When I was in university, I took two literature courses with one of the most amazing professors I’d ever known. I remember once, I stayed behind to talk to him about a paper I’d written and after we discussed it and I was heading out, he stopped me and asked “what’s your major?”, and I told him I’m doing Interior Design. He said that he truly believes that if I pursue writing, I’d be able to make a living out of it. He believed in me, and I remember how amazing that felt. He also invited me to attend one of the creative writing classes he taught, and I ended up taking that class the next year.
I wouldn’t say that that’s when I fell in love with writing and story-telling, but that’s definitely when I started finding my voice. I’ve been writing since I was a teenager, but that doesn’t really count I think because writing poetry at that time was a must. It was the thing to do. Dark, morbid, misanthropic poetry.
After graduating from university, I took some online creative writing classes. I was determined to write a novel. I started with short stories, then took a novel writing class. Needless to say, I didn’t get through the first chapter (or the second page, to be honest) but it’s still something I want to do someday.
(If you’re curious, one of my stories was published here – yeah, they forgot the i in my last name)

So I decided to start writing again. I don’t know how often or if I’ll share what I write, but I want writing to be a part of my life again. I decided that every now and then, I’m going to write a story to go along with a picture I post. Most of the time they’ll probably be very short stories, like the one I wrote for the picture in this post.
Surprisingly though, the story behind this image came after I shot it. I had a vague idea of a story when I went to shoot – I was inspired by a song called Criminal by Disturbed (“deliver me from all of this, I need you to quicken my end“), but then I decided I wanted more than that. I ended up writing a longer story (than the one I’m posting), but I wasn’t too happy with it. So I’m posting the shorter, vaguer (is that a word? *looking it up* yup it’s a real word) version of it.

 

She fell in love with an illusion, then strangled that illusion with her bare hands. 
The death of the only pure thing she’s ever known drove her to madness. And now she lives a life of solitude, praying for deliverance, waiting for the day they bury her heart next to his.

(title taken from Ghosts That We Knew by Mumford and Sons)

P.S. the contest deadline was yesterday and I’ve received a few submissions but I thought I’d give you guys a few more days, yay! 🙂 someone sent me a message about their photoshop crashing and I want everyone to have a chance to send in their entry, so you’ve got till the 30th.

P.P.S. I’m getting a few pieces exhibited at the opening of the new Art Center in Sharjah Ladies Club! It opens tomorrow (Wednesday) but it’ll be open to the public for two weeks starting from Thursday. If you’re in the UAE, come check it out ❤

2014-2017 Short Story Thoughts amani alshaali creative writing fine art photographer fine art photography inspiration literature photography photoshop photoshop edit short stories short story thoughts writing