short story
Thirty days from today, I will celebrate my birthday. It also feels like I am standing at a crossroads. One path leads toward my own Mount Everest. It is a difficult climb, driven by the hope that one day my work will outlive me. If I reach the summit, perhaps
short story
The three-room HDB flat housed a large family. For years, I slept on a mattress in the living room. In my twenties, I decided to move out. I wanted a bed of my own. I wanted freedom. I wanted to do as I pleased without my mother always checking
micro memoir
My father was the quietest person in the house. Most of the time, he spoke only to my mother. Whenever we ate chicken, he would choose the neck, legs, and backside. He always said those were his favorite parts. Whenever there was a drumstick, he never took it. It always
micro memoir
I am not sure whether it was a misunderstanding. He often invited me for meals and enjoyed discussing business ideas with me because I knew more about the subject than he did. I spent many hours sharing what I knew, freely and gladly. One day, I asked him if he
Tips
Every ordinary object has a story waiting to be told. A pen. A faded photograph. A recipe book. An old suitcase. To someone else, they are just things. To you, they are doors to memories. One glance, one touch, one familiar smell, and suddenly you are transported back to another
micro memoir
One day my friend disappeared. No goodbye. No explanation. No trace. At first, I thought she was simply taking a break from social media. I knew she had struggled with depression before, so I gave her the time and space I thought she needed. Weeks turned into months. Then months
Tips
A hook is the opening of a story that captures the reader's attention and makes them want to keep reading. It creates curiosity, emotion, surprise, or tension within the first few sentences. Think of it as the answer to the reader's silent question: "Why should
Poem
Every morning began with this cup. The enamel mug... chipped at the rim, stained by coffee. Morning after morning, it waited faithfully on the kitchen table. ~ Singapore, My Memories Who in your family always had an enamel mug? What do you remember about them?
micro memoir
I joined the school Red Cross Society when I was in Secondary 1. We had to buy our own uniforms, but I could not afford a pair of boots. One of the leaders, Loy Sai Lee, and several teammates pooled their money together to help me. I went to Sungei
micro memoir
My eldest sister, Annie, was the light of our family. Although she stopped schooling after Primary 4, she was the most entrepreneurial among us and successfully ran a hair salon business. One day, while on a tour in Beijing, she did not return to the tour bus. The tour guide
short story
I generally don't like dealing with people, including myself. Human nature is flawed. People can be irritating. Some can even be cruel. I was fortunate for much of my career. I spent 12 years as a researcher, curating information. I hardly had to talk to anyone. Then I
Tips
A speaker may share a story with 20 people in a room. But when that same story is written and published online, thousands may read it. One of my stories published quietly reached more than 5,000 views. A speaker spoke once. The written story continued speaking long after the
