Fida Islaih's Blog, page 3
July 28, 2020
How to Write A Balanced Poem
Hello Poetteers,Before you even write balance life and poetry. I leave writing for when it doesn’t take me away from an experience. I know I feel ready to write when I’ve accepted the situation that I’m writing about, the lesson is learned and there is positivity.
I love a poem that shows the whole story. I want to see a piece have a balance of both sides. For example:if you share something dark, add something light.if it's negative, add positivity.if you're searching for something, share it being found. The format matters too. Break up run on sentences to fit the format and remain consistent with the rest of the poem. It can look too heavy or too small compared to the rest of the piece. Also, remain consistent with the poetic devices you used.
Don't be afraid to question your poetry to pull out what's necessary for it. How do you know you've written a well balanced poem?
stay inspired,
Fida
July 14, 2020
Gold Gift, A Poem
Gold Gift
Every time I look downat my wristsand see the braceletsI see their hands,I am reminded of both women who wore it before meI hope to embody their strength.
Behind the Poem
This poem is from Her Durian. I wrote it after my mom gave me her bracelet that she had gotten from her mother. In the moment it felt casual. She slipped on my wrist to give me some arm candy before our trip to Malaysia. My own grandmother didn't recognize it yet thought it was beautiful. This memory will always be attached to the bracelet and poem. Signed paperbacks are now available for purchase.
Every time I look downat my wristsand see the braceletsI see their hands,I am reminded of both women who wore it before meI hope to embody their strength.
Behind the Poem
This poem is from Her Durian. I wrote it after my mom gave me her bracelet that she had gotten from her mother. In the moment it felt casual. She slipped on my wrist to give me some arm candy before our trip to Malaysia. My own grandmother didn't recognize it yet thought it was beautiful. This memory will always be attached to the bracelet and poem. Signed paperbacks are now available for purchase.
Affirmations for Editing
Hello Poetteers, Positive affirmations help you believe in your goals and propels you towards action.
Affirmations for Editing
My writing is strengthened by editing notes from others.I can visualize the improvement editing makes on my poetry. I trust in the editing process.I will take my time with my poetry.It's good to write slowly.I will carefully look over my poetry.Action ItemsReach out to beta readers and sensitivity readersHire an editor. Both can offer an outside perspective. Notice if critiques highlight similar issues. Keep it in mind for future editing.Take breaks between writing and editing. Also have breaks between each editing round. Doing so will help you look at your work from a clear headspace. Read it aloud, read it backwards. Ask your poetry questions. Don’t rush/force writing specific stanzas.You don't want to over edit. Be vocal about the voice you want to portray in your work.
Stay inspired,Fida
I'm a poetry editor. Interested? Message me when your poetry (book) is ready to be edited.
July 7, 2020
Create A Table of Contents
Hello Poetteers,
A table of contents helps your readers navigate a book and find the poem that calls out to them. There are two styles I like to use. Option 1 is to add all the chapter titles. Option 2 is to add all the poetry titles. It depends on the length of the book and how the poems are organized.
How to Make It
On Google Docs and Pages go under the insert tab and the option will be there. When it pops up there will be instructions on how to create it. Whatever text you want to go on the table of contents should be in the paragraph style called 'Heading'.
Message me when your poetry book is ready to be edited.
Stay inspired,Fida
A table of contents helps your readers navigate a book and find the poem that calls out to them. There are two styles I like to use. Option 1 is to add all the chapter titles. Option 2 is to add all the poetry titles. It depends on the length of the book and how the poems are organized.
How to Make It
On Google Docs and Pages go under the insert tab and the option will be there. When it pops up there will be instructions on how to create it. Whatever text you want to go on the table of contents should be in the paragraph style called 'Heading'.
Message me when your poetry book is ready to be edited.
Stay inspired,Fida
June 30, 2020
Poetry Book Cover Trends
Hello Poetteers,
Black White Minimal Floral (or nature)It's a combination of those elements. My shelf is filled with poetry books with a black or white cover. The focus is on the text and a minimal photo of some sort, for example: flower, animal, fruit or geometric shape. Sometimes a majority of the cover is covered in floral or a natural landscape. Most recently, I noticed several white covers with a pop of color (pinks or blues) in the middle.
What have you noticed about your favorite poetry book covers?
Stay inspired, Fida
P.S. An underrated cover design is using a solid bright color with a minimal silhouette.
I've noticed some repetitive elements on the covers of some of our favorite poetry books. This is one trend to look for when publishing your own poetry book.
Black White Minimal Floral (or nature)It's a combination of those elements. My shelf is filled with poetry books with a black or white cover. The focus is on the text and a minimal photo of some sort, for example: flower, animal, fruit or geometric shape. Sometimes a majority of the cover is covered in floral or a natural landscape. Most recently, I noticed several white covers with a pop of color (pinks or blues) in the middle.
