When do we know when it's time to let go? When all other options are exhausted? When another opportunity comes our way? These are the easy scenarios, but what about the in-betweens? What about the goodbyes that don't come packaged with new hellos? How do we deal with uncertainty? We all grapple with a fear … Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Say Hello
Is Love Only Meaningful If It Lasts?
Love is the greatest paradox of humanity. It has the power to cause both great joy and great pain. It both gives life meaning and strips it of its purpose. We all are searching for our lover, our soulmate, the other piece of the puzzle. We're looking for that group of friends that laughs at … Continue reading Is Love Only Meaningful If It Lasts?
Doing Everything, Being Everywhere, Pleasing Everyone, All At Once
I am a workaholic. There was a time in my life when I prided that statement, just like how teenage boys proudly tout that they scored high on the narcissism test. Out of all the addictions to be seduced by, overworking clearly can't be the worst of them, right? Honestly, at surface value, it's not … Continue reading Doing Everything, Being Everywhere, Pleasing Everyone, All At Once
The Deception of Perception: Idolization of Strangers
By Riya Cyriac Hello dear friends on the internet, we meet again in this faceless, virtual reality. In such a faceless, virtual reality, we try to fill the gaps of knowledge. We crave to know people, but we don't even know the true depths of a person until you are living inside their body and … Continue reading The Deception of Perception: Idolization of Strangers
The Gap Between What I Want and What I Have
CURRENTLY: I am writing a scholarship essay for a program that I really love, but it's due quite soon. Like in two days soon. So I need a brain break to distract me from the impending doom. *** The gap between what I want and what I have. If that sounds deep to you, I'm … Continue reading The Gap Between What I Want and What I Have
A Morning of Mourning
I am mourning my liberty, not simply liberty to live but liberty to naively believe this land could be kind to me. I was wrong. - I am mourning my naivety I thought that four years of sheer ignorance was enough to prevent another four years of catastrophe, I was wrong. - I am mourning … Continue reading A Morning of Mourning
Starting Your Story Off With A Bang
My favorite types of story entrances are these "bang" ones. I want to be thrown into the action immediately, get set in the tone and conflict of the story. It's beginnings like these that keep me reading, while other entrances don't pull me as well. What is a "bang" entry, you ask? The Bang: a … Continue reading Starting Your Story Off With A Bang
I Used to Like Looking Unhealthy, And Here’s Why.
I stare at the blinking cursor on my screen, wanting to move but not having the energy to do it. My head whirred in a daze as if I had little birds flying over it, and my eyes ached. This, three years ago, was my idea of how a successful, busy person looked. I was … Continue reading I Used to Like Looking Unhealthy, And Here’s Why.
Why “instapoetry” is Doing Better Than “Traditional Poetry”
Disclaimer: this is my opinon from my personal findings For the past couple of years, there has been an swell in the consumption and creation of poetry, and as an aspiring poet myself, I wanted to get to the bottom of it. From a general perspective, the answer is simple, and doesn't require a research … Continue reading Why “instapoetry” is Doing Better Than “Traditional Poetry”
You Are Not A Leader
You are not a leader. No, not even you who founded a non-profit or you who is president of a club at your school. I know, it's a brazen statement from a fellow subpar-leader like myself, but the statement still stands. Let me explain. If you are the person in the group project who does … Continue reading You Are Not A Leader
Forgive Yourself For Ignorant Mistakes
Forgiveness. It's beautiful concept, but rarely are we told to forgive ourselves. We pick ourselves apart for ignorant mistakes and problems we had either ages of weeks ago. We roll over in bed and smother our faces in pillows in vexation. We never seem to let these go, including myself. I'm trying to forgive myself … Continue reading Forgive Yourself For Ignorant Mistakes
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar: 15 Thoughts While Reading + #OwnVoices Reflection
I had the honor to be an ARC reader for debut author, Shveta Thakrar's, Star Daughter, a mystical tale of a half-mortal, half-star Indian teenager named Sheetal. After an accident, Sheetal's father is hospitalized, and needs a full star to help her heal him. Sheetal's quest to save her father will take her to a … Continue reading Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar: 15 Thoughts While Reading + #OwnVoices Reflection
10 Tips to Living a Busy, Yet Stress-free Life
