-writing. Accessed Feb. 2024. Follow @claywithcar for more

Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you're feeling as single as a Pringle or basking in the warmth of your lover, enjoy some beautiful poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction this Valentine's Day. Poetry What is love? What is love? I ask the flowers they tell me that it is searching for the sun even when it's night I ask the moon she tells me that it is reflecting the sun because she hopes to be as beautiful as her one day I ask my grandparents they say it is holding each other through gritted teeth and through adoring smiles I ask the trees they say it is waiting years with the hope that their roots will intertwine I ask you but I only receive silence neither of us know we want to learn together by Ray Shubert More Information: It relates to the idea of love, and how this ideal is chased, but sometimes it is important to focus on the smaller, more "insignificant" sides of love, as that can be what builds a relationship the most. Instagram: @down_the._.rabbit_hole Bio: Ray Shubert is a teen writer from Utah. She has been writing for many years and is very inspired by gothic literature. Feedback: Smrithi: I audibly gasped after reading this because this piece is so beautiful! It truly conveys the idea that love is about the simple and small joys. I love how the poet both conveys the beauties of nature, and also the joys of human love. The last stanza is bittersweet and definitely uplifting. Wonderful piece! Bri: I love the idea of asking nature something associated with people, not nature. Ava: This is everything to me. Feels almost like a children's rhyme with its formulaic repetition(in the best way). Each section has its own take on love, I like the multiple perspectives. Sunflowers When one day she asked me my favourite plant I told her, sunflowers I loved how they stood tall in summer fields, their petals painted vibrant golds. How they’d turn to face the sun, welcoming its rays with each new day. And most of all, how the flowers coped, on the days the sun wasn’t out In the absence of its light, turning to face one another. She smiled softly, tucking a hair behind my ear And I thought to myself that when the sun chooses to hide She was, and always would be, the one I would look toward. by Ivy Janes More Information: I wrote this poem based on the time someone who I care a lot about told me that if I was to be a plant, I would be a sunflower, saying that to her I was vibrant and warm and 'sun-like.' She is who I would call 'my person,' so sharing these kinds of moments with her always fills me with so much joy and love, that I thought it would be a perfect sort of thing to share here: a short poem about love that means a lot, about a short moment full of love that meant a lot. I also think (or hope) that other people would feel the same sort of warmth reading it, reminded of or inspired to imagine sweet moments of casual domestic bliss. Instagram: @ivyallegedly Bio: Ivy has been an avid reader and writer longer than she can remember, particularly of epic fantasy novels, and pieces that allow her to explore the love and loneliness of our world. She also enjoys being with friends, sketching, baking, taking her dog Jax on walks, and spending every waking moment with music blasting from her headphones. Feedback: Smrithi: This piece is beautiful. I smiled reading it, and I definitely relate. The sunflower metaphor is cute and I love the last line that conveys that small feeling of love. Those moments where you just realize wow i love this person. Wonderful piece and truly goes to show how you only need 100 words to make someone feel happy. I hope you send this piece to whoever it's about! Bri: The idea of having a conversation with someone is so intimate and special. I love it! Ava: Very sweet! I love the metaphor of sunflowers facing each other. My Sweetheart’s Power We’re seven billion on this ball. I know full well I can’t Make each soul heed my words at all, Although that’s what I want. But when my bae prepares to read Some of my new-oozed ink, That moment’s stupendous indeed— Not even once she’ll blink. By some miracle, she compresses All literary journals, Poetry magazines, and presses Into her eyes’ lit kernels. Once read, there’s silence for a while. Then, gently, she will raise Her awed face, saying, “God!.....” and smile— True editorial praise! by Shamik Banerjee More Information: My piece is on love or on the different aspects of love excluding heartbreak. Instagram: @where_tales_end Bio: Shamik Banerjee is a poet from India. Some of his poems are forthcoming in Ekstasis Magazine, Willow Review, and Modern Reformation, among others. He is a formalist poet. Feedback: Smrithi: This piece brought a smile to my face and I think it's something a lot of people can definitely relate to. We often don't write to please the world but rather to please specific people in our lives and I think this piece does a great job of conveying that. Great work! Bri: The desire to share your adoration with others is so sweet! Ava: This is so sweet! Reminds me of the line from Sweet Nothing by Taylor Swift: "I wrote a poem. You say what a mind. This happens all the time." It isn’t easy loving a poet It isn’t easy loving a poet For he will not love me with a look Instead, write me in the pages of his book. He will not hold me in his arms But bind me in rhyme that forever charms; He will not bring flowers at my door, Instead, inscribe our love in metaphor. Though it isn’t easy loving a poet, There is little I regret, For if our love will be writ in his pages, We’d be remembered for ages. If he will bind me in rhyme, Our love in heaven would forever chime; And though he may not bring me flowers, I would dwell forever in metaphor’s bowers. And what would love be if a quest for ease, For it does not slacken or seek to appease. by R.S More Information: The poem talks about falling in love with a poet. Instagram: @thepoetrywindmill Bio: R.S. resides in India and writes poetry to find harmony in life. She graduated with Honours in English and loves to read and write poetry. She is greatly influenced and inspired by the poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Frost, Pablo Neruda, W.H. Auden and William Butler Yeats to name a few. She loves nature walks and rises early to feel inspired with the morning star and create new rhymes. Feedback: Smrithi: This poem is absolutely splendid. I love the rhyme scheme so much and I love how the poet has captured the beauty of poetry and loving a poet. As many of our readers are poets, I'm sure they'd be able to envision what loving them might feel like. The writing and language usage is also marvelous! Bri: I love how romantic the tone is. Ava: I love the questioning of if this kind of love is one that works for the narrator. Bleeding Heart Dove I wear my love On my chest, Raw and bloody, For the world to see. So full, am I, I cannot help but show it. If I lay still enough, On a bed of rotten roses, You would think me dead; Lovestruck suicide, My own undoing. Affection seeping out of me Like milk- I am prepared to give you my all. I am not wounded. Please, Believe me. Crimson stains, A curse or a blessing? You need not Claw my heart out. I will present it for you, On silver. Do not hurt me; I am already bleeding For you. by Jeahnelle Garcia More Information: This poem is based on the bleeding heart dove (bird), with a red stain on her chest. She contains so much love and hurt that it seeps out of her heart, staining the feathers on her chest deep crimson like blood. She look vulnerable, as if she was born hurt. This piece is for people who were born loving "too much" or were taken advantage for it. At the end of the day, love is vulnerable, and it is beautiful, and people who love "too much" have a beautiful gift that does not deserve to be taken advantage of as it so often is. Instagram: @_ante.mortem_ Bio: Jeahnelle Garcia is a 17 year old writer from Trinidad. She has been a writer for as long as she can remember (no matter how questionable the quality of said writing was). She loves to make weird art, listen to music, and play with Beans, her beloved cat. Feedback: Smrithi: This is a little less optimistic than we expected for this feature but I still do think it conveys a nice message of how those who "love too much" aren't flawed or wrong in any way. It is a little vulnerable but it also shows that these people deserve to be seen. Lovely writing! Bri: I love how lovestruck this piece is. Ava: Such a cool metaphor to describe a very vulnerable way of giving love. Really beautiful. Intangible If you were carved from smooth marble I’d shine your skin and wear that glimmer like gold around my