Published in About Me Stories·PinnedMember-onlyAbout Me — Manali DesaiFoodie, Moodie, Broodie. — The statement, “Tell me something about yourself” always freezes me. Like how do I define myself in a few sentences strung together? It especially makes me nervous too, because it takes me back to my job hunting days and the countless interviews I gave. After three decades of life experience…About Me6 min readAbout Me6 min read
Published in The Haven·PinnedMember-onlyWhen my socials became antisocialAll my online accounts having a conversation about yours truly — Instagram: Manali loves me the most! Why are we even having this conversation? It’s a clear waste of time. Facebook: *rolls eyes* oh, please! I came to her solace when she was mourning over her first love Orkut. She would never love anyone more than me. …Social Media3 min readSocial Media3 min read
PinnedMember-onlyMy NameWho are you? — Making money by following my passion for reading and writing. Always curious to know more, learn and grow. Never shying away from helping someone who asks for it. An admirer of nature and all that it has to offer. Language and literature lover. In this world to try and make…Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min read
Published in Thank You Notes·PinnedMember-onlyThank You Dear ReadersI’m nothing without you all — In a Creative Writing Symposium, where I was a speaker recently, one of the participant students asked me, “How do I get over the hesitation of being judged for my writing?” It’s an age-old question for any creative person and I answered them by saying, “You never get over it…Grateful2 min readGrateful2 min read
Published in Write Like a Girl·PinnedMember-onlyTo the Men Who Fear Feminists and FeminismBecause feminism has become so synonymous with man-hating — Dear men, Yes, I’m a feminist. And the first thought that probably came to your mind was, “Oh! she must hate all men.” So, let me begin by saying, no I don’t. And yes, I do. No, because I was raised by a man, grew up with another, and am…Feminsim2 min readFeminsim2 min read
Published in Thank You Notes·Nov 29Member-onlyThe Power of 3My mood alleviators (things and people I’m grateful for) — I’ve always been a volatile person. My mood swings are varied, unpredictable, and prone to change in nanoseconds. I myself took a long time to understand and tame them. To be honest, I’m still learning and trying not to be all over the place, all the time. Over the years…Gratitude4 min readGratitude4 min read
Published in Write Under the Moon·Nov 21Member-onlyDo it All TonightWho knows when there’ll be a next time? — Hit it, hit it, baby Hit your feet on the floor And get your body moving as you sing along With your favorite song, this is where you belong Pull it, pull it, baby Pull the quilt around yourself And get your body comfortable in that favorite chair Let the words wash over…Poem2 min readPoem2 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION-Curated·Nov 18Member-onlyThe Forgotten Palace and the betrayed prince by Shalini RanjanA fantasy story with a tinge of romance, suspense and thrill — Book details: Genre: Fiction/Romance/Fantasy Pages: 365 Format: Kindle eBook Price: ₹49/$ 0.99 What I liked about the book: Priya’s growth and character arc is inspiring and one we can all take a leaf out of. The sizzling chemistry that the female protagonist shares with both the men in her life. …Books2 min readBooks2 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR·Nov 17Member-onlyThe Heart is For Sale by Sandeep PawarA delightful dose of self love, life musings and anecdotes — Book details: Genre: Fiction/Poetry/Musings Pages: 360 Format: Kindle eBook Price: ₹49/$ 0.99 My Rating: 4/5 A collection of tiny tales, musings and poems, this is a heart-warming read that at once makes you recall or ponder about unrequited love while also reminding one about the importance and necessity of self-love. What I liked…Books3 min readBooks3 min read
Published in Writers’ Blokke·Nov 15Member-onlyUpcycled Items in My HomeThe easiest way I can contribute towards climate change and environment protection — I’m a complete believer and follower of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle philosophy. Before throwing away any item, I ask myself every time, “Can I use this in any manner for creating something or storing something?” If the answer is yes, the item stays in the house and is repurposed…Climate Change5 min readClimate Change5 min read
