This seems to be the year for essays. The word 'essay' goes back to the 15th-century verb which was used in the sense of 'test the quality of something'. That verb, in turn, was borrowed from Old French 'essay, essai', from Latin 'exagium' (weighing, testing, ascertaining). Although I tend to express myself easiest through fiction, …
Essay on writing in a second language
At last, sixteen months after my PhD viva, part of my critical essay is now published in LOGOS. Hurray! The Challenges, Advantages, and Consequences of Writing Prose in a Second Language. According to Homi Bhabha, hybridity in the context of identity where two cultures or languages collide is a third space where new views and …
The Pirate Tree in different forms
I'm very lucky to have brilliantly creative friends. One of them has transformed The Pirate Tree into a kamishibai form, which is a form of Japanese street theater that became popular during the 1930s Depression and the post-war period. It's becoming increasingly popular again and it's no wonder because it joins the best aspects of …
The Pirate Tree free activities
During the lockdown, I was busy creating free activities for readers of The Pirate Tree. You can now download them on my publisher's website (scroll down). You'll find a crossword puzzle, a labyrinth, a fun board game and more. Have fun playing and creating and do let me know how you like them!
Viva distractions
The 31 January was a magical day. I woke up in Swansea (in a terrible hotel, but that didn't manage to ruin the day). My PhD viva was scheduled for later that Friday. Needless to say, I was nervous even though I kept telling myself that I wrote the thesis so I knew what it …
Soldier #amwriting #poem #poetry
One of my pieces of writing I am most proud of is, strangely, a poem. I haven't written any poetry in a long while and even when I wrote poems on a daily basis, the process didn't feel as natural as when I write fiction. I struggled. I imagine every poet struggles to an extent …
What’s in a name? #pennames #authorlife
A recent conversation with a fellow author who publishes her books under a pen name opened an interesting question about pen names for me. I only know this woman by her pen name as we ‘met’ in an online writing conference. We’ve become sort of friends over the years. I say ‘sort of friends’ because …
Vine Leaves Lit. Journal is available for pre-order
The final issue of Vine Leaves Literary Journal is available for pre-order on Amazon and other retailers. It offers 240 pages of poetry, prose, art & photography, including two of my pieces. As the editor, Jessica Bell says of the vignette form, it "forces you to slow down, to distract your focus from the future …
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New stories
You can now read my short story, Dad's expiration date, on CafeLit. A ten-year-old boy, Max, who's always lived only with his mother suddenly meets his father. But there is something odd about him and Max has a sinking feeling that things will not end well. The last issue of Vine Leaves Journal, including my …
When you want to give up #amwriting
This has been a difficult year so far. I've had new tasks piled on top of the old ones at work and I also spent a lot of time writing and editing several writing projects. Most of the time I feel overworked and on the brink of giving up. Particularly when I open my inbox …
Brigita Orel 