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Continue reading →: Book Review: In This Burning World by Mary MackeyI’m pleased to share a book review of In This Burning World by Mary Mackey, a poetry collection that comments on life on the “New Planet” through poems that reflect on what it means to live in a world where the glaciers are melting and the oceans are rising, where…
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Continue reading →: Reflections on 2025 & Aspirations for 2026I studied abroad in London, spent the summer home in Virginia, started my senior year of college, and started thinking about what comes next. Here is a peek into my year-in-review as well as my goals for 2026.
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Continue reading →: The NunneryThe day before the disappearance, you stood staring at the little flag charms nudging each other in a circle around Rose’s wrist. She is telling you about the ten countries she has traveled to, and you are counting nine charms affixed to her bracelet. You keep counting from the shining…
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Continue reading →: On Gender in Grace Paley’s “Mother”“Mother” is a brilliantly short piece by American writer and activist Grace Paley. The story is written as a first-person narrative about the narrator who is inspired to remember their mother after the Indiana state song “On the Banks of the Wabash” on the radio. The question of the narrator’s…
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Continue reading →: The Letters by Layla NewsletterI have been itching to start a newsletter to share visual travel and food content, regular life and travel stories, and thoughts on recent literary and publishing trends. The Letters By Layla newsletter aims to talk about my personal life and bring together my social media and blog content all…
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Continue reading →: College Life: Regarding Master’s DegreesI loved London, loved the treasure trove of historic literary homes and literary history available to me. As I am thinking about doing a Master’s, I realize I’d like to do it in the UK if I can. To that end, I’m applying for the Fulbright, Marshall, and Rhodes scholarships,…
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Continue reading →: 4 Literary Homes to Visit in EnglandEngland is home to a vast number of authors who have left their mark upon literary history and shaped storytelling into what it is today. As a creative writing major and student of literature, I knew I wanted to visit the homes of the authors most meaningful to me while…
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Continue reading →: 5 Weeks in LondonA little recap of my time in London since I arrived 5 weeks ago to study abroad.
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Continue reading →: Reflections on 2024 & Aspirations for 2025I finished my sophomore year, studied abroad in Italy, spent winter break at home in Virginia for the first time in 2 years, and made many new friends. Here is a peek into my year-in-review as well as my goals for 2025.
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Continue reading →: Studying Abroad: LondonBack in August I talked about how I wanted to study abroad in London but wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for me. Read on to learn about where I will be studying during the spring semester as well as some of my study aspirations and learning goals.
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Continue reading →: Advent Story Train: Nightingale Knitting Group Ladies’ ClubThe Nightingale Knitting Group Ladies’ Club tasted critically the cake set before them by Celie Hazelton, fifth member. In the comfortable sitting room of Mrs. Delia Burts, president, the chocolate cake sat on the glass table at the center of the circle of pink upholstered chairs and sofa. Read on…
Hi,
I’m Layla
an untraditionally Slytherin word witch who grew up unschooled in rural Virginia studying Creative Writing and Film & Television at the University of Arizona.
I am passionate about story-driven travel and food writing. Here you’ll find college life and travel content, creative writing and how-to guides on how to write, edit, and market your work. May the words flow!
All inquires: jayaavendel@gmail.com
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