#leela.txt

[boysaints]

THE SUMMER MY CITY BURNED, by @boysaints, published in Overheard Literary + winner of a flash fiction contest!

transcript: I learned to dance, alone in my bedroom and sweating through my stained T-shirt; the summer my city burned I fell in and out of love in the span of a week; the summer my city burned I was looking for something, anything I could hold onto, but every trail I followed ended in nothing, nothing, nothing, every time I thought I was getting closer to finding the truth it was just another red herring; the summer my city burned I couldn’t stay still or keep my mouth shut or my hands steady; the summer my city burned I knew everything I was brilliant I was on top of the fucking world; the summer my city burned I cut myself open on the operating table and found exactly what I thought I would inside, bone muscle sinew flesh, my carotid artery shining in the moonlight; the summer my city burned I emptied my wallet on every grimy street corner and never spent a penny on what I really needed; the summer my city burned I was a stranger to myself, bad friend good lover mediocre daughter; the summer my city burned I woke every morning to tear stains on my pillow; the summer my city burned I never knew the right thing to say; the summer my city burned I shouldn’t have done what I did; the summer my city burned I sat in the sun and watched the flames; the summer my city burned I was a child a girl a wingless angel struck down by some indifferent god; the summer my city burned I couldn’t tell you what I wanted if it was standing right in front of me; the summer my city burned I knew better; the summer my city burned I thought this isn’t right over and over and over but I didn’t have the guts to say anything; the summer my city burned I was just another face in the crowd, running not away but toward the fire; the summer my city burned was the best summer of my life; the summer my city burned I was doing nothing; the summer my city burned I was learning to fly—

taglist under the cut (ask to be +/-; i used my old taglist + whoever asked to be added so i mightve gotten some stuff wrong!)

@exitwound @boymagnolia @bakaree @eudaimmonia @exbi @xuanyuu @lovecorerichie @richardsiiken @franzkafkagf @sunrisegf @imaginaryboys @prettyfuckingfine @colourofinfinity @gonzobf @doublelutz @flowerwebs @raavile @boyswifes @seadazes @camifrog @loveislikeawindowinyourheart @ohpombo @spirithold @boyprophet @poetslyre @irwa @venka @brightenthecorners @compilationofletters @myownprivateawakening @chopinns @arthuriankings @literaturegf @pancakeboy @backpckt @weedexchange @burningyear @vnusplanetoflove @transcodes @like-butterflies-and-glitter @scintillatea @amaarjaan @yrsong @claryghost @dyketamine @dykepoetssociety @exbifriend @tieria-erde @ruckenfigurs @bardgender @bicarusgf @feelingofhome @kugisakigf @icarusgf @k4dhal @pinkmoon1972 @raedas @taqrir @carfuckerlynch @chnt @mosscrab @lesbianmaki @lesbianboyfriend @piratecrew @demdol @kushiro @eudaimmonia @kenasunarpe @beachhouse2006 @worldenderr @nacredear @shibirud0n @transgaygarrett @scaredofgirlsmp3 @collapsesakanade @lumiyab @migratorybird @fruitz @belovedbi @shvzl-pdf @lovesong

#leela.txt #writing #my writing #creative writing #words #q

[kisstuals]

so i’m back ahahahah

#does anyone even remember me #anyway hoping to stick around for longer this time #would love to make some friends! #also i posted a fic #leela.txt

[allforthehaters]

kevineil hannibal au

#i’m so sorry #this is leela boysaints by the way 😭😭 #leela.txt

[boysaints]

forgot i had a tumblr again. anyways hi everyone i’m here i’m alive 💃💃 i’m way more active on twitter currently (ew) but if any of you do still follow me 4 my writing yes i’ve written a million poems and some fiction/nonfiction since i’ve last posted so i’ll like . post them slowly and in an order known only 2 me for my own sanity i guess . in the mean time here’s a carrd w all my publications if you want to read them .

#leela.txt #how’s everyone doing

[boysaints]

how long is the acceptable time to wait before posting another poem lol

#it’s an old one lmao don’t be fooled i haven’t written #leela.txt

[boysaints]

the fact that my most(?) famous post on here was a joke post about the situationship i had that went mildly viral because all gay people have the same three experiences on repeat HAUNTS me .