What have you noticed about your favorite poetry book covers?
Stay inspired, Fida
P.S. An underrated cover design is using a solid bright color with a minimal silhouette.
@poetfidaTop 4 poetry book cover trends. ##poetry ##bookmarketing ##selfpublishing ##editing101 ##indieauthor ##smallbusiness
♬ Love - Cody Simpson,Ziggy Marley
June 23, 2020
Finding Courage in Sharing Poetry
Hello Poetteers, I started writing poetry on spring 2008 and a few months later I started sharing them on a blog. I found my courage early on. Sometimes it staggers but it continues to grow.
Define your why: what’s your purpose for sharing your poetry? Remind yourself of it when you question yourself. Know that it can evolve esp with your life experiences.
Mine started as a way to express my love for nature and faith. Afterwards it changed to express my emotions and now my purpose is to spread mental health and cultural awareness.
Practice: Find your voice. Know that it’ll start of decent and continue to improve. Done is better than perfect. Read a lot of poetry to get a feel of the genre. When writing your own pause on the reading to not let it subconsciously affect your voice.
Trust readers: get your trustworthy and honest friends to read and give you feedback. As you get compliments from friends and strangers keep a positivity file. Read them when you start doubting yourself.
Push your comfort zone: as you get comfortable with your poetry experiment with new poetic formats and literary devices. Write more vulnerably.
Push yourself into new spaces to share it. Go from sharing it on a blog to submitting it to literary journals. Later, move on to publishing a book. If you’ve been writing poetry, try performance poetry.
How did you find your courage?
Stay inspired,
Fida
Check out my poetry books.
April 30, 2020
Distributors for Self Published Books
Hello Poetteers,
As someone who has self published several poetry books my top tip is to diversify your distribution. Smashwords is an ebook retailer and distribution site. They will distribute your book to places such as B&N Nook, Apple Books, Kobo and Scribd. Check out their site for more info.
Other Distributors:Kindle Direct PublishingBook FunnelPayhipIngramSparkThere are several self publishing services out there. Look for familiar authors and transparency on their website before working with them. This website does a great job rating and reviewing different services.
My self publishing guide is now available for purchase on Payhip.
Stay inspired, Fida
Read More: Small Publishers for Your Poetry Book
As someone who has self published several poetry books my top tip is to diversify your distribution. Smashwords is an ebook retailer and distribution site. They will distribute your book to places such as B&N Nook, Apple Books, Kobo and Scribd. Check out their site for more info.
Other Distributors:Kindle Direct PublishingBook FunnelPayhipIngramSparkThere are several self publishing services out there. Look for familiar authors and transparency on their website before working with them. This website does a great job rating and reviewing different services.
My self publishing guide is now available for purchase on Payhip.
Stay inspired, Fida
Read More: Small Publishers for Your Poetry Book
March 24, 2020
My Poetry Style
Hello Poetteers,
Reading poetry helped me feel less alone in my hurt. I write poetry to process my emotions and experiences. From it, I gain some clear perspective on lessons and solutions. I am able to let go and move forward.
I've noticed a pattern in some of my poetry. I add the definition, observations made, and emotions it brings. Maybe the piece is fully positive. If not, it'll start with the negativity and end it with positivity. My pieces are more literal and introspective. But I am starting to love experimenting with more figurative language and coming up with rhymes and metaphors.
With my poetry, I hope to spread mental health and cultural awareness. To shine a light on faith and self love. I want to help bring diverse representation into the poetry world.
What is your poetic voice and style?
Stay inspired,Fida
More: poetry books | editing service
Reading poetry helped me feel less alone in my hurt. I write poetry to process my emotions and experiences. From it, I gain some clear perspective on lessons and solutions. I am able to let go and move forward.
I've noticed a pattern in some of my poetry. I add the definition, observations made, and emotions it brings. Maybe the piece is fully positive. If not, it'll start with the negativity and end it with positivity. My pieces are more literal and introspective. But I am starting to love experimenting with more figurative language and coming up with rhymes and metaphors.
With my poetry, I hope to spread mental health and cultural awareness. To shine a light on faith and self love. I want to help bring diverse representation into the poetry world.
What is your poetic voice and style?
Stay inspired,Fida
More: poetry books | editing service
March 16, 2020
The Current State of the Poetry World
Hello Poetteers,
On one side of the poetry world we are encouraging of those who are willing to be vulnerable in sharing their stories. On the other side the poetry world is a mess. The poetry world needs a change.
1. Poets are mistranslating other poets. One example is Barks vs. Rumi. Barks didn't know the language or religion; therefore, he took out the religion. He changed it to be sexual and to fit his westernized spirituality. I break it down in my posts: Rumi and Arab History. Make the time to learn and research your topic. Don't invalidate one's beliefs to fit yours.
