Style On The Side

Wellness, Creativity & Writing Find me on styleontheside.com, buy my books and get writing advice on carolinetopperman.com Submit to Migrations-review.com #writerscommunity #womenwriters #writing #travel  

[styleontheside]

That feeling when one huge project is complete so you have a moment to breathe before the next one starts.... . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #travelphotoblog #teampixel #pixel5 #googlelocalguides #letsguide #polskajestpiękna #pocztowkazpolski #tatrymountains #writingabook #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #canadianauthor #culturalheritage #creativenonfiction #canlit #mystories #familyhistory #mountainphoto https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAmMiALRxy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

So, yesterday I got an interesting DM from someone who said they weren't sure about three words which I had written in the excerpt from my book. (I posted it a few days ago under a photo of me). This person said that if my book was still in the editing stages then there were probably "more eloquent" ways to express what I had said. I've decided to respond here. My book is part memoir, it's how I felt about my situation. My book is not in the editing stages as I've mentioned multiple times that I'm seeking an agent/a publisher. If you feel the need to critique me, at least take the time to make it constructive. Telling me you don't like something for the sake of telling me is just mean spirited. Don't do it over a DM. Own it. Post it so everyone can see. Maybe others want to weigh in. Or simply skip over the post which I wrote because I was celebrating being asked to read at a Women's Day Event. . . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #writingabook #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #newyorkgram #newyorkstateofmind #memoir #mystories #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #creativenonfiction #canadianauthor #cbclife #canlit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp47MQLL7jM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

I haven't seen this photo in a while. I am now thinking that all cities need something whimsical like a merry-go-round. It doesn't make a lot of sense but it is unexpected. . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #pariscartepostale #parisparis #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #familyhistory #mystories #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canlit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2T7CYrNBM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Outside is cold and snowy so I'm imagining picnics in the park. . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #writingprompt #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingmystory #writerswrite #writerlife #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #teampixel #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #pariscartepostale #familyhistory #familystories #mystories #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canlit https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxNWjSLuEA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

I usually crave the energy and movement of the city. Then one day I wake up and find that only quiet will do. It usually happens when I am starting a new project..... . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #familyhistory #familystories #princeedwardisland #googlelocalguides #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #pixel5 #writingabook #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canada🍁 #canlit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpm9WrErHL7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

To my grandmother, who entered a university during WWII, and got herself admitted to Med school, while in exile. To my grandmother who broke through the cultural norm and was accepted in a traditionally male environment in Afghanistan, and then convinced local law makers to allow her female students to wear shorts to gym class. To my mother who unexpectedly became a political refugee just because of her heritage, and had to forge a new life several times. They all once walked these streets. #embraceequity #internationalwomensday2023 . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #storiesofhome #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storytellers #warszawa_love #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #googlelocalguides #tellyourstory #torontowriter #teampixel #polskajestpiękna #pixel5 #familyhistory #familystories #memoir #mystories #mywritinglife #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #culturalheritage #creativenonfiction #canlit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cph0j6ZLqOe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Yesterday I had the huge pleasure of reading from my unpublished book, Your Roots Cast A Shadow. The line up @registrytheatre was amazing, I met so many beautiful writers. I have to give a huge shoutout to my mentor and friend @susan_scott_tnq for curating the event. She's brilliant and always seems to stay behind the scenes but definitely deserves the spotlight. As I work on finding an agent she has been an incredible support. 😊 Chapter 2. Assimilation (or not) By Way of Food I am standing in the middle of the street, crying “I hate this coffee, why does everything taste so weird? Why is surowka served with EVERYTHING?” (To this day I don’t get what’s to love about a type of coleslaw.) Why did we come here? What was I thinking?” My poor husband stands helpless. He was really worried about my mental state, he tells me later. He felt bad. He had no idea how to help me. The honeymoon period in a new place lasts about a month. Then your new reality hits you upside the head. I have to wonder, is this how my parents felt when they first lived in Baghdad, Paris, Sweden or Toronto? Adjusting to our new life in Poland is demanding. Having breakfast at Vincent’s helps, and in a couple of days we quickly fall into a routine that leads us to this tiny piece of Paris, complete with flags, those iconic wicker chairs, and the best baguettes outside of France. Each morning we leave our flat for a small park with sweeping views of Powisle, an indie neighborhood bordering the Vistula river and the escarpment where we live. There are always lots of people, all walking dogs off leash, so we pick our way through dog poop, garbage left by party-goers, local drunks, and students. Pristine the park is not, but we have a prime view of the church grounds—one of the countless churches in Warsaw—and a view of the river and the rooftops. Walking down a steep hill we come to the Chopin University of Music, where we’re serenaded by students, then we make our way up to Nowy Swiat, a part of the Royal Route. .... #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #warszawa_love #writingmystory #pixel5 #teampixel #tellyourstory https://www.instagram.com/p/CpdOS5ALxQ1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

