GARLANDS AND GOODIES

Prompt 2: Plot twist of 2025

The Wild Arcs of April :

It's been a worthwhile time spent on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2025. While time was not entirely in my favour after April 9, I had to suspend the event due to unforeseen, unavoidable and unfortunate circumstances when my dear father exited the earthly realm on the 10th. I picked it up from where I left off after April 27 th.

Having lost a crucial chunk of time didn't deter me much and I did write just for the love of it.

During these 26 days of writing-- spanning the alphabetical order from A-Z, it was an enriching experience with my theme of Wellness/Lifestyle/Philosophy and Self care with every title picked from a foreign language.

From ANAM CARA to ZÕV AMDRAL, I wrote a whopping 30,356 words on my blog!

In view of the blogging team's theme of gratitude for 2025, I'm brimming with joy to see the unexpected readership count on each piece.

With everyone's unwavering support and especially for the mini series of the two adorable cats Muay Thai and Fluffnut from the letters G-M, I limped through the event.

Writing about the felines was what kept me going until I found some calm and stability when the going got rough and rugged.

While the tough in me kept going, 2025 was a year I wish could rewind and rewrite if I had the power to.

But in sole acceptance of how things have turned out to be, this virtual trophy is a salve on the enduring and surfacing through the depths of dim waters for a gulp of fresh air and warm sunshine.

The Plum Rewards of Novel Writing November NaNoWriMo:

19 Days and 30 K words! Sailed through the choppy waters of a pre- decided target on a limb. I relive the rip-roaring moment every single day hence. Did I really...? But then, of course I did!

I had grossly underestimated myself over a seemingly impossible larger than life NaNoWriMo when I had dived headlong into it without a charting course.

Registering myself as a Pantser, I wandered aimlessly through the plot, but not quite! The deep dark woods of words without a prior outline led me to discover untrodden, pristine paths and that was the beauty of the unfurling of the script!

All said and done, I'm one of the unsung heroes of NaNoWriMo 2025 and yet it's a flex! And with a flourish I accept my laurels in the quiet of my own writing bubble celebrating with my accountability buddies.

I did it! This day goes down in my history 💜 What a high 🥂🍾🏆

****

Now that wasn't so intimidating as I thought it would be now, was it! When I crossed the 30K word count target on Day 19, my novel was incomplete by far...a very, very far stretch.

Six more chapters of approx 1,670 words--sometimes more a day and I reached my highest summit with total word count of 41,485 words on Day 25 sealing a deserving finality to all the characters! Some with Just Desserts too 😉

You know what was the most exhilarating bit? To type "The End" !

Phew ! What a joyous journey that was that wore me wafer thin on days, yet I committed to it like none other. Polished three-quarters of the way, the story still holds a wide scope to make it concise and tautly knotted up in a neat bow. Well, but that's for another day when I revisit it.

Thank you Nano2 for helping me discover my strengths with your pep talks which in turn boosted my resilience to keep at it. SUAW Wrimos for giving me fantastic writing groups and accountability buddies. What else can I say except that it truly was a memorable November of 2025!

Cover Image Courtesy:Pinterest

Comments

CHẠ̀WKHRĀW (Chxw̒kh rxw̒)

As usual, at the dot of 8 pm, the Guzheng plays its stirring chords, the haunting notes beginning a slow sweep, rising to a powerful crescendo and alternating with a tranquil ebbing of melody surfing me along the waves of soul-stirring, yet a serene stretch of an hour every day. I make it a point to sit right beside my dining room window to bask in this lulling sound therapy as my neighbor downstairs diligently plays on this zither, oblivious to my admiration. What a luxury it is to have a live orchestra while I savour the last meal of the day. It's a welcome distraction to the otherwise jarring squabbling of the playful neighbourhood children. The Chạ̀wkhrāw of this– that the musical household might move one day is a foreboding thought. Foreshadowing this, deeply ingrained in me is the shattering news I had received upon returning to Singapore after an 8 month absence here. The Ramadan festive season was fast approaching at the end of March but the apar...

HIRAETH

Most rainy afternoons make me jog down memory lane, to the rhythm of the downpours that cascades down in sheets. And I slacken to the percussion of the raindrops tapping against my window pane. Flashes of memories of the halcyon days of the mid 1970’s come back to find me, to haunt me like mists hanging heavy and still. My only solace at this juncture are my vintage albums. The windows to the past and my very own time machine. Mulling over the pictures, I pen her a tribute: Once upon a time, there was a time when photos were Black & White, Monochrome, Sepia But the trees in your backyard were a much Idyllic Green--Verdant, Jade, and Lime. The fire in your hearth, a sunset Orange--red-hot, Amber and glimmering as you stoked it. The skies, immensely boundless, a much Pristine Blue--Cornflower, Sapphire and Azure, As you pointed out to me the floating frothy clouds, the eagles gliding with their fanned out wings; Or the occasional lone airplane soaring dominantly, a tiny speck hi...

ANAM CARA

The waves are soft and frothy. Laced with gossamer frills tenderly kissing the tips of my toes covered with the grainy sand of the rugged seashore where I'm sitting, wistful. A gust of briny breeze tousles my hair as I gaze as far as my eyes can see. A flock of terns wheel overhead, their sharp, shrill cries punctuating the air as they dive and swoop over the surfs. A lone frigate bird , its crimson belly dazzling like a jewel skims majestically above, its long, slender wings outstretched as it rides the thermals high above the ocean. I absorb the sights and sounds of the late afternoon while absentmindedly scooping seashells beside me. As the afternoon phases, the furthest rim of the ocean is fringed in a gilded hem and the sleepy sun yawns, its dipping glow streaking the sky in a mellow tangerine and warm cherry. As I continue sitting there, the ships and yachts appear --specks of light from the portholes glimmering in the distance, reminding me of the phrase “That ship has sai...

GATOS MEUS QUERIDOS

Chapter 1 Muay The Warrior Cat Muay Thai came to be called so for the feisty and spirited little thing she was, reminiscent of the intense and energetic martial art of Muay Thai . Her bold personality inspired me to give her a name that reflected her sass and vigor. Muay Thai's antics were the stuff of legends. She was a buzz of energy, always getting into mischief and mayhem. Whether she was chasing invisible bugs, leaping over furniture like an acrobat or wrestling with toys, Muay Thai was a force to be reckoned with. Her favorite pastime was "attacking" my hands and feet, using her lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp teeth. It was a game she loved, and one that always left me in stitches. Despite her tough-as-nails persona, Muay Thai was also a total softie at heart. She loved nothing more than curling up in my lap and purring contentedly, her eyes gleaming with adoration before snoozing into the deepest of sl...

INSIDIOUS

The car juddered to a halt and refused to budge an inch forward. "Luke, I thought we had a full gas tank and the car was serviced just this weekend…what's wrong?" "I have no idea, Stella…We're in the middle of nowhere and my phone has no signal! But look there. It says 'Baby Museum' on the signpost. Shall we go in and see if they have a landline to get us out of this mess?" "Guess we have no choice. But I'm very uneasy, Luke. I just want to go home and rest. Our baby's due in a couple of weeks." "I'm so sorry, honey. But look at the brighter side. We can check out this place in advance." At the entrance were standees of Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. The lobby glowed with pastel pink shimmering lights. Mannequins of fairies lined the walls. Luke approached the front desk. "Yes sir, we will have it arranged. Meanwhile, why don't the both of you take a tour of our museum?" Stella took Luke's arm and hobbl...

Sangeetha Kamath

Search This Blog