neck, your stone-touched embrace still light with warmth and the beating of a butterfly’s wings. If you were a poem I would recite every stanza into the turn of my elbow, the twist of your lip and the magnetic sheen of your doe-eyes until you became one with the energy that bonds us. Every sentence drilling smiles into crows feet. Every metaphor a mere flickering candle, bowing in shame when held to your beauty. Your burns as exquisite as your voice. by Ari More Information: It discusses topics of admiration to the point of putting another individual on a pedestal and how the love for this person is almost intangible, unable to be expressed except through metaphor. Instagram: @ari.kanji Bio: Ari likes to write sometimes. Or all the time, actually. It's a problem. Feedback: Smrithi: The writing in this piece is marvelous and I love the idea behind it! We all definitely have once in our life "fell too hard" to the point that it becomes unhealthy, but this piece captures the optimistic side of loving someone so much that you'd do anything for them. Wonderful! Bri: The attention to detail is done well and holds an intimacy we are looking for. Ava: This is really well written, I love the power of the adoration that comes across. Fiction Bus ride, early august she sits next to me in the back row, hands interlocked. the sun is setting: the same golden light which inspired countless painters settling on a face more perfect than any art. she laughs, and i want to capture the sound, let it loop through my head for eternity. i lean over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and when her gaze meets mine i understand that the love which has been written, painted, and sang of for millennia is right here, in the form of two girls pressed against dusty moquette fabric. by Rebecca Walker More Information: My piece is about my girlfriend who I love very very much! Instagram: @beccamkwalker Bio: Rebecca is an avid reader and writer based in the UK. When not immersed in a book she can be found baking, playing guitar or listening to music - she is especially inspired by Sylvia Plath, Carol Ann Duffy and the lyrics of Phoebe Bridgers. :-) Feedback: Smrithi: Aww this piece is lovely. The writing is picturesque and I love how we're immediately able to capture this image in our mind's eye. The last line is beautiful and almost brought me to tears (in a positive way). Love this feeling! Bri: I love the line about understanding now why writings, paintings and songs are about love because in a way, we don't know until we experience it ourselves Ava: This reminds me of that Andrew Garfield quote about Emma Stone: "She was like a shot of espresso. She was like being bathed in sunlight". I love the feeling of gentle love that radiates from this piece. Love Prevails One. The first sentence I heard from him was ‘my wife cooks the best’. His eyes light up every time she walks into the room, and every time he thinks of her. Two. She meets him. She falls in love and walks the path of rehabilitation with him. Three. When he had a stroke, and his family left with all his money, his former employee returned to his life. No words were needed for her to understand him. The stars are jealous of the human capacity to love. How do they lose everything but love? by Owl More Information: All three men have aphasia. A stroke may have taken away their words, cognitive functions, jobs, families… But somehow, love prevails, sometimes where you least expect it. We all need a reminder of that every once in a while. (I should add that the third relationship is purely platonic.) Instagram: @owl_writes Bio: Owl is a speech therapy student. She has been working with people with aphasia and hearing stories. This piece consists of three of those stories. Feedback: Smrithi: This piece is AMAZING! I love the short yet crisp descriptions that tell us everything we need to know by using only absolutely necessary words. The last line really ties the piece together well and I think this will be a splendid addition to our feature! Bri: My favorite aspect is their story and how it is told in stages. Ava: So uplifting! I adore that last line. Best kind of love The best kind of love is one that is unexpected. One that catches both partners off guard.  It’s one where you think that the other won’t like you, a simple fear of rejection. And once that feeling of rejection passes due to acceptance, it’s a beautiful feeling. It’s feeling refreshed, a feeling of completion, and a feeling of excitement for what’s about to arrive. It’s when both partners feel safe to share their feelings, without any hesitation. It’s one where both partners put forth the best effort they can muster towards the relationship. by Anonymous Staff Member More Information: N/A Instagram: N/A Bio: N/A Feedback: Smrithi: This piece is simple and elegant and definitely something a lot of people can relate to! It made me smile and I hope others find this kind of love as well. Bri: The idea of having a best concept or version of love is sweet and personal. Ava: I love this idea of love: simple, unexpected, filling. Cockatoo When you first became my lover I was sitting alone in my room at eleven at night listening to my favorite song, texting my favorite girl (you). You asked me how my night was and I realized I loved you. I teared up every time I saw your face knowing my butterflies would never be yours. I first became your lover after you carefully caught each one with a net, fed them sweet songs and honey, and wrapped them in a bouquet with a pink bow. I keep them by my side and promise to keep you safe too. by Cairo Evans More Information: This story is about my girlfriend. She reminds me of a cockatoo, hence the title. I had liked her for over a year, but at first she was girlfriends with my ex-best friend (awkward). We started dating in September last year and we're going strong! I wrote about my process of falling in love with her. Instagram: @abductedcowmag Bio: Cairo Evans is a young writer. She enjoys theater, reading, drawing, skiing and skateboarding. Her work has been featured in several publications, and she runs her own literary magazine (abducted cow magazine). She is currently directing her first show and loves penguins very much. Feedback: Smrithi: This piece is sweet and I love how personal yet broad it is. We can clearly see the author's love for their girlfriend in it, but we can also see our own love and adoration for people in our lives mirrored in the piece. The butterfly analogy is splendid and the writing is marvelous. I love the last line! I hope the author and their girlfriend stay together forever <3 Bri: The second-person perspective is done well. Ava: This is so cute. I love the progression of unrequited love to mutual love. Really well described! Creative Nonfiction The Heart On My Sleeve I used to think that writing to your love was too much labor. Your hands would start to tremble from gripping the pen, and how many sonnets could you spout before the recesses of your soul became empty? But then came him. Sitting in the back of algebra class with his heart on his sleeve. Suddenly, I was writing. Pages. My poems became his, my writing dedicated to his soul. Sonnets, love songs, and all the romance I’ve read were all...him. Now, the ring on my finger follows my pen as I write, and my words are still... all his. by Elizabeth Dueñas More Information: The inspiration for this piece of prose came from my experience of falling in love with my husband. Shortly after we started dating, he went away to boot camp for the army, and the only way to talk was through letters. I had the obstinate idea that writing letters to someone I love wasn't worth it or that I couldn't do it. But then, I couldn't stop writing to him. At one point, I sent him four letters in one day, all multiple pages long. I fell in love with him through his letters, and I continue to fall in love with everything he says today. Other people might relate to this piece because, as writers, readers, and consumers, everything around us turns into them when we fall in love—movies, songs, poetry, books, etc. Every thought we have is theirs, and as a writer, it is hard to stop once we start professing our love for them through our words. This piece would be a good fit for this feature because it highlights the raw emotion of love on a universal level. It celebrates our connection and holds my heart deep within it. Instagram: @literarylizzy_ Bio: Elizabeth Dueñas is a budding, young writer at the start of her publication journey. She has been writing for many years with a strong focus on poetry and prose, drawing inspiration from the connections she has with others. Her work is authentic and captures the essence of the human