Penned by Nawaal

09/01/2023

EXCERPTS FROM MY POETRY #3:

"The water always looks gentler at night—
it’s a silky black mass, lapping against rocks worn smooth.
I feel my breath at the pit of my stomach, a bright,
silvery weight that soothes.

The silky black mass laps against my skin, against rocks worn smooth.
I’m treading water. It’s oily and cold,
a dark, silvery weight that surrounds me and soothes.
I breathe out through my nose. Beneath me, the ocean churns and folds."

Taken from “My Gentle Black Sea,” a poem I wrote in the spring of 2021.

08/29/2023

DAILY WRITING TIPS #8:

- Try setting goals for yourself.
- This could be a set number of words per day, or a time limit.
- Pushing yourself to write fifty words, or for ten minutes straight, will motivate you to work towards something.

08/29/2023

Why Penned by Nawaal?

- I am a published author — my poetry, prose, and academic writing is available in print and online.

- I have experience editing creative writing as Editor-in-Chief of Papyrus, Cairo American College's (CAC) esteemed literary magazine

- I conceived and operated McGill's first student-run Creative Writing Workshop

- I have also been doing freelance tutoring in creative writing and literature since 2019

- During my last year of university, I worked as a research assistant, and thus have experience editing at the secondary and post-secondary level

- Overall, I have over five years of experience in editing and tutoring, with supplemental training from my degree.

I am thus offering my skills in the following areas:

Tutoring in English (written and spoken) — $22 CAD/hr

Tutoring in creative writing — $22 CAD/hr

Any type of editing work — $6 CAD/pg.

If you live in the greater Montreal area, I am available for tutoring in person. Otherwise, tutoring services are available over Zoom.
If interested, please fill out the following form (https://forms.gle/RcqH83nmqTNGxHyY9), and I will reach out to you via email.

08/27/2023

DAILY WRITING TIPS #7:

Believe it or not, watching movies and TV shows can help with your writing, too! Especially if you struggle with writing natural and believable dialogue, taking a look at well-made cinema can inspire you by demonstrating how people communicate in different contexts.

08/21/2023

DAILY WRITING TIPS #6:

- Try planning out or outlining your writing.
- This doesn’t work for everyone, but it is still worth exploring as you first begin exploring writing.
- Planning out an essay or story can provide structure during the writing process and alleviate symptoms of writer’s block!

08/21/2023

Why Penned by Nawaal?

- I am a published author — my poetry, prose, and academic writing is available in print and online.

- I have experience editing creative writing as Editor-in-Chief of Papyrus, Cairo American College's (CAC) esteemed literary magazine

- I conceived and operated McGill's first student-run Creative Writing Workshop

- I have also been doing freelance tutoring in creative writing and literature since 2019

- During my last year of university, I worked as a research assistant, and thus have experience editing at the secondary and post-secondary level

- Overall, I have over five years of experience in editing and tutoring, with supplemental training from my degree.

I am thus offering my skills in the following areas:

Tutoring in English (written and spoken) — $22 CAD/hr

Tutoring in creative writing — $22 CAD/hr

Any type of editing work — $6 CAD/pg.

If you live in the greater Montreal area, I am available for tutoring in person. Otherwise, tutoring services are available over Zoom.
If interested, please fill out the following form (https://forms.gle/RcqH83nmqTNGxHyY9), and I will reach out to you via email.

Send a message to learn more

08/20/2023

EXCERPTS FROM MY POETRY #2:

“i saw the veins in my wrists today,
blue-green and fine.
i thought of verdigris stems,
of lush leaves lined with life,
so loud, provocative, animated—
and i was struck, all of a sudden,
by the miraculous realization
that i am Alive.”

Taken from “bring me the iris,” a poem I wrote in the spring of 2021.

08/20/2023

DAILY WRITING TIPS #5:

Always try to get a second pair of eyes on your work! It can be difficult, especially when you’re a shy writer or more private with your work. However, a second or third perspective will always improve your work — others will catch mistakes you may not notice.

08/20/2023

Hello! I am a recent McGill University graduate with a BA in English, and I will be pursuing my MA in the same field this fall. I am offering my editing services, as well as on-demand in-person and online tutoring.

So, why Penned by Nawaal?

- I am a published author — my poetry, prose, and academic writing is available in print and online.

- I have experience editing creative writing as Editor-in-Chief of Papyrus, Cairo American College's (CAC) esteemed literary magazine

- I conceived and operated McGill's first student-run Creative Writing Workshop

- I have also been doing freelance tutoring in creative writing and literature since 2019

- During my last year of university, I worked as a research assistant, and thus have experience editing at the secondary and post-secondary level

- Overall, I have over five years of experience in editing and tutoring, with supplemental training from my degree.

I am thus offering my skills in the following areas:

Tutoring in English (written and spoken) — $22 CAD/hr
Tutoring in creative writing — $22 CAD/hr
Any type of editing work — $6 CAD/pg.

If you live in the greater Montreal area, I am available for tutoring in person. Otherwise, tutoring services are available over Zoom.

If interested, please fill out the following form (https://forms.gle/RcqH83nmqTNGxHyY9), and I will reach out to you via email. If you have any questions about my services, availabilities, publications, or credentials, please don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon!

08/19/2023

EXCERPTS FROM MY PROSE #2:

“I loved my grandmother’s hands, crooked and weathered by years of labor, and she loved mine because they were smooth, dainty, and pale. I loved her hair, because it felt like a pillow against my cheek when she held me, and she loved mine because it was glossy, dark, and straight. I loved my grandmother’s face, warm, tan, and lined with history, and she loved mine in its youth, in its pearly whiteness. My grandmother loved me because I looked nothing like her.”

Taken from “Wish I Looked Like You,” a short story I wrote in the fall of 2022.

08/19/2023

DAILY WRITING TIP #4:

When you write, always choose concision and precision. Flowery and descriptive language is beautiful, but it's a careful, practiced art — once you've mastered short, direct sentences, you can start discovering your style. Often, that means exploring different types of writing, including more complicated vocabularies and sentence structures!

08/18/2023

DAILY WRITING TIP #3:

Don’t force yourself. Writer’s block is normal, and it’s okay to not produce constantly, and at a high level. Draft when you can, even if it’s “bad” — once you’re back in the mood to write, you’ll be able to redraft until you’re satisfied with your work. You’ll be glad to have something as a starting point, rather than nothing at all.