I keep coming back to this photo. It's just a moment caught in time, but there is so much going on. . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #pariscartepostale #parislife #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #photomoment #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canlit #familystories #mystories (at Paris, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpP3ld1LWim/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Vancouver continued.... So there we were sitting on the curb trying to figure out our next move. Luckily for us a friend stepped in and offered us a room in her home. We gratefully accepted. We, however, needed something for a few months. When our ballroom dance instructor heard about our situation she offered us her late mother's place. it hadn't been sold, and we were free to use it. And that's how we spent two months living in a retirement home! 😊 . . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #torontowriter #teampixel #tellyourstory #vancouvercanada #vancouverlife #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #mystories #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canada🍁 #canlit #memoir #nightphotos (at Vancouver, BC) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpKq4BULbfo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Years ago, I lived in Vancouver. One day, my husband and I found ourselves sitting on a curb outside our new home with nowhere to go. We had rented out our condo, but the renovations on our new house were taking longer than expected (it was still mostly down to the studs, with no running water). It was August, and we couldn't afford to stay in a hotel (especially one that was pet friendly). Family was across the country and couldn't help, so we sat in the sun trying to figure out what to do next..... . . . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingabook #writerlife #writerswrite #vancouvercanada #renovationlife #googlelocalguides #pixel5 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #teampixel #letsguide #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canada🍁 #canlit #mystories #mylifemyadventure #mywritinglife #memoir (at Vancouver, BC) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpC8x5lrnmz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Following the tracks to see where they lead. If I'm in a new city, and on my own, and I'm not on a walking tour, then I pick random stores and walk to them. It's the perfect way to see things without just going to the obvious places. 😀 . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerswrite #writerlife #munichcity #mystories #familyhistory #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canlit (at Munich, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co9xNclLvlG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Lights and colours are always welcoming. It doesn't take a lot to make a spot feel friendly. . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #sanfranciscobayarea #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #teampixel #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerswrite #writerlife #googlelocalguides #pixel5 #letsguide #canadianwriter #creativenonfiction #canadianauthor #cbclife #canlit #mystories #city_features #writingabook #itsallinthedetails (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co7NC8yrsEr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

This is still one of my favourite doors. . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #doorlovers #entryway #googlelocalguides #pixel5 #teampixel #torontolove #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #writers_den_ #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #familyhistory #canadianwriter #canadianauthor #culturalheritage #creativenonfiction #canlit #mystories #familystories https://www.instagram.com/p/Cow5DP-ryNs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Books and a staircase, yes please! . . . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #vienna_austria #libraries #librarylove #bookloversofinstagram #bookcoach #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerswrite #writerlife #mystories #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canlit (at Vienna, Austria) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoubDArL5lo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

All I remember thinking is, "we need to find shade." . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #vienna_austria #europetravels #googlelocalguides #letsguide #pixel5 #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #creativenonfiction #canlit #architecture_greatshots #mystories (at Vienna, Austria) https://www.instagram.com/p/Corxj6Jrqkc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

Wide boulevards are always wonderful to look at but give me a narrow winding street any day, that is where the magic is hidden. . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #pixel5 #writers_den_ #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #googlelocalguides #letsguide #vienna_austria #culturaltravel #canadianbloggers #canadianwriter #cbclife #canadianauthor #city_features #creativenonfiction #canlit #europetravels (at Vienna, Austria) https://www.instagram.com/p/CopQ5Y4LAMb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[styleontheside]

When a coffee shop doubles as a book store I'm all in. 😀 When I moved to Poland I was thrilled to find so many bookstores. Imagine my surprise when realized that (of course) most of the books were in Polish.... 😂 It sounds so dumb when I write it down but I was going through such a strange culture shock that it didn't really occur to me. . . . . . . . . #styleontheside #carolinetopperman #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #storiesoftheeveryday #storytellers #travelphotography📷 #tellyourstory #torontowriter #travelphotoblog #teampixel #pixel5 #googlelocalguides #letsguide #expatliving #warszawa_love #writers_den_ #writingmystory #writingcommunityofinstagram #writerlife #writerswrite #polskajestpiękna #booksandcoffee #bookloversofinstagram #canadianwriter #canadianauthor #cbclife #culturalheritage #creativenonfiction #canlit (at Warsaw, Poland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CofEc6WLzL3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=