experience. She is excited for wherever her writing journey will take her. Feedback: Smrithi: This piece is beautiful! Truly shows that within 100 words, you can convey a complete love story in itself. I love the writing and phrases like "my writing dedicated to his soul // the ring on my finger follows my pen as I write" - they really portray the simply joys of love. I also adore the inspiration behind this piece and I definitely think a lot of our readers will be able to relate to it! Bri: I love that it shows how love changes people in the best way. Ava: A beautiful devotion of love and how it can fuel you. "Now, the ring on my finger follows my pen as I write" is utterly gorgeous, love the feeling of pure bliss that comes from this one. Faded Friendship Bracelets (we each have two) Seven years ago, we were the slowest runners in PE. We talked about video games, about shows. We still do. I fell asleep on you in a limo after prom. Abandoned together at Disney. Calling on your commute home, facetiming on work breaks. Our silly characters. You’re leaving soon, for a while. You know I’ll miss you. And message you constantly, right? I’ll miss your curly hair, music flare and sweater vests in june. You’re the music to my lyrics, my poetry. You are my best friend. I love you. Part Ners I N Cri Me by Tatum Bunker More Information: My best friend is leaving for a church mission soon. Since we are currently in different states, it's hard to connect with one another as much as we would like. This piece is dedicated to our platonic love and to a friendship that will never die. I think this is a good fit for the feature because it highlights what we consider to be the stepping stones of becoming closer. Instagram: @ Bio: Feedback: Smrithi: This piece is cute and definitely captures the true spirit of platonic love. I love the little memories the author talks about, and the final few lines definitely bring the message home! The partners in crime thing is so cute lol because I love matching things between best friends (I have a necklace with my bsf!) Bri: Reminiscing of the past is really cute. Ava: Platonic love is just as powerful as romantic love. I like the formating at the end to look like friendship necklaces. Touch Touch had always been a sacred thing. So, when she first met them, she refused to touch. It took years - years of gentle guidance, of conversations, of jokes that became inside jokes and small secrets that became big ones. But finally, she let herself touch. It started small; fingers tapping on an arm, a palm on a shoulder. And then fingers became hands, and hands became hugs, until touching them wasn’t so strange anymore. To touch was to trust, and to trust was to open her bricked up heart. She didn’t even know when they had torn the walls down. by Heetal Binwani More Information: This piece was based on my personal experiences with touch, and how it has evolved with my relationships with my friends. I've always been very uncomfortable with touching people - it's something that's reserved for the people closest to me. So, when I first met my friends, I avoided touching them as much as I could; I simply wasn't close enough to them at that point. But, as I grew closer to them, I slowly grew more comfortable with touching them, too. And, at some point, I realized that they weren't just friends to me; they were my confidantes, my supporters, my rocks whenever I felt like I was drowning in a raging sea. I'd grown to love them, deeply - and I wasn't so hesitant to touch them anymore. For me, this was a huge revelation. I hope that other people can find themselves and their own friendships in this work - having the love of friends is the greatest thing in the world. Instagram: @heetalofalltrades Bio: Heetal is an artist, musician, and creative writer who lives in the US. When she's not in school, playing her flute, making art, or writing, she usually does homework, reads, bakes, or spends time with her friends. She also has a passion for science, especially chemistry, astronomy, and psychology. In her creative works, she particularly enjoys exploring the human condition. Feedback: Smrithi: Aww omg I love this piece. It's such a small thing but going from being averse to touch to opening yourself up to hugs is a major transformation that the author has captured beautifully here. I especially love the last two lines! I hope everyone finds friends like this :) Bri: The idea of touch being sacred or valued in a certain way is beautiful. Ava: I love how it shows the development of a friendship through something that is seemingly as simple as touch, but also highlighting the weight it carries for the person. Follow us @rewritethestarsreview and these remarkable writers for more!

We've talked about how you can increase your chances as a self published author. But we're not nearly enough so here we are with the second part! Create Buzz Before Release: Have you realised how famous books like A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber have been the talk of the social media town months before its release? Learn from them and do the same. Get as many people as possible to talk about it, even before the book is released. Make sure to hype it up, and get others to hype it up, too. In fact, build up the hype even before you finish the book. How? You can: Collect Reviews From Early Readers Get ARC Readers Make Hype Teams Be Your Own Cheerleader Collect Reviews from Early Readers: Remember your alpha and beta readers? They can prove more valuable than just editors. Make sure to ask them to review your book before publishing. Why the Reviews? Platforms like Amazon and Goodreads won't push your book to the top for no reason. One of the things you can do so that these platforms will get your book to be seen by more people is to collect reviews. That aside, readers also check the reviews and will judge the book accordingly. The books that have no review at all are probably not worth a read, after all, no one even has anything to say about it. What If They Posted a Bad Review? Don't be afraid of bad reviews, because whilst it may hurt you to see a one star review along with a paragraph explaining why your book sucks, a mix of bad and good reviews make your book look more authentic. After all, what book is loved by every reader on Earth? NONE. Look at the review section of your favourite famous books. You'll find plenty of good reviews and lots of bad ones as well. But do the bad ones deter people from loving the book? Nope! Books with all 5 star reviews make people doubt the book because it looks fake, as if the author paid those people for the reviews. Instead, establish trust from readers by having a variety of reviews. Now, how can you get more reviews? The most common and easy way is to ↓ Get ARC Readers:* (ARC: Advance reading copy. Advance review copy, advance reader's edition, advance copy, or a reader's edition is a free copy of a new book given by a publisher to booksellers, librarians, journalists, celebrities, or others, or as a contest or school prize, before the book is printed for mass distribution. ARC readers are those who read these copies.) By getting these ARC readers, you can get their reviews and also generate buzz for your book as more people who read your book mean more people will talk about it. How Can You Get ARC Readers? Similar to alpha and beta readers, you can get them by announcing that you need ARC readers throughout your socials, or from author websites. You can also approach some bookish influencers/reviewers yourself and ask them to be your ARC reader. Of course, do it kindly and respectfully. Check their linktree/website first if they have a form for ARC reading requests. If they don't, you can DM them. Keep your message short, to the point, and don't forget to sum up your book in as few words as possible. Remember also, that you may be rejected and don't take that personally because their schedule just may not allow them to do it. For a higher chance of 'yes sure's, you can stalk them beforehand and see if they seem to like the kind of story your book is or not. Do they get your book for free? Yes. Won't that mean less people will buy your book then? Darling, no. A misconception I've heard from some of my indie author friends is that the more ARC copies you give means the less people will buy your book, which is of course, false. Unless you are living in a secluded space with only 10 people without the ability to interact with the rest of the world, then yeah, if you give 6 free copies you'll only have 4 who buy the book. But there are 7 BILLIONS of us. Giving ARCs will help you spread the news of your book to their friends, family, and in the case of content creators, their followers, who