September was meh, but alot was done. I performed many little admin tasks ie. did my yearly dental check-up, did my annual health check-up, helped the Malaysian Writer’s Society with a data entry task and got my name cards designed and printed!
I travelled down to KL for a job interview, started on my Chevening scholarship application, volunteered with my local care group and enjoyed a dinner treat at Blue Reef Fish & Chips by an old school friend, along with a personalised hand-calligraphed notebook.
In the arts world, I watched Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which wasn’t as good as the first one. Either how, I enjoyed the show. In the book world, I received good news that two of my anthologies had sold at The Art Assembly! Add to that three new publications in KL – short story ‘Two of a Kind’ on Eksentrika, short story ‘The Other Side’ in Englishjer’s 100/100 chapbook and poem ‘Still Yours’ in the VSC Project’s Duality zine.
September’s highlight was also definitely the Penang Writer’s Retreat in Batu Ferringhi, where eight of us holed up in a tiny sea-view apartment to do nothing but write. After that, I attempted for the second time this year to put together a short story collection (the first time was in February), and I’m proud to say I’m making headway by engaging an editor.
In September, I read four books. Two of these were anthologies – The Tudung Anthology edited by Azalia Zaharuddin and The Black House by Patricia Highsmith. I also finished Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis and This Sweet Sickness by Patricia Highsmith; hands-down the best book I’ve read all year.
September was also a busy month of freelance work, which is good news. I did my first job for an agency in Singapore for their logistics client, then ended my month with a stay at Hotel Equatorial Penang for a luxury magazine. When I woke up, it was already October.
Wan Phing Lim 