friends, i turn thirty today. in celebration, i’m publishing my first work of fiction (or vignette? short story?) this piece juxtaposes defiance and resilience with ruin and decay. it’s somewhat an analogue to previous essays: the messy middle, and the
Happy belated 30th, Tobi! I think you deserve the cake and to eat it too because this was marvelous. I agree with Kunle, there IS a lot to unpack. The imagery is so lush and so real, the metaphor took me by surprise! It's a story that sticks to your bones as you digest the layers. It's begging me to ask myself: when have I looked at the world as out to get me when maybe all I need to do is Shake It Off? [cue: Taylor] Thank you for this, I'm going to place it in my pocket for safe-keeping.
All of the negative experiences pile up and when we finally get to that tipping point, it ends with dancing. Yes. Happy birthday, and keep at it, Tobi.
Are you part of George Saunders' Story Club? Wasn't sure if I had seen you there or not. Great place for writers to push each other as we make this journey together.
There's a lot to unpack here, but let me get the most important thing out of the way, Happy birthday Tobi, wishing you all the best life has to offer and the wisdom to know what steps to take if things look bleak.
Reading your pieces over time, I am happy to see how your writing has progressively become more vivid, vibrant and engrossing.
One other thing that I love in this piece is the smoothness of flow between different parts, like when the character started dancing, the transition wasn't jarring, until you suddenly realise then ask yourself "why the hell is she dancing?".
Happy belated 30th, Tobi! I think you deserve the cake and to eat it too because this was marvelous. I agree with Kunle, there IS a lot to unpack. The imagery is so lush and so real, the metaphor took me by surprise! It's a story that sticks to your bones as you digest the layers. It's begging me to ask myself: when have I looked at the world as out to get me when maybe all I need to do is Shake It Off? [cue: Taylor] Thank you for this, I'm going to place it in my pocket for safe-keeping.
All of the negative experiences pile up and when we finally get to that tipping point, it ends with dancing. Yes. Happy birthday, and keep at it, Tobi.
Are you part of George Saunders' Story Club? Wasn't sure if I had seen you there or not. Great place for writers to push each other as we make this journey together.
There's a lot to unpack here, but let me get the most important thing out of the way, Happy birthday Tobi, wishing you all the best life has to offer and the wisdom to know what steps to take if things look bleak.
Reading your pieces over time, I am happy to see how your writing has progressively become more vivid, vibrant and engrossing.
One other thing that I love in this piece is the smoothness of flow between different parts, like when the character started dancing, the transition wasn't jarring, until you suddenly realise then ask yourself "why the hell is she dancing?".
I think that will be all for now.
Thanks for the piece 🙏