eternal_solace

a little late to the party, but happy new year everybody! in the last year, i met a load of new people on this site, wrote more here than on my thesis and (hopefully) became a little wiser, and for that, i'm grateful. 
          	
          	i know that new year sometimes sounds a bit silly, because, you know, jan 2nd was also a year ago now. a new year's resolution just happens to fit nicely in the calendar and comes with fireworks but i think it's worth reflecting on what you guys have achieved in the last year anyway since it can be easy to forget. to recap some moments from a few people:
          	- @Polina_Popova becoming an ambassador (congrats!). 
          	- @IanSnow4 self-publishing their work (mad impressive)
          	- @novelistASH for being glad about how their book Evernight turned out, and just writing a ton in general
          	- @sabrinimartini for juggling a bunch of stuff at the same time (3 jobs?? hello??)
          	
          	and many more, like entering the ONC and other competitions, personal goals like health and overcoming your own barriers and vices. and even if you didn't fully complete an aim, be proud of the progress you made. i won't say that not achieving something doesn't define you, because it's not particularly helpful if that's the case. what i will say is that recovery and the process of it is also an achievement in itself. to spring back up and keep afoot after life decides to dump the stupidly tiny type of glitter all over your brand new carpet is worth remembering.
          	
          	so for 2026, my own goals are to carry over all the inspiration you guys give me, actually remember to comment when i read (link your recent stuff here!) and maybe breaking that track record of going offline here for months at a time. how about you?

IanSnow4

@eternal_solace Thanks so much! I'm really unsure about the future. Maybe I'll find inspiration when I hear what everyone else has planned.
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Joy_angie

@eternal_solace happy new year dear. Wow this is so nice.
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Polina_Popova

@eternal_solace, thank you, miss! And happy new year!
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eternal_solace

a little late to the party, but happy new year everybody! in the last year, i met a load of new people on this site, wrote more here than on my thesis and (hopefully) became a little wiser, and for that, i'm grateful. 
          
          i know that new year sometimes sounds a bit silly, because, you know, jan 2nd was also a year ago now. a new year's resolution just happens to fit nicely in the calendar and comes with fireworks but i think it's worth reflecting on what you guys have achieved in the last year anyway since it can be easy to forget. to recap some moments from a few people:
          - @Polina_Popova becoming an ambassador (congrats!). 
          - @IanSnow4 self-publishing their work (mad impressive)
          - @novelistASH for being glad about how their book Evernight turned out, and just writing a ton in general
          - @sabrinimartini for juggling a bunch of stuff at the same time (3 jobs?? hello??)
          
          and many more, like entering the ONC and other competitions, personal goals like health and overcoming your own barriers and vices. and even if you didn't fully complete an aim, be proud of the progress you made. i won't say that not achieving something doesn't define you, because it's not particularly helpful if that's the case. what i will say is that recovery and the process of it is also an achievement in itself. to spring back up and keep afoot after life decides to dump the stupidly tiny type of glitter all over your brand new carpet is worth remembering.
          
          so for 2026, my own goals are to carry over all the inspiration you guys give me, actually remember to comment when i read (link your recent stuff here!) and maybe breaking that track record of going offline here for months at a time. how about you?

IanSnow4

@eternal_solace Thanks so much! I'm really unsure about the future. Maybe I'll find inspiration when I hear what everyone else has planned.
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Joy_angie

@eternal_solace happy new year dear. Wow this is so nice.
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Polina_Popova

@eternal_solace, thank you, miss! And happy new year!
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varynsolis

@eternal_solace thanks for reading Sidewalk Sermons! Appreciate it! If you could, could you also read my latest collection? In turn, I will read one of yours and give constructive feedback? How does that sound mate? :)

eternal_solace

@varynsolis that's really sweet of you, but again - the choice is always yours. thank you! I'll speak with you later! :)
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varynsolis

@eternal_solace I will read them tomorrow! It's the least I can do after you read my work! I genuinely want to help boost your work and recognition. Have a good day and talk to you later! XOXO
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eternal_solace

@varynsolis mate, ahaha, i read it because i was genuinely intrigued - and i'll look at your other works too since i like your style of writing. but don't feel like you owe me anything. if you are interested in my work, then go ahead and read, but don't force yourself to read through something you don't enjoy, haha, that's torture. there's no obligation here, you have freedom :)
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Sahilvd237

Let me know when u drop by ..another gazal waiting for you. I wrote it while in office y'day..the coffee was served and somehow a gazal came out for tea
          
          And since our last discussion, I m somehow more interested in structures of the poetic form now. Gotta work on it. Thank you for inspiring me to learn. 

