2024 is my most productive writing year yet. Having 150% increase in terms amount of pieces published from last year—from four (4) to ten (10), I am gaining way more confidence in my writings this year. Albeit I realize that I need to write more and often ever since I realized that like any other craft, the ‘talented’ ones often are the most disciplined and trained in their routine.
That being said, I was planning to have 12 pieces published across media—as I wanted to have on average 1 piece published per month. 83% achievement from the goal is not too shabby. In hindsight, the plan was quite ambitious as I didn’t have that much writing published to begin with. Held back by the lack of confidence since I felt I haven’t read that much (although frankly, I have been pretty much critical towards many writers due to their apparent lack of reading and critical thinking. Yet to be fair, they have what I didn’t have: confidence).
As for ‘home’ writing, I got to write 24 pieces written across genre and forms. From self-reflection to speculative fiction. Considering it’s my first year having this home, I would say, “it’s not too bad!”
Among all the pieces I have written, here are my top three writings I am most proud of!
i cut my ear, and i wept
To paraphrase Kazuo Ishiguro, a Nobel laureate, to write only what one knows is the stupidest thing. It dulls the imagination and turns the written piece into much boring autobiographical work. I agreed with the message, but I think the quote came with a nuance. For most of us, writing is not a full time occupation, and writing what one knows and the mundanity of it came with it’s own aesthetic sense. Granted, there are writers out there with the audacity to refuse more reading and more (un)learning, practically making their pieces shallow and unbearably boring. Hence, I always have a soft spot for those who can make the mundane beautiful and in it’s own way, reflective, like V. S. Naipaul and Annie Ernaux.
This piece originally was made for sorè sorè for their Phaedo: on immortalizing the mortals edition. Alas, I was a month late from deadline and decided to re-purpose the piece for my home. I wrote about my late grandfather, who I used to call ‘Bapak Kokok’. The reason why this is one of my favorite piece this year is because I tried a visceral approach on writing memoir and the personal connection that comes within. I wrote what I know about the late him. I tried.
Mengolah Estetika Rasa via Sastra Barat
One of my many aspirations is to be an art critic, yet I feel like I didn’t do enough homework to be one. Although I read many books about art and art-world, I feel like I haven’t been putting them to a good use in my writings. All theories and concepts are just sitting there in the arsenal of criticism and intellectualism that occasionally out in social media commentaries. Hence, earlier this year I aspired to be different. I wrote three different pieces around art and art-world. From critical reading of an exhibition to discussing art contest.
What I am most proud from those pieces is the one that summarizing the rasa aesthetic theory from Indian philosophical history and it’s application in Western texts. This piece practically a critical review for more than two books, one of them is Sejarah Estetika by Martin Suryajaya. This piece is published in The Suryakanta, a media specializing in book review, especially books that haven’t been translated yet in Bahasa Indonesia. Great website and great vision, I love them, to be honest.
Skizoanalisis: Sekeping Pengantar Diskusi
This year also the year when I dipped my toes in fairly obscure philosophical discourse. I always find Deleuze and Guattari fascinating since their idea brushes me off in The Funambulist magazine. After my fairly long reading on psychoanalysis and schizoanalysis, I finally found the confidence in publishing it through LSF Discourse, another great philosophy platform in Bahasa Indonesia.
I am particularly proud of this piece because this piece would not be possible if the editor doesn’t have the mutual love for philosophy. The like-minded individuals behind the platform and my intention to write an introductory piece on some obscure concept are what makes this piece possible. Hopefully, the article offers another alternative perspective to explain what happens around the reader.
It’s obvious that I want to write more in 2025. Consequently, I have to read more. At the moment, I don’t have any numbers in mind as the goal, since I would like to write consistently yet without sacrificing the quality. With what I have in mind for 2025, I can only just say I will try my best and grow incrementally.
If you want to read more of my writings, you can scroll through my published page or just visit my home!
Kasat Kata Kultur 
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