#writingcave

[jenniferniven]

“Writing a novel is a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay.” — Flannery O’Connor ✍🏻 Dear lovelies: Here I am at the end of my writing day with my husband (world’s best editor) and what’s left of my brain. Love, me ❤️ #amwriting #writinglife #flanneryoconnor #writingquotes #allthebrightplaces #mynextbook #ya #writingcave #pleasesendhelp (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ScfbsJbvH/?igshid=gc1gpbr2rste

[hunnyluv222]

Instead

Trigger Warning: Survivor Poetry

I stand before you; trembling I wonder who you see When you stand before me judging Have you ever seen the “REAL” me? I am a hidden character artist; My canvas is always breathing; An ever-malleable silhouette. An animated illustration Embryonic and invisible; Protectively I stand Shielding my purely loving self From every woman, and every man The person whom you really seek Can not come out today She’s hidden deep within a sheathe And, protected, she will stay

She’s an independent consciousness Stout-hearted, curious, and playful And even on the most bitter day, She can truly be quite colorful She yearns to be SAFELY free, This sentient being in a frame, Her mind is still her very own My girl, without a proper name I wonder why you think you know her, Has she spoken nicely, once, to you? Are you even sure you know her face This girl, you say you knew Do you know, it’s those like you Who’ve abandoned her the most Each and every time you chose To hide your eyes in shame Or to gossip over toast?

I change her ‘media’ frequently, From her eyes to her colored hair I may even let her gain some weight Anything — to let her disappear At night I lay and speculate The chance you may come near How close are you to discovering The girl who hides in fear? A devious new distraction Is meant to direct and titillate Your attention and your scrutiny Did you see the new portrait? How easy it is, for me to change The direction you are going Especially when you only believe The package is worth knowing!

“Magazine” face screwed tightly on Gravely I wait… ALONE Eventually, he’ll roll through my door Arriving to claim his own A “Real-Man’s” wife, to be sure! A statue, HE believes is worth “parading” Inside is a spirit who’s broken now A heart, who wishes to stop beating She’s trapped in a world consumed by hate, Jealousy, and honest danger Hurtful words; unpredictable attacks Leave her pondering, from the corner What has she done to deserve such rage She really doesn’t understand. What has she done, Sir, to earn this fate Why ‘MUST’ you raise your hand?

Inside this soul, cowers a little girl A spoiled child; a wistful teenager But also, there’s a woman; Sir, Beaten; and isolated She’s screaming out; she’s crying, Sir Can’t you finally try to see her? She peers behind broken eyes A human being who is dying She leaves her hope behind her One angry red droplet at a time But as she disappears inside A little prayer she is reciting: She prays somewhere, someday, instead, Someone, eventually may find, The person who she “might” have been If the world REALLY had “been kind”

[jenniferniven]

Writing. ✍🏻 Dear lovelies: I’m working on multiple projects for you... 🥰❤️ #writinglife #writersofinstagram #amwriting #allthebrightplaces #sundayselfie #writingcave #insidethewritersstudio (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqXZiXps1B/?igshid=7ofw1qgnl9s4

[jenniferniven]

Dear lovelies: Inside this notebook, underneath these post-its, are notes and notes for my new YA novel. I’m 100 pages in and this is the fourth packet of Kleenex I’ve gone through. 😢😭 I’d like to apologize in advance for all the tears to come. This story is personal. As much if not more so than All the Bright Places. And for me that equals many, many tears. 🤭💗 #allthebrightplaces #uglycry #somanyfeels #amwriting #writingcave #mynewbook #takealooktuesday

[jenniferniven]

Dear lovelies: As many of you know, I am writing a new YA novel......! 🌸 In honor of #writingwednesday I’m going to start sharing things— week after week— about the book. I’m so excited! ✍🏻🌼 So today, on this first WW, I present a little aesthetic I made for my story... Love, me ☀️💕 #amwriting #mynewbook #ya #summerreading #summerwriting #writingcave #allthebrightplaces (at Los Angeles, California)

[jenniferniven]

In the Writing Cave feeling excited and grateful about many things. 😍 One of the biggest is you. My reader family. Thank you for making it lovely every day. I’m working hard to bring you new projects... soon! (Thank you @_hannamoosa_ for the lovely art!) 🌸🐦💕 #allthebrightplaces #holdinguptheuniverse #makeitlovely #youmakemelovely #writingcave #amwriting (at Los Angeles, California)

[jenniferniven]

There is so much happening behind the scenes here in the Writing Cave. Like SO much. And I can’t talk about any of it. 🤭 And not being able to talk about any of it is making me 😑😬😠🤨🙃. But soon, soon, soon! In the meantime, I could turn this entire account over to your lovely, lovely fan art because it is GORGEOUS, and you are amazing, and I love you all, my lovely reader fam! (Thank you @bibliophile_books_life for this beauty!) 💜💚🌸 #allthebrightplaces #fanart #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #theodorefinch #violetmarkey #atbp #bookcover #bookstagram #writingcave

[jenniferniven]

Literary talismans. ✨💛 As I prepare to reenter the Writing Cave, I am surrounding myself with my favorite authors. These are some of the people and things that inspire me as I write. My signed copy of Shirley Jackson’s ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle.’ My LP of her reading two of her short stories. My Flannery O’Connor bookend and writers block and little vial of red clay from Andalusia, her home in Georgia. My Ray Bradbury writers block. My Toni Morrison print. And Carl Sandburg’s very own weights that he kept in his office, and that his daughters gave to my mother when she was writing his biography. Most of all, I keep my mom all around me, everywhere. 💖 #shirleyjackson #flanneryoconnor #carlsandburg #tonimorrison #raybradbury #amwriting #writinglife #allthebrightplaces #inspiration #writingcave #writersofinstagram (at Los Angeles, California)