Sahilvd237

@eternal_solace I m sending them to u here and will delete later. Your comments help me a lot. I was waiting for u to be back. Sorry for imposing this on you. Let me know if I m annoying ya.. hehe..
            
            As for publishing in a book...probably! But only after I write a few more...i have decide to learn about gazals, read some works, and try writing some. Though the requirement of structure is clear, I m short on metaphors and my knowledge of poetry asks me for a revisit. I now want to learn more abt syllables and structures. This is also because of the influence of your poetry and reading style. 
            
            Gazals ask me for more and more depth of both my experiences and understanding of language and life. 
            
            And since I believe it's less explored, I m curious abt gazals in english. I also found that there was actually an English gazalkar "Agha shahid ali" who is originally from Kashmir, later turned american. 
            
            You can read this one titled "tonight"
            https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/agha-shahid-ali
            
            This link will take you to the page of poetry foundation where I came across the gagzal
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eternal_solace

@Sahilvd237 oooh! well done! are you gonna post them in a book?
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DivineElf

Did you get any snow? 

eternal_solace

@DivineElf yeah no i'm in the UK so it was kind of crazy, not even rain. i love love loveee winter wonderlands and snow, it's so magical every year ahaha. also yeah lol, it was really fun. also damn an espresso machine sounds so cool omds, that's an awesome present. also awww, you sister handmade it, that's so sweet! journalling is tons of fun, haha. still in shock that 2025 is nearly over honestly, haha
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DivineElf

@eternal_solace we usually get more snow by January. Oh that's crazy must be weird if you're not used to sunshine on Christmas. And that's so cute your young dreams came true lol. My family got an espresso machine for making cafe drinks so that is super cool and exciting and my sister sewed me a pocket thing to store a journal and my pens in
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eternal_solace

@DivineElf aww noo, here's to hoping there'll be more snow later. it's actually sunshining where i live which is insane ahaha. also yay, family dinner sounds so cozy! what did you get? i mostly revised but my parents got me this glitter glue gem thing i wanted when i was five ahaha, it was a good laugh, otherwise i just lazed around lol :D
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Sahilvd237

Just went through your bio. I love that "hullo"..don't ask me why cuz I don't hv an answer for that. 
          
          Just a question..when u say u r against the use of AI in art, in what sense do you mean it? 

Sahilvd237

@eternal_solace thank you for expressing your views! I m glad that I asked for it.
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eternal_solace

@Sahilvd237 i do agree with you that to some extent AI is helpful in learning. it can very well compile sources to learn from. however, in my personal studies, i've found it to be inaccurate. so i'd say that this is dependent on the subject of study. i think it would be fine up until standard 12, but after that at a degree level certainly not. even some language apps like duolingo aren't accurate with AI. it depends on the model used, really. chatgpt being such a general model ultimately hinders it at everything. moreover, though this is a personal experience, i'm fearful that i may forget how to be resourceful on my own? it's this strange sense of independence i want to maintain, that i can look by myself. that said, AI i don't think is inherently a bad thing. just specifically in creative spaces it can become, like you sad, an insult to the extent of human ability.
            
            as far as translations go, i understand that your own work is absolutely fine to go off of. my only concern would be the accuracy of translation of meaning like you said, since i've noticed it can tend to oversimplify if you don't make sure to ask to translate directly. so the translation must be reviewed, almost humanised, if you like? that said, after this would be the concern that the AI actually takes your work indirectly, since in settings it can train on data you give it, so i would actually be wary of the opposite happening in this scenario. i think you can change the setting, but we don't really have a way of knowing exactly what they'll take and what they won't. as for you last point of people gaining views, i discussed with ASH a little while back and he introduced a theory that people write for money, message or catharsis, and i think it's quite accurate. all writing falls under this. what i will say is it seems the people who like to gain more views and followers tend to have a large following that might have a lower engaged reader to relaxed reader. that falls under personal preference.
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eternal_solace

how are you guys doing these days? any plans for the festive season? i'm slowly pushing through my reading list.
          
          took a walk in the park and forgot how absurd simple things could be, but it's still comfort food for me. rusty on the writing so i've tried, maybe screwed it up, but did it nonetheless. the banal, the sacred and the stupid, added to hearts: https://www.wattpad.com/1586109438-hearts-on-your-sleeves-the-banal-the-sacred-and

eternal_solace

@novelistASH ah, fair enough honestly. Well, regardless, I hope you have a lovely time in the sweater weather, and take a well deserved break. 
            