I am a busy person, as many know. I juggle my organization, internships, academics, extra-curriculars, writing, and hobbies, but I am rarely bogged down by stress. Striving for success does not mean you are bound to a life of anxiety and stress. Instead, if you learn how to balance your life in a way that … Continue reading 10 Tips to Living a Busy, Yet Stress-free Life
The Enthusiast: A New Journey For My Blog
This is going to be a semi-reflective, semi-announcment type post, but i suppose I'll begin with the sentimental stuff. I live my life in a very meticulous manner. Everything I do has a purpose, or is guided by the knowledge that anything I do could bite me back one day. This blog was not one … Continue reading The Enthusiast: A New Journey For My Blog
Why I Founded The Young Writers Initiative
First in a series of: An Enthusiasts Guide to Starting Something New
The Greatest Person In The Room
I will never be the most accomplished person in the room. That's not a statement of pity, far from, actually. I was brought aware of this fact through a conversation with a friend who also struggles with their perception of success. We both acknowledged that we are not the greatest people in our circles, but … Continue reading The Greatest Person In The Room
Divine Blood is a Fantasy Gem
Fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Price, Throne of Glass and other high fantasy novels? This book's for you. I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for Divine Blood, a debut fantasy novel by Beck Micheals. This is an unbiased review that will detail what I liked about the … Continue reading Divine Blood is a Fantasy Gem
Writing in Tumultuous Times
2020 has not been the brightest of years in my lifetime. A global pandemic, justified social unrest, economic downturn, and an overwhelming amount of uncertainty. It feels like everything is on the brink of collapsing, and you're holding onto whatever you can to brace for impact. So in these times, how can we be expected … Continue reading Writing in Tumultuous Times
A Writer’s Social Responsibility
As writers, we have a responsibility. Actually, more than a responsibility. We communicate stories and voices through our words, through the stetches and scribbles in our notebook, and people take the time to sit and absorb those words. Anyone can write about themself, about heartbreak and failure and sadness, but it takes a true writer … Continue reading A Writer’s Social Responsibility
Instagram is the Anti-Hero In My Life
I suppose this teeters on the brink of poetry and prose. Maybe an essay, a memoir, a love letter, a declaration of war This is a pin-pointed jab at the core of the scorching insecurities curling in my gut you, I point a laser at you, omniscient god that watches over me i n s … Continue reading Instagram is the Anti-Hero In My Life
What Makes Them Morally Grey? A Conversation with Astraeia Sun
Hello, everyone, and welcome to this week's discussion. May for the Morally Grey is a month long theme I have for this blog, where I write articles, discuss pressing topics about the morally grey, review and analyze popular media with such characters, and publish some of my own work about this. Today, we have Astraeia … Continue reading What Makes Them Morally Grey? A Conversation with Astraeia Sun
Never Have I Ever Created the Perfect Anti-Hero
*disclaimer, this may have light spoilers and is from a storytelling perspective. This is disregarding the cultural implications of Never Have I Ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyOCCCbxwMQ watch Never Have I Ever on Netflix There is a popular netflix show called Never Have I Ever. It's particularily caught public attention because of its groundbreaking decision to make the … Continue reading Never Have I Ever Created the Perfect Anti-Hero
Writing Immigrants: A Conversation with Francesca Kyanda
Today on the blog, we have Francesca Kyanda, the winner of The Young Writers Initiative February contest. She is an amazing writer and an experienced one as well. Today, we will be discussing the immigrant experience, how it affects our writing, and how to write characters that are immigrants. Riya: Hey, Francesca, glad to have … Continue reading Writing Immigrants: A Conversation with Francesca Kyanda
How To Get Me To Read Your Book
“Not all marketing people are writers, but all writers must learn to be marketers.”Joanne Kraft You've written a book, edited it to the best state that it can be, hired a cover artist, typeset it, and got it on the market. New authors and writers do not have much experience when it comes to marketing … Continue reading How To Get Me To Read Your Book
Rose Petals: A Debut Poetry Collection + Interview with Author Elly Schyven
Read this review of rose petals and an author interview, where we talk about poetry, representation, and the self publishing process
How to Tackle a Difficult Scene
“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”Sylvia Plath Ever experienced that scene that you can't get past? Something's not working properly. Maybe the narrative doesn't make sense, the plot is not … Continue reading How to Tackle a Difficult Scene
A Handful of Poems for the Hopeful Soul