may take interest. Without sending those ARCs, those followers wouldn't know your book exists. Do you know how many ARCs publishing houses usually give? 50-100. Books by a moderately popular author may even have 5,000 ARCs. With that many ARCs, most of Booktok and Bookstagram will be talking about said book. This gets more and more people interested in the book. At this point, it's like an ever growing rolling snowball. You invest a bit in ARC readers and the return will be ever growing! Won't It Be Costly? In the past, yes, Simply because you had to send a physical copy to all your ARC readers. But now, you can simply send them the ebook file. Make Hype Teams When people have an event (like revealing their book covers for the first time), they want everyone to know of it. To do this, they usually assemble a hype team. How do I do it? Simply announce it on your social media or kindly approach some people if you have a specific person you'd love to hype you up. What does the hype team do? Hype you up, of course. This can be in the form of posting about your said event in their social media, or any other way fit for the event. How do you make people interested to join your hype team? Give them treats! Everyone loves free gifts! Examples: Bonus scenes of your novel Merchandise design of your book A shoutout Side story of your novel Excerpts of the book Be Your Own Cheerleader Yes, go and hype yourself up because if you aren't hyping it up, who will? At first, promoting yourself may seem awkward. Not to mention how many people view self promotions as disturbing and annoying, thus making most of us feel apprehensive towards promoting ourselves. While that is true, self promotion will only be annoying if you do it in a boring, self centred way. For example you DM someone something like these: ‘Hello, I just published my book and it'll mean the world to me if you can check it out.’ ‘Hi, I'm a new indie author and I would be really happy if you can help me promote my book!’ ‘Hi, I am Karen and I'm a romance drama writer who just published my debut novel a few weeks ago, can you check it out?’ No one will care if you approach them this way. First of all, who are you? Second of all, what is the book even about? Third of all, I don't even like romance-drama, Karen. Now please don't do self promos like the examples above, it's just annoying. As a content creator who has met with many self promoters before, I always tell my people that self-promoting to me is fine, but don't do it in a boring manner. I would be happy to hype you up anytime BUT—first give me a reason to hype you up. Everyone hates boring self promos. But we encourage creative self promos. Here's what you can do instead: Make fan edits kind of posts and reels about your book Share facts/quotes/excerpts about the book Stalk your ideal readers and genuinely engage with them Hype other people up “MG, just give us a clear way to self promote please, not just prompts like those.” Sure. You can: Upload your book on Goodreads and fill in the quotes section with your awesome quotes. DM @rewritethestarsreview a short info about your book and ask them to include your book in their next issue. Rewrite the Stars Review chooses several indie authors for every issue they publish, then promoting them in the special ‘Authors Spotlight’ section and also throughout their social media. Follow me on Tiktok @melifluousgelatoo.writes and take inspiration from my posts to make your own! (of course, do credit me for the idea) Hype Up Your Old Releases Again: If you're an indie author with multiple books published, do not let your old releases collect dust in the background while you pour all your love to the new releases. You can revisit your published book and hype them up again! How? You can: Publish your old release with a new cover Give discounts or giveaways Make special packages Sell merchandise Publish your old release with a new cover. Notice how famous books tend to have a lot of different covers? Yes, while it helps you hype back up your old release and make another chance for new people to know your book, it can also make your existing fans want to buy it again! Give Discounts and Giveaways: People like discounts and giveaways, and you can also hype your old book up this way. For giveaways, you can give the book itself, or special bonuses. As for discounts, here's some ideas you can use: A certain event special's discount (example: discount in honour of the new years, your birthday, or the date the book is first published.) Discount for the lucky ones who made it in time. Hold a huge discount for only a short moment (say, an hour or two. Or a day.) You can also make it more fun and design some games for it! For example, you can give a riddle related to the book and those who can answer it can get a special discount. Make special packages. If you analyse the marketing techniques of traditionally published authors, you will realise that they often sell special packages. Traditionally published authors usually include merchandise from the book such as bookmarks or art prints.  Some even contain tissues as a sign that you'll definitely be weeping after you read the book! These special packages not only appeal to those who haven't bought the book yet but also to your existing fans. Sell Merchandise: I've been mentioning merchandise very often throughout this blog and that just emphasises the importance of them. What kind of merchandise can you have for your book? Here's a long list ↓ Bookmarks Character art Mugs Phone/laptop wallpaper Scarf Keychain Pins T-shirt Cap/hats Totebag Phone case Page overlay Water bottle And many more! Do You Design the Merch Yourself? You can do it if you want or you can also work together with a graphic designer to bring those merchandise out! This will help a lot especially if you don't have a clear vision of what your merchandise will look like. What About Print and Delivery? Some authors choose to handle all these themselves and if you think you can do it, sure, do it! However, do keep in mind that you will still invest some money even if you decide to do it all alone and also, a lot of effort is needed. Not to mention that it's easy to mess up if you're not familiar with the process. To ease this process, you can have the help of merch-based websites like RedBubble that will provide help on printing and delivery. Some graphic designers (like me), provide a bundle option for you to have us take care of it all (design, printing, & delivery). So you can just get our report and your share of the profit. Of course, you'll still have a say on the progress! How to find these graphic designers? Usually, your book cover designer will have an add on option of merchandise. Other graphic designers and artists who are dwelling in the bookish area are also inclined to accept a merchandise design request. If you would like a recommendation for a graphic designer, check out Prose to Print @prosetoprint on Instagram! It is a bookish merchandise focused business made by authors for authors, and co-owned by me. They sell book related merchandise and also accept merchandise design requests. You can have them help you in the process of printing and delivery and even have your merchandise sold through their website, reaching their existing audience! An additional advantage of them is that they keep their prices affordable for all, making them a very great solution for many self-published authors. The cons are that they have strict rules on what kind of design they're willing to take. They will deny your request if it is considered not safe for work (NSFW) or controversial. So do ensure that you're not making a problematic request! Do Not Rush: Lastly, you have to remember that no one can make a masterpiece overnight. With people pressuring teenagers to succeed faster, writers are pressured to publish their books faster. As a result, too many books waste their potential. Rushing to the end goal is not being efficient in using your time. So stop pressuring yourself so much. Especially for all the teenage writers out there, remember that you don't have to publish your debut novel at 13. You can, of course, if you want. But don't publish a book just because of the pressure. Here’s some advice: Write a lot, learn more, write more. — And after over two thousand words, you've reached the end of this blog. Thank you very much, I hope these tips help and if you want to know more, do read our other blogs! You're also welcome to DM me anytime (@melifluousgelatoo.writes) if you have any questions or things to discuss, or if you just want to be friends with me lol. If you're looking for book cover or merchandise designs then do check out my designing account @mgsdesiigns Love, MG.

