WOTM: An Interview with @threadsofsunlight

30 APRIL 2021

The Writer of the Month Project is a revised segment of The Plain Poets that looks into what makes a writer, be it their craft or ideas. At the end of every month, we will be conducting an interview with a selected writer, and we’ll be diving into their muses, their writing history and much more.

In the month of April, @threadsofsunlight is a writer that has caught my eye. There’s something oddly nostalgic, yet intimate about her feed design. As if to enhance her chosen account username, her image has been sporting a single red streak in each cover. It’s very reminiscent of fire;

Despite her passionate account name, her feed actually undergoes a lot of theme changes. Very much like a mood ring, the colours can change depending on what she’s feeling. A deep red can symbolise romantic poems, while an electric blue stands for the blend of poetry and programming. As a student studying Bachelor's Of Science in Information Technology, she tries to find a balance between her studies and her craft. By the way how her readers adored her attempt to blend technical logic with creative concepts, she took it as a sign to continue formatting her work in this certain way.

Her choice of colours is a pure representation of what she’s offering to the table; “It is also heavily influenced by my mood and obsessions at a given time.” she says, and I can’t help but think of the fine dining experience with its four-course meals.

If you really wanted to know, she’s open to writing any theme, as long as it moves her. It usually ends up as a recurring part of her work. Bushra (the writer) also reveals that there hasn’t been any theme or concept that she has been sitting on for quite some time. Instead of getting set aside for consideration, they immediately end up getting incorporated into her pieces.

At the same time, she does admit there is an interest in Greek mythology. The myth of Icarus has been the centre point of 5 poems, and each time she revisits the myth, she manages to gain a newer perspective on the tale.

(I also want to note that this writer is a fan of list poems too!)

On top of theme changes, the writer has been observed for her changes in aesthetic. To sum it up, the visuals are a means to add depth and personality to her writing. Often at times, she regards these changes as “upgrades” - that is, she tries to hone her individuality as much as possible, thus clearing out a clear direction for her pieces. Her poems should be better than the one before, and I relate. We’re all trying to be better writers and poets after all.

Writing-wise, there is no specific flow of work. Bushra says that it’s both a free flow and a slow process of marinating her poem. Sometimes these two methods go hand in hand while she writes out a piece. As a writer, she’s sampled written rants where everything comes right out of her (imagine a word vomit). They’re much easier to write, especially with the absence of a rigid (and/or planned) structure and raw message. Plus, these formats tend to highlight the air of vulnerability she’s aiming for.

On a different day, she wants to outdo herself. “I've also spent days trying to write a poem hoping to make people go, 'I can't choose a favourite line because each one is a masterpiece,’' she tells me, and also adds that she wants to be as creative as possible. As you can already tell, witty lines with profound impact are definitely on her agenda, and she does not shy away from topics she’d like to explore. To my surprise, these topics all live in her head, close to being forever kept in the dark. They haven’t been discussed with anyone, to say the least.

First poems can be quite an embarrassing moment for most of us. When we asked her if she still remembered the first poem ever written, she said that she doesn’t. However, there is a slight catch - there are still records of a few pieces written from the time she started to write (around eighth grade for her) and they’re pretty reminiscent of what she’s doing right now. Despite the grammatical errors, they still have the same air of vulnerability. I guess some things never change in writers.

To continue on the path of being a writing account on Instagram, we wanted to ask her for recommendations. “I honestly can't pick anymore.” she confesses, “There are plenty of writers that leave me completely spellbound with their poems. And the list keeps growing everyday!” I totally understand, because whenever someone asks me for accounts to follow, I have too many on hand. Just follow who we follow on the community page!

(Might I add, that as The Plain Poets we are still on the lookout for new and underrated writers to feature. Do send us over some worthy pieces you would like us to read!)

One thing we completely and wholly love about being a community page for writers and poets on Instagram is listening to the impact we have on our followers. Safe to say, The Plain Poets’ driving force is how many appreciate our efforts to put smaller accounts onto the pedestal. In the eyes of @threadsofsunlight, she feels the same. Her inspiration comes from the conversations she has with strangers. This is what she had to say:

“Absolute strangers who I've never contacted, tell me they relate to my work. They tell me they feel more understood than they've felt with their closest friends. That connection, I think, is very precious. We often forget our worth as writers, trying to make a friend out of a cruel algorithm. But I think there's nothing quite as magical as writing poems that complete strangers can call home.”

I think it’s beautiful, being part of the writers and poets’ community on Instagram.

Here at The Plain Poets, we aim to identify these unique poets and writers and to put them on a pedestal via a platform everyone can support them. You may check out our Instagram page here.