            Reminds me of our conversation. Message, money and catharsis. I suppose that success is very much a personal belief, regardless of what you write for. Have you ever considered running a workshop of some sort, actually? Given your knowledge base. I'm not sure if it'll increase exposure, but it could. You could do those mini wattpad award things that the community hosts, or on any socials for that matter. Hopefully opportunities arise in the new year, and if not then you can always make them, haha.
            
            I'd actually have to disagree with you here purely on personal preference, haha. I hadn't been out of the house or theatre stages, and I needed the fresh air. I prefer the chaos of backstage lol. I didn't know you ran! that's sick! 
            
            I'm equally as hyped to see more from you :D
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novelistASH

@eternal_solace My plan, as always, is to survive the festive season. Fourth Quarter Economic Injection is taxing on the spirit, on my misanthropy. I will endure.
            
            My mind is mostly chewing on the year to come and how to find success as a writer. I can speak on books. Speak on writing and craft. Maybe put everything into shameless plugs. I don't know.
            
            Walking is great. One of the reasons I can't get away from the joy of running. I get to see more of the world while I'm out.
            
            I'm psyched to see more of your work!
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Sahilvd237

ES...how are u?

eternal_solace

@Sahilvd237 hmmm i might, but there'll be so much to compile it would easily take at least a month to make a decent start lol. it might be fun though if i get more recs too. 
            
            also yeahh, we are. you started writing super early then! it is easy to just see language as a tool for grades, i know what you mean, especially with the way it's taught within school. school could never have me sit still lol, i was always easily bored (and honestly an annoying human being, but i'm glad to say i have grown since then lol)
            
            also yessss, it would be so amazing, we could come up with so many poems and writings and book recs
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Sahilvd237

@eternal_solace you should honestly put up a book for recommendations, one chapter for poetry recommendations and another for the songs
            
            Woah! We r opposite in that sense. I m that obedient boy u see on the first bench. And i started writing much later like in 10th standard. Until 8th standard, I looked at languages as mere subjects to be studied for the sake of marks. It was in 9th and 10th that I got much interested to the point I started composing some childish poems in hindi. 
            
            If we're neighbours w wouldn't have to worry about privacy and cyber security :p
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eternal_solace

@Sahilvd237 my dad knows a bunch of these songs lol, one day i'll ask him to compile a list and put up a spotify link. i also feel the same way when my dad introduces me to such songs haha.
            
            helpppp i mean i was pretty loud and crazy extroverted honestly, i have no idea where that confidence came from lolll. did the bare minimum in class and barely went to tuition after school lol. although, i do uphold that schooling should have taught me everything within schools. if teachers don't teach and i have to go to tuition anyway, what's the point? but yeah lol. if you were my neighbour it would be amazing imagine all of the discussions we could have
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DivineElf

Hey! Do u have Pinterest? We should follow eachother

eternal_solace

@DivineElf glad to hear you're well! I'm just about managing lol, uni workload is a bit hectic but it's the season to be jolly! ahhh got any christmas plans? i'm kinda hyped this year lol since they're saying there'll be snow, fingers crossed!
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DivineElf

@eternal_solace that's valid I had to install it from my phone for a bit to detox too. I've been good thanks! Finally getting excited for Christmas lol. How are youu? 
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eternal_solace

@DivineElf i used to but decided i needed to detox and deleted the account, so you're half right lol. how have you been?? it's been so long!
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eternal_solace

how are you all doing? it's been a hot minute since i posted. I'm slowly working my way through my reading list (apologies if i haven't gotten to your book(s) yet!)
          
          decided that i should write, but it just sounds like i'm speaking normally, honestly. my most unserious "poem" yet: https://www.wattpad.com/1588205499-hearts-on-your-sleeves-1080p-london-featuring

novelistASH

@eternal_solace Struggling with vices. Feeling impatient. Irritable. Hopeless. So mostly the usual. So it goes. Great poem.
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eternal_solace

@MadisonCiabattari glad to hear it! how's your creative process?
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MadisonCiabattari

My fantasy book has gotten more reads and votes.
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