Recently, the amount of people who choose to self publish over traditional publishing keeps on increasing due to several reasons; just seeing the excruciatingly long process of traditional publishing, the increasingly easy and globally accessible ways to self publish make self publishing much more enticing. While it's exciting to see more and more amazing books coming to light without having to go through the obstacles of traditional publishings, we cannot ignore the truth that most self-published authors can only make little to no sales and their books remain unknown to most. Why is that? The most common issue is that not many writers excel in marketing. This is not an issue to traditionally published authors because their respective publishing houses will handle the marketing issues for them, meanwhile, self-published authors have to put in the effort themselves. In this blog are tips on how you can increase your chances as a self published author. Alpha & Beta Readers Eye-Catching Cover Establish an Author Platform Alpha & Beta readers When you write your book and finally get that complete, rough, and ugly first draft, you'd know immediately that this is not the best version of your story yet. And so, you'd edit it. But self editing can only get you so far, because eventually, every writer needs feedback from others to further improve their story. What are Alpha Readers and What Do They Do? Alpha readers are the ones who would read those rough drafts and give you some feedback. The kind of feedback they give varies depending on them and your preferences so when you get an alpha reader, make sure to tell them what kind of feedback you're expecting. What About Beta Readers? After your first draft goes through alpha readers, you can personally improve them before sending the revised draft to beta readers. What's the Difference Between Alpha and Beta Readers? In short, alpha readers get your very rough draft that hasn't gone through much editing yet, while beta readers get the draft that has been fine-tuned at least once (mostly though, several times). How can you get Alpha/Beta readers for Your Book? You can: Find them through author/writer groups that you can usually find and join in through social apps like Instagram, Tiktok, or Discord. (If you're a Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction writer, you can DM me and I'll invite you to a group chat I have on Insta!) Announce the fact that you need some alpha/beta readers through your social media (Instagram; Tiktok; etc.) Ask friends / family to read your book. (Though, do keep in mind to choose those who can give you an honest review because sugar coated feedback will only waste your time). Hire them through writerly websites like Reedsy or freelancers’ bases like Fiverr. How Many Alpha/Beta Readers is Ideal? The answer is: depends. The type of book and length of it may influence the ideal number. Usually, people opt for more readers the longer and more complicated the book. The widely recommended amount is around 2-5. Because only 1 is too few and you cannot get a clear conclusion of what your book quality is. And more than five may be too much and will instead confuse you with all their differing opinions. What Kind of Readers are Ideal? The ones familiar with books and the genre of the book. Plus, is interested in your book and would be someone who wants to read it should it be out in stores. It would be numerous times better if you can find a sensitive reader* and those with actual experiences in relation to your storyline amongst those 5. *A sensitivity reader is someone who reads for offensive content, misrepresentation, stereotypes, bias, lack of understanding, etc. They create a report for an author and/or publisher outlining the problems that they find in a piece of work and offer solutions in how to fix them. For example, if I'm writing from the POV of a black woman, then it would be so helpful for me to have an actual black woman as one of my alpha readers. If I'm writing about a nurse, then I'd find an actual nurse and they can fact check the story details. I know accomplishing these would be hard, but we're talking idealistically here. However, if we're talking realistically then at the very least, they should be honest and able to give constructive criticism. An important point to remember: When dealing with these readers, you have to keep a balanced diet of accepting their suggestions, and sticking to your ideas. Yes, they're meant to help you and we need to take their suggestions into account to improve the manuscript BUT, it is very important to stick to your uniqueness. DO NOT, in any way, follow them unconditionally at all turns. This may make your book lose its uniqueness and instead become just like any other book that doesn't feel like you. Those kinds of books are grey, basic, and boring. Have faith in your ideas! Eye-catching Cover Everyone says not to judge a book by its cover but in reality, we all do. There are hundreds to thousands of books in a bookstore, and in terms of e-books, the number of choices are even more frightening. One of the most impactful hooks you can have for your book to ensure it stands out amongst the billions of existing books is to have an immaculate cover. If you want to self publish with a very minimum amount of money investment, then you can try designing your book cover yourself with the help of apps like Canva, Kittle, or Adobe. (Though, if you have little to no designing skills then this may not be the best idea as it may instead obstruct your book's potential.) If you have some money to invest in a professionally designed cover, you should keep these points in mind: Budget Alignment of Genre and Style Preferences Regarding Add-Ons and Additional Details Budget Not everyone has thousands of dollars lying around to use, we get it. Now the good news is: the price range for book covers vary a lot, and a higher price doesn't always mean higher quality. When you find a book cover designer, whether it's through freelancing websites like Fiverr; or a writing website like Reedsy or through social apps like Instagram and Tiktok, you can usually get an enchanting, fully custom design starting from $150 while more experienced designers can charge around $500 or even more. On the lower end, you can also get a good book cover for $30-$50, though this price mostly includes only basic services, such as one concept for an ebook* with less flexibility for changes. *This means you will only get one design for your front cover. Spine and back are not included, nor would you have much chances to make adjustments. If you want to consider a cheaper option, you can check out premade covers* which most book cover designers usually have in stock for a cheaper price with the same quality as their custom covers. *Premade covers: premade book covers are ready-to-go, professionally designed book covers available for purchase. These covers are typically organised by genre and are customizable to some extent, such as adding your book title and author name. Alignment of Genre and Style Different book cover designers have different genres they specialise in, and even with designers who specialise in the same genre, their styles are bound to be different. And this is why, before you decide on a designer to choose, make sure you've browsed through their portfolio and are certain that their style suits your book best. Let's take me as an example. I am a book cover designer myself and while I want you to consider me as your book cover designer, if your book is a romance drama I may advise you to pass on the job to someone else as I specialise in fantasy book cover designs. But what if you think my style suits your romance book? Then sure, let's work on it. Book cover designers specialising in one genre doesn't mean they can't/won't do other genres after all. In the end, it's your call on how you want your book cover to look Preferences Regarding Add-Ons and Additional Details When requesting a book cover, your designer will usually offer some add-ons which you can have for an additional price. These include but are not limited to: audiobook cover, a dust jacket design, social media promo package, cinema-sized posters, and merchandise designs. Many times, these additional details are what makes your book cover so pricey. So, whilst it's a good idea to have these add-ons, if you want to minimise the cost and don't think you want those add-ons too early on, then you can get that lower priced set that gets you only the things you do want. Establish an Author Platform We all know how important having social media presence is in this day and age, and that is especially true for those who want to sell