Fida Islaih's Blog, page 7

Hello Poetteers,We are reaching the last week of 2018. I wanted to share my thoughts on the last few poetry books I’ve read. I love vulnerable poems that share personal experiences. I’m tired of vague poems about love. You’ll see that below. November From 14 to 41 by Suzanne Purewal3.5 starsSome pieces were sweet and empowering. I love the pieces about nature and can relate to some of the sorrow. Though, the romance isn’t my style. I also enjoyed the imagery in the poems and the illustrations.December Shame Is an Ocean I Swim Across: Poems by Mary Lambert5 starsThis is powerful and heartbreaking as Mary shares personal thoughts and experiences about heavy topics. I appreciate the glimpses of self love. Soft Thorns by bridgett devoue3. 5 starsThis feels like an average collection filled with vague love poems. The pieces that stood out to me are the ones of heartbreak and healing.What are you currently reading?Stay inspired,Fida

Hi Poetteers,You are probably writing a poem or book right now. First and foremost, when you’re done writing take a break and step away from it. Look at it later with fresh eyes. Save the older draft if you want to go back to it. Here are some editing tips.Read your poem aloud. Read it without the first line. Read it without the first stanza.Read your poem without the line or stanza you feel unsure about. Read your poem backwards. Last but not least, get a second/unbiased opinion. Do you want to work with me? Check out my poetry services page and fill out the form. stay inspired,Fida

Hi Poetteers,We love writing our free verse poetry but at times we get too comfortable and maybe even stagnant. To get ourselves out of that, we have to challenge our poetry. Here’s a few ways ti do that:Try a new poetry form. For example: haiku, epigram, and cinquain.Try a new poetic device you never used before. For example: alliteration, juxtaposition, or imagery. Use a unique writing prompt. For example: check out my book, Journey to Healing. Write a poem on a topic you never covered before. For example: look at older poems, maybe you never written poems about your body or about something spooky. Once you figure out what it is, write it. It’s okay if it’s bad and you don’t like it. At least you tried. It’s about challenging you voice and looking for your voice. Write a poem opposite from what you usually write. For example: if you write light poems, write a dark poem. Set a word or time limit. For example: write a poem in 5 mins or write a poem in 50 words. I hope that helps!Stay inspired,Fida

When I was thinking of ideas of the cover from wilting mind all I knew was I wanted a dying flower. It was the middle of winter so there were no wildflowers. But as a nature lover flowers brighten my modd and we bought a couple bouquets. •
At first I imagined there would be petals falling mid air and petals on the ground. But I was my own photographer and I wanted the cover to match with Blossoming Heart. That meant I had to be holding it. So I nixed the first idea. •
Once the bouquet started dying I picked out one dying flower to photograph. The petals were curled, but they were all still intact. I took several photos and picked my favorite, thinking this was it. I made a mokup cover. But in the back of my head I felt it wasn't perfect. •
I hadn't thrown away the flowers yet. A couple days later I noticed the petals were withered and almost falling off. I took my chance to take more photos thinking if it looks better I'll use this one instead. Of course it looked better. And it made it into being the final cover you see published. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.

*originally posted on Instagram (@poetfida)

Wilting Mind is now available for purchase! I thought I would share my story behind the the title. There isn’t much to it. When I first started working on this collection at the end of last year I knew I wanted it to be a companion of Blossoming Heart. I needed a title to go well with it.
•
This collection is about the thoughts I had with the obstacles I went through. That’s when I knew Mind had to be part of the title.
•
As a nature lover I wanted to represent that in my books. We know the process of all living things is growing and dying. Those words felt generic. I knew the cover would have a flower so the word Wilt easily came to mind. It felt perfect. It represents how I feel with the struggles I write about in this collection.

Hello Poetteers,


For a while now I’ve been coming to the point where I dreading blogging. I ask myself why I should repeat the information I already share in my newsletter.

