About Ishfully

Dear Reader,

I have been a writer for years. I’ve buried myself in story ideas, unedited musings, and hastily scribbled plot maps. Yet, after nearly a lifetime of creating, I haven’t had the courage to publish my work. Perfectionism has perhaps been the most insurmountable obstacle: it is difficult for me to publish my work when I feel that it’s never good enough. 

One February evening in 2019, I expressed the frustrating and impossible journey of accepting my work to one of my dearest and longest writing friends. From across the country and with a glass of wine in hand, she helped me navigate and untangle the feelings of inadequacy.

“You know,” she said with a comforting smile, “this really reminds me of a book I’ve read.” Thinking that it was some complex tome for writers to perfect their craft, I was surprised to find that the book was actually a picture book for children—one that I have read to my very own students every school year.

That night, I read Ish by Peter Reynolds and saw my writing in a new light, saw myself reflected in Ramón.

He kept trying to make his drawings look “right” but they never did.

Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

I realized I don’t have to create perfect writing. I can create—and share—my ish writing instead.

So, I’ve challenged myself to publish some of my flash fiction, poetry, short stories, and essays. I know there will be pieces I will hesitate about sharing and others I may come to regret publishing. I also know that the best way to overcome my fear is to face it.

Please consider Ishfully a backstage passes to my creative process—a glimpse at my gloriously messy, chaotic, and often nonsensical imagination. There’s beauty in ish writing and I’m working on embracing it, honoring how it’s a better reflection of who I am than any perfectly polished product of my pen.

His ish art inspired ish writing. He wasn’t sure if he was writing poems, but he knew they were poem-ish.

Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

I hope you enjoy reading the raw musing contained in this anthology. If you’re a fellow writer, I hope your words flow freely, taking you to unexpected new lands and offering you solace. And most of all, I hope you also find the courage to undertake the difficult but rewarding journey of facing your fears, one bit at a time. 

Here’s to staying true to you,

Mayra