Fida Islaih's Blog, page 14

Hello Poetteers,

I ended and started the year well with reading. I've been enjoying my poetry finds. I'm about to read:
An Open Suitcase & New Blue Tears by J.R. RogueLa Douleur Exquise by J.R. RogueI'm currently reading:
A Brilliant Madness Robert M. DrakeMilk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
I recently finished reading (My poetry reads of 2016):
Rest in the Mourning by R.H. SinWatercolor Words by Topher KearbyStay With Me Awhile by Loren KleinmanMad Woman by Kat Savage Lullabies by Lang LeavToday Means Amen by Sierra DeMulder What poetry books have you read/currently reading/will read?

Hello Poetteers,

Over on Instagram, I’ve started a new series of sharing my poet confessions.
When I first started writing poetry I didn't read much poetry. Before last fall, I never wrote a sonnet. I got a poem published in my high school lit magazine and afterward I noticed a big spelling error. I almost never rhyme in my poems. I don't memorize my poems. I search my own poems for verses to make sure I actually wrote them. Sometimes I struggle to finish writing a poem. Other times I can write a good poem in one try. What is one of your poet confessions?

Stay inspired,

Fida

Hello Poetteers,

As we welcome in the new year, our focus should be our main priority.

1. Keep a pen near by and a notebook open
As writers we constantly have new ideas. Without having a place to put them we may forget them and trying to remember them will make us lose focus.

2. Go to a quiet roomWorking in a quiet area will lessen the distractions. Only listen to music if it pumps you up to work.

3. MeditationMeditating will help us visualize our day and to constantly let go of thoughts instead of staying hung up on them. 
stay inspired,Fida

If you follow me on Instagram you know throughout the year I've been participating in Page Flutter's six-word challenge. As I wrote and shared them I noticed a continuous theme. There was a bigger story in the six-word stories. I wanted somewhere to showcase the story. That's how Smile Back came about.

Smile Back is a series of six-word stories that follows a Muslim girl's journey. It covers the struggles of wearing the headscarf to loving nature. There is a battle between negative space and finding positivity. She is learning to love herself.

How did I come up with the title? 

As I read one of my six-word stories the phrase "Smile back" stood out to me. As I read the other six word stories I saw that message play out and decided to stick with it as the title.

Hello Poetteers,

We are nearing the end of the year and I need some much needed me time. I have decided to take a break from blogging. I wanted something more and have decided to attempt to also take a social media break. I am planning for the break from both to be a month long one.

See you next year!

Fida

Check out my books here. 

Hello Poetteers,

During the month of November, I attempted at NaNoWriMo. I took a different approach. Instead of writing a fiction novel I decided on a non-fiction project. This project will be a nonfiction story of my journey as a writer. It is something that has been bugging me to be heard and I'm finally listening. It's what I've been leaning towards. Since I thought of it in the beginning of the year I keep getting new ideas for it. I got the final push I needed from #NaNoLounge.
Sneak Peek #1From the beginning, I was already having an endless amount of spelling errors. I was a bit excited about finally working on this story idea. Another thing I kept doing as I write was ending it with referring to read more in a later chapter. For the first week and beginning of NaNo I wrote for 10 consecutive days.

After that, I felt the slump and unintentionally stalled the project. I didn't think about it, I almost forgot about it. I picked it back up on the 22nd and wrote for a couple more days. The word count that I needed to catch up on was overwhelming that I stopped again. A couple days after that I told myself I need to try and at least get a few sentences down but a few story ideas were already creeping in.
Sneak Peek #2 I'm disappointed that I didn't continue to push myself to work on it. But I'm not mad about not reaching the 50k winning goal. I finally got the project started and that's all that matters. I'm opening myself so much, much more than I do on my blog and social media. Throughout the project, I made some discoveries about myself. I'm surprised and happy about the journey of writing about my journey. Some day it will be a publishable book.

stay inspired,
Fida Islaih 

Hello Poetteers,

Recently I took up an opportunity that was given to me. Last month I apply and got the internship from Dream On Youth. Remember the Monday Blessings series I did on the blog. I want to bring it back. I did it a bit differently today. I'm over on Dream on Youth sharing what I'm grateful for.

Stay inspired, Fida 

Hello Poetteers,

Don't have time to read right now? Download the PDF version.

I loved sharing with you ways to title your poems. I decided to give you my secret to titling poems.

1. Find an adjective that describes the emotion your poem is giving.

2. Find a repeated word.

3. Put the two together.

4. Does it reflect your poem?

Example:

Take a look at my poem, Weary Hope. I repeated the word hope, so i knew it needed to be in the title. The beginning of the poem talks about being weary, so that was the adjective I needed to add. Together I came up with a title that would make the reader wonder and pull them in to read it.


For more help on your poetry titles, I have a cheatsheet available! Also, in my editing services I help you with choosing a poetry title. 
stay inspired,Fida

Hello Poetteers, 
This past week I've been working on a collaborative piece. Here is the result of that collaboration. 
Flickering Light

Pain is my light getting tired
with the anticipation
a heaviness settles into my heart
Pain is the loss
of never seeing the good again
you feel helpless
like getting the news of death
and not knowing what to say
to yourself or others
you don’t want to hear anything
you stare into nothingness
and wonder if it will get better

accepting the pain, you can move forward
from deep sorrow
to the process of healing,
healing is the reversal
of a decomposed heart
a radiant light
replacing the darkness within
a soothing ointment to one’s soul
it gives hope to endure the circumstances,
strength for the journey,
courage to be bold,
to comfort others who are afflicted
but most all
to know you are not alone.
by Fida Islaih & Rebeca Perez
Check out more poetry by Rebeca at Blend My Love.

Hello Poetteers,

Every once in awhile we get in writing slumps and feeling the lack of motivation. There are several ways to get ourselves out of it.

1. Take a break
Spend a day away from your writing and come back with a fresh look.

2. Read
The works of others will get you in a new headspace and may inspire some new ideas.

3. Do a poetry prompt
Forcing yourself may do the trick.

4. Change up your writing style. If you write free verse try a poetry form.
Sometimes you need a limit.

stay inspired,
Fida