something. However, a lot of indie authors still neglect this point, or are unsure how to manage it. To begin with, there are a lot of options you can choose to create your social media presence. You will have to start off by choosing a platform. What platforms can you have? Websites A good website makes you look more professional and trustworthy and yes, your potential/seasoned readers will definitely check it. People who come across your page and are curious will also check it, so having a website is a must. If you want to keep it simple, then hire someone to get it done for you. The good old Fiverr can help you find them. But if you want to do it yourself, then website builders like Wordpress, Wix, or even Canva can help you. With those website builders you can even make an amazing website for free. Of course, these websites have a Pro option that will require you to pay. But even without it, you can still create a great website. Ensure that you really need the extra features before you upgrade to the Pro option so you won't waste your money on things you won't use! Social media Instagram, Tiktok, Threads, Twitter, Pinterest, the list goes on. Personally, I recommend Instagram and Tiktok amongst all of these. Why? Simply because the amount of bookish people who are active in those two platforms are immense! Especially younger audiences like Gen Z. The number of posts under #writergram alone is way over the 300k mark and is climbing higher everyday, meanwhile #writertok has an even larger number, reaching over 900k. But how can one become popular on social media? Make an account and follow fellow writers on the platform! Spend some time stalking fellow writergram and writertok accounts to see what kind of posts you would like to see and list them out as inspirations for your own posts. Posting aesthetics and edits on these platforms will help you grow people's attraction towards your book! Some good examples of writers with interesting contents on both Tiktok and Instagram are: @jbryderauthor Author of The Forgotten Colony. @amiewalker.writes Author of The Dawn of Ruins. @thelaylaverse (Instagram) (@thelaylaverse0928 on Tiktok) Author of The King Knights Opening. @thchloegong Author of These Violent Delights. And of course, me, because I'm iconic. (I'm not.) @melifluousgelatoo.writes (Instagram & Tiktok) An important thing to note: Do not get too focused on the numbers, be it the numbers of follows and unfollows you have or others in your account’s insights. This can easily make you discouraged. Because no, not all your posts will blow up and many of your followers may unfollow you with little to no reason at all. This is the truth and it's not always your fault (though, if you're unsure whether it really is your fault, then do your research and google it or ask some of the writergrammers/writertokers you know.) Instead, make a community. Genuinely interact with people. Comment on their posts, reply to their stories, and get to know them. These people are ultimately the ones who will be there for you in times of need and the ones who will be happy for you whenever you accomplish something–not mere numbers. So focus more on establishing a connection with fellow writers than making a viral post. Writing Sites You can also spread your name through writing websites like Wattpad, AO3, Webnovel, or WeInk. Ultimately, they are similar. You can post your stories, engage with readers, and opt to generate income from the platform. But at the same time, they are distinctively different from each other. AO3 focuses more on fan fiction, while Wattpad is more well known for the cliches, and it has a wide range of genres too. Another example is WeInk, where you can even share the books you have officially published in print. Other: There are also sites like Patreon or Ko-fi if you want to give your readers extra ways to support you. The se two examples are quite similar to each other. Both being platforms that allow creators to connect with their communities and make money from their creative work. Personally, I use Ko-fi because: It's so easy to use. I spent very little time trying to get the hang of it and everything works seamlessly. Less fees. Only 0-5% platform fees and 3% transaction fees, whereas Patreon has 5-12% platform fees, plus payment processing, currency conversion, and payout fees. Quick pay outs. Whenever someone buys one of the products I sell through the platform or get any tips, Ko-fi sends it immediately to my bank account. Patreon, however, offers monthly payouts. Through those sites, your fans can send you little gifts that you can transfer into their bank account later! This is definitely helpful especially when you're like me (a broke teenage writer). Not only that, you can also sell things such as book merchandise and bonus content. The next part about ARC readers, reviews, and more will be coming out next week, so follow @rewritethestarsreview to know when it drops! Follow MG @melifluousgelatoo.writes for writing tips and prompts or @mgsdesiigns for book cover commissions.

Our 6th issue: Dreams of a Caged Bird, is all about how we’re caged up and chained down, yet still dreaming. We want to hear what keeps you captive, what your fears, worries, hopes, and dreams are. We understand that deciding on what to write can be difficult, so we are providing a list of quotes to inspire your writing. These quotes will reflect themes such as escaping your cage, hopes, dreams, and feeling caught. “I know why the caged bird sings.” - Maya Angelou “You have escaped the cage. Your wings are stretched out. Now fly.” - Rumi “Every poem breaks a silence that was meant to be overcome.” - Adrienne Rich “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” - Nelson Mandela “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” - Malala Yousafzai “Freedom is never given; it is won.” - A. Philip Randolph “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg “Take these broken wings and learn to fly.” - Unknown “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” - C.S. Lewis “If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.” - Marvin Gaye “That dream was planted in your heart for a reason.” - Unknown “Maybe this cage has been a cocoon all along.” - Stacie Martin “Dreams have only one owner at a time. That’s why dreamers are lonely.” - William Faulkner “If you can dream it, you can do it.” - Walt Disney “You locked me in a cage so big I thought I could fly.” - Darling March “Dreams come a size too big so we can grow in them.” - Josie Bissett “Some birds just aren’t meant to be caged.” - Unknown “I don’t dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living.” - Steven Spielberg “The stars are always there. Even when clouds hide then. Even when you can’t see them. They’re always there. Just like hope.” - 11:11 “Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.” - Mandy Hale “She learned that she was not meant to be caged and she broke free.” - Unknown “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” - Unknown “There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there‘s so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on.” - Zayn Malik “You hold the key to your cage.” - Unknown “I have a deeply hidden and inarticulate desire for something beyond the daily life.” - Virginia Woolf “If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.” - Lemony Snicket “That's the funny thing about chances, you don’t know if it’s yours until you take it.” - JmStorm “A golden cage is still just a cage.” - Anita Krizzan “Patience is more than simply learning to wait. it is having learned what is worth your time.” - JmStorm “Know that when you feel so stuck as if you’re in a birdcage that you are the one who holds the key” - OliviaLunaHealing “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and love the life you have imagined.” - Henry David Thoreau “We think caged birds sing when indeed they cry.” - Unknown “Hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes of shattered dreams.” - S.A. Sachs “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt “Why do you stay in prison when the door is wide open?” - Rumi “Hope is a waking dream.” - Aristotle “Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness.” - Alejandro Jodorowsky “Most human beings live like a bird in a cage whose door is blown away. Too busy gold-plating the cage to soar to their ultimate possibility.” Sadhguru I hope this helped get your creative juices flowing and inspired your writing. Issue 6 submissions will be open from December 1st to January 3rd. Follow us on Instagram @rewritethestarsreview or check out our website for more information and updates! Follow the writer @claywithcar for more!