#please i was fifteen guys just tell people you love them #it’s making the rounds again 💀 #i still live by it though i won’t lie . i am a little in love with my friends fr #one day the slow escalation will lead to me just greeting all my friends with kissing them full on the mouth but we’re not there yet #leela.txt

[boysaints]

Hii do you know of any lit mags that have staff applications open/where i could find them? tysm

renaissance review, chinchilla lit, the dawn review, and the borderline are a few but i’d suggest looking on twitter for more

#leela.txt #asks #anon

[boysaints]

hi! first i wanted to say that i rly admire ur writing! and second i wanted to ask if you have any advice on writing a bio for ur first submission and if u have anyway of keeping track of which magazines are open for submissions?

hi! thank you :)

re: bio - this is from my lit mags 101 post (linked in my pinned) which has a bunch of random tips i cobbled together based on common questions i got; lmk if you have any more questions

for keeping track of what magazines are open, it’s really whatever works for you. chill subs is a super cool new tool that’ll do it for you. personally i can’t ever keep up w notion so i just use google sheets/my notes app when i want to manually write down deadlines but honestly something like google calendar would probably work better. to find what’s open i just scroll through twitter/search chill subs and there are usually a ton of open calls. some magazines also compile directories of other places to submit to w deadlines that are super useful - there’s a pretty set pattern for when things are open (for instance, there’s always a ton of magazines that close either on the 15th or last day of the month)

#leela.txt #asks

[boysaints]

the tone of the ocd ask is SO funny they were so point blank about it. like ✅️ read one of your poems. hits you with their armchair psychology ray gun. you've been diagnosed with ocd. like to them this was a real point a -> point b connection (no offense to that anon! or you)

the way it was so close to the top of my ask box was very funny too bc i just opened tumblr after like a month and the second thing i see is "hey lee do you have ocd" i was so caught off guard like WHAT am i missing anon please enlighten me i am LOST

#leela.txt #asks

[boysaints]

oh. also my debut poetry collection is coming out june 2023 more details on that later when i am more awake perhaps(?)

#leela.txt #bye time to study 4 finals

[boysaints]

Do you think using prompts to write are not a good thing? I feel a bit lost/stuck on how to start when writing for magazine/competitions that don't give you a theme or topic. So usually I will pick a prompt and then write a short story or something. But is that kind of cheating/lack of originality? Or is that just a bad writing habit n I should force myself to think of an idea/plotline myself?

not at all!! prompts aren't "cheating" because imho no one has ever really come up with a truly original idea. i mean, you don't come up with ideas in a vacuum - even poems that are ostensibly entirely from the poet's brain were probably inspired by something someone in their life said, or a pretty rock they saw, or an experience they had, which i guess you can think of as just a different type of writing prompt. you can absolutely force yourself to think of an idea yourself (it's good practice since i suppose you won't always have a prompt you like) but don't feel like it's necessary to be a "good writer". write whatever you want to and see what happens! you might find that you don't need or like prompts anymore, and you might find that you love prompts, but it doesn't take away from the quality of your writing

#leela.txt #asks #anon #also usually writing prompts are super vague yk? like a single word you saw inspiring a poem is not something to be embarrassed about #sometimes im reading and i'll see a word like deer or wtv and think of an image that fuels a poem and it's really not even related to #what i was reading so #hopefully that answers ur question! #sorry if this is late idk when u sent this ask

[boysaints]

THIRTY TWO YEARS IS NOT VINTAGE!!!!!!!!!

jack my friend that is twice my lifespan</3 it feels like a long time ago!!!

#how would you feel if i told you that i consider select early 2000s things vintage too #leela.txt #asks #jack tag

[boysaints]

oh okay sorry ! are you on any free sites ? I can donate

hi i have no idea what this is referring to v sorry

#leela.txt #asks

[boysaints]

lee i read one of your poems, do you have OCD?

so this is interesting because i have absolutely ZERO context. what poem are we talking about here. what ocd symptom is it displaying. should i have an identity crisis about it. etc

#leela.txt #asks

[boysaints]

how do u get so much published? love ur writing btw

it's mostly just volume!! during breaks/summer/random periods of time where my brain is weirdly overflowing w/ inspiration i write a LOT and just submit it everywhere i can. and it gets rejected until it gets accepted i suppose

#thank you! #leela.txt #asks #anon

[boysaints]

leela do you use a penname online or know anyone who does? i want to publish poetry/writing under a penname but i am So Nervous about like. legal trouble 😭

i do know a lot of people who use pen names!! i promise literally every magazine / press is super cool ab it (and legal trouble should not be a thing?? so many writers dont publish under their real name that im sure theres like . workarounds tbh. the only issue i can see is w/ payment but magazines paying u is separate from ur work being published publicly)

#leela.txt