A small collection of poems by Riya M. Cyriac Sovereign After all these years I’m beginning to question why I chased those dreams, those phony dream-like lies. Or if I had a dream at all And simply succumbed to the pressures of matching up To the ambition I saw in my peers I need not … Continue reading A Handful of Poems for the Hopeful Soul
When Writing About Individuals with Disabilities
"The writers first affinity is not to a loyalty, a tradition, a morality, a religion, but to life itself, and its representation of language."Jayne Anne Phillips Throughout my life, I have seldom felt the passion for a cause as much as I feel for respecting and accepting those with disabilities. Recently, I have been strongly … Continue reading When Writing About Individuals with Disabilities
Underwriting vs. Overwriting: Solutions
“When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every ounce of excess fat. This is going to hurt; revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a little like murdering children, but it must be done.”Steven King Writers around the world struggle with one of these … Continue reading Underwriting vs. Overwriting: Solutions
Why You Should Write on Wattpad
I have heard so many people discredit wattpad, claiming it is a low quality website that only sponsors low quality works and nothing else. As a vetern Wattpadder, this could not be farther from the truth. Sure, wattpad is not a dead set publishing forum that you can rely on, but if you're a write, … Continue reading Why You Should Write on Wattpad
17 Things I’ve Learned By 17
The world is not against you. Gravity's intent is not to keep you down, but keep you grounded, and its effects are universal. No matter how successful you get, no matter how accomplished you are, you will never be happy until you are content. Being content does not mean being stagnant, nor does it mean … Continue reading 17 Things I’ve Learned By 17
Yonder Lies The Sunrays by Riya M. Cyriac
This short story is also published in The Ambient Heights Anthology. Tara picked at the grime under her chipped nails. She gnawed on the last piece of the stale bread she bought for thirty cents at the corner store and kicked a rock out of her path. It tumbled onto the empty road, covered in … Continue reading Yonder Lies The Sunrays by Riya M. Cyriac
How to Write a Love Story Readers Will Love
February is the month of love! Because of that, I wanted this month’s collaboration to be with an author who nails romance, whether is be in subplots or as the main plot. Everyone give a warm welcome to Alex Ashley! ALEX ASHLEY (also writing as Nicole Bea) is a short story author and novelist who … Continue reading How to Write a Love Story Readers Will Love
A Handful Of Poems For The Restless Soul
This is a handful of poems from my soul in my weariest time, when everything within me seems to die. I hope you can also relate with some of the emotions that I've felt in my past, and realize that while your soul may be restless, your endurance will prevail. This is an excerpt from … Continue reading A Handful Of Poems For The Restless Soul
Editing and Revising: How To Get Started
Editing and revising can be the most tasking, yet ore rewarding part of the writing process. Why? Well, reading a polished version of your work is incredibly satisfying. Your first draft is just a concotion of your ideas and sloppy writing, but an edited second draft adds immense clarity you your writing. You are reimmersed … Continue reading Editing and Revising: How To Get Started
Manage Writing with Work/School with @rubyruins
In the spirit of school the start of the dreaded second semester, I found this the perfect time to feature an amazing review from an amazing writer! We all struggle with balancing our passions and our schools/jobs, so I hope this helps ease that! For that reason, I determined that the best person to collab … Continue reading Manage Writing with Work/School with @rubyruins
Add Diversity Into Your Writing
December is the month of festivities not only in the west, but all over the world. In celebration of that, I wanted to invite an up and coming author to talk about a hot topic in fiction: diversity. Ella Johnson is an avid writer on Wattpad, massing nearly 90k views on her book “Wrath in … Continue reading Add Diversity Into Your Writing
The Moon and Her Children
the moon rises to her throne in the night sky, a call to her sons and daughters the one million stars twinkling up high the sun takes his rest after his day of thrills coddled within valleys hidden behind hills the cacophony of space the quiet mystery that it holds each constellation is a … Continue reading The Moon and Her Children
“Starships Don’t Exist” by Riya M. Cyriac
Daria is certain that her nonverbal brother didn't murder Cassidy McClark, despite the overwhelming evidence against him. When she finds clues he left to lead her to the truth, she's deterined to set him free. Everything isn't as it seems.
What Type of Builder Are You?
In this first lesson, you'll determine what kind of world-builder you want to be.
The Enthusiast 