I have been blogging for almost a decade. I started when I discovered poetry and wanted a platform to share them. Eventually, my blog changed from original poems to poetry tips. I went from sharing on my blog to sharing on Instagram. And then the poetry tips moved to my newsletter.

This is my last blog post. I feel it's stagnant. There is no growth/ it's not bringing anything. My focus has changed from my blog to my newsletter and PoetteerChat. I will always be writing poetry, sharing behind the scenes and poetry tips. The old posts will remain online. I am planning on repurposing the content.

I hope we stay in touch.

Stay inspired,

Fida

Hello Poetteers,


How do you figure out what to share and what to save for later:

Save it if it fits with the theme for your poetry collection.Post what feels right at the moment, maybe if it has to do with current events.It can depend on the length and what it's about. I share the simple stuff and keep the fancy stuff for the collections. (Honestly, long stuff might not get much attention because people are just scrolling through quickly.)Maybe cut some parts of the poem and post those and leave the rest for later.Stay inspired,
Fida

Hello Poetteers,


Recently, there has been a big conversation about submission fees. I don't like paying for submission fees. I don't get why you have to pay people to read your work. You are paying for a submission you aren't even sure will be published. The price deters me away. It can be hard to afford but the experience might be nice.

I’ll pay submission fees if I fully stand behind the press itself. Whether there is a fee or not you have to research if the journal or publisher is legit. But I do understand that they have fees because that along with book sales it is what keeps the journal or publisher running. I have my own way to go about that and I want to share it with you.

Read their submission guidelines.Check out which authors they have published.Read a previously published poetry book or journal issue to get a feel for their style.
I appreciate that there are journals and publishers that will take your submissions for free. But the fees could either help or hurt them. They need to figure a way to keep running but be affordable to poets and its readers. The fee limits the poet's reach to readers. Here is a great article I found about submission fees.
For the whole checklist, join my newsletter. 
Stay inspired,
Fida

Hello Poetteers,

As you may have noticed that I didn't continue with the 12 poetry collaborations of dec. I couldn't find enough people that wanted to participate. Next, last month was my 9th blog anniversary. But that's not what I'm here to talk about.


My lifelong poetry affirmation is "my writing gives me clarity" but last year I had a specific poetry affirmation of "I will confidently take baby steps to share my vulnerability."

I had confessed that I was scared to share vulnerable pieces and scared of my emotions to write. When I first started writing poetry and finding my voice I let myself feel different emotions and question myself. I had explored my culture and faith. Some poetry evolved after a few pieces. But then I found a comfortable space in poetry and stayed there. I didn't push myself to look even deeper. I loved writing and sharing "hope in reality" through my poems. I still do and will keep doing so. Yet I didn't feel my poetry and myself grow. I started feeling stuck.

Ever since I put it out in the universe that I needed to be vulnerable I've seen myself write a bit darker. I let myself feel the emotions and question myself through the poetry. I wrote about death and anxiety. The sharing part is what I am still working on. You may subtly see hints of the darker pieces.
It's hard to be vulnerable online. I'm taking my own advice. Maybe share a line or stanza of the poem instead of the whole piece. Then once you see the positive response you may be more comfortable to share the whole poem. I'm excited and nervous to share the parts of myself I haven't before. My next poetry affirmation for this year is "I will confidently challenge my poetry."
I hope that you see that when you put what you want out into the universe it will come true. Pick a poetry affirmation and repeat it to yourself. You will see yourself working on it and it will come true. 
Stay inspired (and encourage others),Fida
Song of the day: Beating Me Up by Rachel Platten.

Hello Poetteers,


Today's poem is about determination. Enjoy!

Determination is the drive
through obstacles to accomplish
our goals and reach our dreams

Our dreams are known,
when we've spent time with ourselves,
the truth is what we need

We learn our needs are kept alive
by determination
and we let it lead us through life.

by Fida islaih and Sahira Javaid

Check out Sahira's latest poetry book, Crack of Dawn. 
Stay inspired,Fida