Nearly every artist experiences creative block. Whether you act, paint, write, or do something in between, I’m sure you’ve heard of it or even experienced it yourself. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen victim to creative block many times. So, today I will be discussing what a creative block is as well as sharing the lessons I’ve learnt on how to prevent and work through it. What is a creative block? In case you haven’t heard of or experienced a creative block, I’ll explain what it is. A creative block is a period of time when you’re stuck in the creative process, unable to move forward with your project. Creative blocks can make you feel unmotivated, uninspired, and/or exhausted. But they aren’t always a bad thing. Sometimes a creative block can serve as a sign that you need to take a break. When this happens, make sure to listen so you can recover as quickly as possible. How to prevent a creative block Don’t overwork yourself. Oftentimes, people fall into a creative block or become unmotivated because they’ve overworked themself. Remember to not give yourself too much work, and take breaks when needed. Plan. Although it can be time-consuming, creating a schedule and planning your work properly is beneficial. Planning can help you avoid taking on too much work at once. It can also ensure you get work done on time. In fact, I’ve been trying to do this recently for these reasons. Thus far, this has been working pretty well for me! Having everything I need to get done written down and given a deadline helps me feel less overwhelmed and stay on task. I know I have to get a few things done every day, then I have free time. If I follow my schedule, I will have everything done when it needs to get done. Write, sketch, and let your ideas flow. Sometimes a creative block can be caused because an artist has too many ideas, and isn’t sure which or how to pursue them. So, letting your ideas flow occasionally is a great way to see which you want to continue with. For example, you could sit down and sketch multiple ideas, letting your imagination take the lead to help you decide on how to continue. To do this, you would make an initial sketch and add anything that comes to mind or that you think will improve it. You can also do this with multiple sketches at once, and compare them. Sketching is one way to do this, although you can adjust this method depending on your art medium. Don’t fear imperfection. Many artists aren’t satisfied with their work, and are frustrated with themselves when they’re imperfect. In some situations, this leads to the artist becoming unmotivated. You should keep in mind that imperfection is normal and that it leads to improvement! How to work through a creative block Get inspiration from the world around you. Going out to a park, coffee shop, beach, or other public space and simply observing what’s happening can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Writing, sketching, or expressing yourself artistically in another way while doing this can also be beneficial. Clear your mind. Sometimes all you need to overcome a creative block is to clear your mind. You could do this by meditating, resting, doing something you enjoy, expressing what’s on your mind, etc. Get inspiration from other artists. A great way to get inspiration is from other artists. You can put on some music, read, observe paintings/drawings, watch a show, etc. These can be used to gather ideas for your work, or just to lift your spirits. Turn the task into small steps. Doing a whole project may feel overwhelming, especially when you’re stuck in a creative block. To help with this, you can turn a large task into many smaller and more manageable tasks. Don’t force yourself to work. Sometimes forcing yourself to get work done can just make the tasks seem more difficult. Instead, you should give yourself time to rest. You could even try some of the strategies I’ve stated, such as planning and letting your ideas flow, or come up with your own. Unfortunately, creative blocks are practically unavoidable. They will be frustrating but sometimes needed, and even beneficial. I hope with the help of this article you’ll find them easier to avoid, overcome, and learn from. Works Cited “5 Tips to Avoid ‘Creative Block.’” Odd Reform, 12 Mar. 2021, oddreform.com/blogs/odd-blog/5-tips-to-avoid-creative-block. Accessed Nov. 2023. Harjo, Joy. “Creative Block: Joy Harjo’s Tips to Overcoming Creative Block.” Master Class, 18 Jan. 2022, www.masterclass.com/articles/creative-block-explained. Accessed Nov. 2023. Heil, Jenna. “What Causes Creative Block?” RMCAD, 29 July 2020, www.rmcad.edu/blog/what-causes-creative-block/. Accessed Nov. 2023. Andrea. “9 Tips to Overcoming Creative Block.” Endpaper, 18 Feb. 2022, blog.paperblanks.com/2021/02/nine-tips-to-overcoming-creative-block/. Accessed Nov. 2023. Follow the writer @claywithcar on Instagram for more!