2. Poets are plagiarizing others. Time and time again it resurfaces that Rupi Kaur plagiarized Nayyirah Waheed's poems and its style. Rupi has called Nayyirah one of her inspirations. In summary, Waheed has reached out several times to Kaur about the similarities and Kaur denied it. Reading a poem or book that inspires you can affect your subconscious. When it comes to working on your writing project I suggest not reading other people’s work. Adopting that can help you find and practice your unique style and voice.
3. Male 'she' poets are taking over the female narrative. It’s frustrating that male poets are writing about women’s trauma. I already shared my thoughts in this instagram post. Men should not be writing about female trauma or beautifying mental illness. Leave space for females & poc to take back their narratives and share their own stories.
You can read more about poetry misconceptions and annoyances in this previous blog post. How do you feel about the poetry community?
Stay inspired,
Fida
On one side of the poetry world we are encouraging of those who are willing to be vulnerable in sharing their stories. On the other side the poetry world is a mess. The poetry world needs a change.
1. Poets are mistranslating other poets. One example is Barks vs. Rumi. Barks didn't know the language or religion; therefore, he took out the religion. He changed it to be sexual and to fit his westernized spirituality. I break it down in my posts: Rumi and Arab History. Make the time to learn and research your topic. Don't invalidate one's beliefs to fit yours.
2. Poets are plagiarizing others. Time and time again it resurfaces that Rupi Kaur plagiarized Nayyirah Waheed's poems and its style. Rupi has called Nayyirah one of her inspirations. In summary, Waheed has reached out several times to Kaur about the similarities and Kaur denied it. Reading a poem or book that inspires you can affect your subconscious. When it comes to working on your writing project I suggest not reading other people’s work. Adopting that can help you find and practice your unique style and voice.
3. Male 'she' poets are taking over the female narrative. It’s frustrating that male poets are writing about women’s trauma. I already shared my thoughts in this instagram post. Men should not be writing about female trauma or beautifying mental illness. Leave space for females & poc to take back their narratives and share their own stories.
You can read more about poetry misconceptions and annoyances in this previous blog post. How do you feel about the poetry community?
Stay inspired,
Fida
March 10, 2020
Representation on the Covers
Hello Poetteers,
My poetry represents me and my books represent the poems it holds. It was obvious to put myself on the cover of my first book. I regret not having a muslim girl on the cover of Her Olives but I love the cover enough to not want to change it. I didn't think of representation until I was about to publish Her Treasures and Her Durian. It was an effortless and subconscious choice. My creativity reflects me. With self publishing there isn't any gatekeeping.
I spent my childhood buried in books. I never saw myself in them. Whether it was a character or the cover. The first time I saw a muslim girl on the cover was 'Does My Head Look Big In This' by Randa Abdel-Fattah. YA books are changing. It took about 10 years. There was a push for diverse stories and own voices. Within my own reading a muslim girl didn't come up again until 'Saints and Misfits' by S.K. Ali.
Are poetry books making that change too? It feels like a trick question. Faces aren't popular on poetry book covers. In the few I found only a couple were of muslim girls. For example: 'Letters to My Younger Self' by Sana Abuleil. The themes and topics in poetry are diverse. For a while the only poetry books I saw were about romance, heartbreak and self love. Eventually I found the poetry books that cover the topics about faith and cultural identity. Those stories are vulnerable and powerful. it's what we need.
Have you found/read diverse stories? What changes have you noticed in the book community?
Stay inspired,
Fida
My poetry represents me and my books represent the poems it holds. It was obvious to put myself on the cover of my first book. I regret not having a muslim girl on the cover of Her Olives but I love the cover enough to not want to change it. I didn't think of representation until I was about to publish Her Treasures and Her Durian. It was an effortless and subconscious choice. My creativity reflects me. With self publishing there isn't any gatekeeping.
I spent my childhood buried in books. I never saw myself in them. Whether it was a character or the cover. The first time I saw a muslim girl on the cover was 'Does My Head Look Big In This' by Randa Abdel-Fattah. YA books are changing. It took about 10 years. There was a push for diverse stories and own voices. Within my own reading a muslim girl didn't come up again until 'Saints and Misfits' by S.K. Ali.
Are poetry books making that change too? It feels like a trick question. Faces aren't popular on poetry book covers. In the few I found only a couple were of muslim girls. For example: 'Letters to My Younger Self' by Sana Abuleil. The themes and topics in poetry are diverse. For a while the only poetry books I saw were about romance, heartbreak and self love. Eventually I found the poetry books that cover the topics about faith and cultural identity. Those stories are vulnerable and powerful. it's what we need.
Have you found/read diverse stories? What changes have you noticed in the book community?
Stay inspired,
Fida