With hundreds of minority groups who face unfair treatment worldwide, positive representation is very important. It creates a place where these minority groups feel seen, safe, and appreciated. Although some authors try to create positive representation, they accidentally end up supporting harmful stereotypes. The more negativity and harmful ideas we can eliminate, the better. In this article, I will be explaining the importance of positive representation as well as how to include it in your writing without it feeling “performative” or forced. The Importance of Positive Representation Positive representation in literature is beneficial to people of all different ages and backgrounds. According to Albert Bandura’s “the father of self-efficacy theory,” if you see successful people who share your religion, skin color, gender identity, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, etc. it may motivate you to be successful like them. Many people would somewhat agree with this theory. Sometimes seeing someone similar to you accomplish things proves to you that you can also accomplish things. Positive representation not only gives people motivation to achieve things and is inspiring, but also shows that anyone can do great things. In many situations, becoming successful can be difficult due to harmful stereotypes. An example of this is landlords not providing housing to people of color because of the stereotype that they can be “dangerous”. Another example is an employer denying someone with mental health issues a job because of the stereotype that they’re “unreliable”. Neither of these are true for everyone fitting into either category, and are extremely harmful. In some situations, these stereotypes can limit opportunities and even make it difficult for people to live comfortably. This is why making sure representation is positive is very important. If groups are represented in negative ways, some people are likely to form negative opinions about those groups. Along with this, groups are often represented incorrectly or in unrealistic ways. How to Add Positive Representation Do your research. Researching about groups you’re including in your writing is very important. Research can help you learn about a group’s culture and what they experience daily, which can both benefit writing and add positive representation. Some of the best sources you can find are actual opinions from people in the groups you’re writing about. Oftentimes, I try to find blogs or speak to people of minority groups in person for their opinion. A resource I have found useful is the Writers Helping Writers Blog, especially the “stereotypes” and “diversity” section. Please note, I do not gain any commission from sharing this link. Make your writing realistic. Exaggerating traits of characters can support harmful stereotypes, so instead try to include representation while keeping it at a realistic level. Oftentimes exaggeration of traits is paired with a harmful stereotype. An example of these used together is LGBTQ+ men being extremely feminine. The stereotype being that the men are feminine, and it being exaggerated. To do this you can introduce different traits depending on what makes sense in the situation. For example, you could show how a character is affected by stereotypes when they are relevant or brought up in the story, but not make it their whole personality. You can also add nuance to your writing by showing how characters behave differently based on their background. You want to show what people of different groups experience, but not make it unrealistic. Give characters their own identities. Although multiple people from the same group may share traits, they’re all individuals with their own identities. The key is to show both of these in a character. Treat groups equally. Making groups different from each other is important, and creates diversity. But, sometimes people are biased towards one group. You should try to create diversity between groups, while still remaining unbiased and treating all groups fairly. Avoid using stereotypes. Whether a stereotype is positive or negative, it still has harmful impacts. Many stereotypes lead to untrue opinions about groups. Also, stereotypes support the idea that everyone in a group is the same, despite the fact that everyone has their own unique identities. Typically, you can tell if something is a stereotype by seeing if it generalizes a group, puts high standards or negative ideations on a group, or makes assumptions about a group. Many people believe in stereotypes without intending to. Stereotypes are everywhere, and are nearly impossible to avoid. In fact, some individuals from minority groups have stereotypes about their own group because they’re so common. You can still try to help with the issue by trying to only seek out true information. An especially effective way to do this is to get information from people of minority groups themselves, which leads me to the next point. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Never be afraid to ask someone from a minority group questions regarding how they’re represented and involve them directly as editors and/or alpha/beta readers in your work. Many people would be happy to answer your question, and appreciate that you’re sincerely trying to make a difference. Overall, positive representation benefits everyone, if done right. The most important thing when trying to achieve this, is to remain respectful, be sincere, and work hard to get it right. As long as we all work together to create more non-stereotyped representation, develop well-rounded characters from diverse cultural backgrounds, and remove negativity regarding certain social groups, we can make a difference. I hope this article helped you to go on about how to do this, and help make a difference. References Jagoo, Krystal. “The Importance of Representation in Books.” Verywell Mind, 23 Jan. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/the-importance-of-representation-5076060. Accessed Oct. 2023. Elbaba, Rawan. “Why On-Screen Representation Matters, according to These Teens.” PBS NewsHour, 14 Nov. 2019, www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-on-screen-representation-matters-according-to-these-teens. Accessed Oct. 2023. Lambert, Karis. “Why Representation Matters.” Moorepay, 7 Feb. 2023, www.moorepay.co.uk/blog/why-representation-matters/#:~:text=With%20a%20lack%20of%20representation. Accessed Oct. 2023. Ackerman, Angela. “Representation in Literature: Why It’s Important & How to Handle It.” WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®, 10 Oct. 2018, writershelpingwriters.net/2018/10/representation-in-literature-why-its-important-and-how-to-handle-it/. Accessed Oct. 2023. Kaufman, Neal. “Seeing the Success of Others Makes Us More Likely to Succeed | Canary Health.” Canary Health, www.canaryhealth.com/seeing-success-of-others-social-modeling-neal/#:~:text=According%20to%20Albert%20Bandura%2C%20the. Accessed Nov. 2023. “How Do You Avoid Stereotyping People?” Www.linkedin.com, 7 Sept. 2023, www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-avoid-stereotyping-people-skills-critical-thinking#learn-about-other-cultures-and-groups. Accessed Nov. 2023. Drew, Chris. “The 9 Types of Stereotypes (a Guide for Students).” Helpfulprofessor.com, 18 Oct. 2023, helpfulprofessor.com/types-of-stereotypes/. Accessed Nov. 2023. Follow the writer @claywithcar for more!

As November continues, writers from all backgrounds strive to win NaNoWriMo. But what is it? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, where writers compete against themselves to write 50,000 words in the span of one month. This is a goal the many writers push themselves to achieve, but it is no doubt a hard goal to complete. Yet many writers achieve this target (and some go even beyond), every year. How are they able to reach this target? Is it because they have a strong community to uphold them, or are they just sleep-deprived and chug coffee to stay alert? I believe it is all of these reasons and more that contribute to them winning NaNoWriMo. Aside from these reasons, I’m here to offer you a list of unorthodox ways to motivate yourself during this tiring month. List of Ways: Stalk Writing Professionals Change Page Format Explain Your WIP 1. Stalk Writing Professionals Whether it be your favourite New York Times #1 bestselling author or your dream agent, there is someone who has already emerged victorious from the querying trenches that cheers you on. Who do you look up to? Why is it that they inspire you? When you’re feeling like writing is too much, go and stalk their social media accounts. Most writing professionals understand how hard it is to write, and they love giving out advice. Many authors and agents have blogs where they discuss everything from their writing process to how they got published. Even if they don’t have blogs, their social media account can inspire you in ways that you don’t even notice. For example, a short reel of them first unboxing their author copies may help you to dream about a time when you may do so as well. No matter what they post, a writing professional’s social media account is a great way to motivate aspiring writers to one day follow in their footsteps. 2. Change Page Format You may ask, “Why should I change my page format? It doesn’t impact my overall word count,”. This is true, but what if I told you that simply changing your page format to A4 to paperback size can help motivate you? While it doesn’t change the amount of words, doesn’t it feel amazing to see the number of pages rise from 50 to 100? Some may argue that it would be cheating, but I argue that your work won’t change. After all, the word count is still the same; it's only the visual component which is altered. Don’t worry about the page number or ‘cheating’. Instead, look at the number and be proud. Use that pride to motivate yourself, and to continue writing this NaNoWriMo. 3. Explain Your WIP At first, this may seem like a useless point. And it will be, if you don’t explain your WIP to the right person. Find someone that you want to be your hype person, but doesn’t know about your manuscript (yet). Then sit down, have a cup of your favourite beverage and talk about the story from start to bottom. If you’re nervous about spilling your deepest story ideas, don’t fret! Your hype person is here to cheer you on and be excited about it with you. If they’re not enthusiastic enough to make you more thrilled, then choose someone else. During this conversation, be your true self. From plotting betrayals and plot twists or blushing when the characters confess their love, let this be the time to fall in love with your manuscript all over again. Remember what made you want to write this at first. Then, when you return back to writing, channel the bubbly excitement you felt when talking about it into writing. All writers are different, and not every tip may work for you. But no matter what, I hope that you can conquer NaNoWriMo and learn how to motivate and inspire yourself. You got this! Follow @sj_writesss for more.