Asian Reads | Issue 06
Essays on queerness, motherhood, Chinese language, and conscious living from seven distinct Asian voices
Asian Writers’ Collective is a publication dedicated to fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Asian cultures and experiences among a global readership. Subscribe to the Asian Writer’s Collective to decolonize your reading and discover unique writing.
This issue of AWC features was curated by
of Tales from the Trails, where he writes about his life passions: running in ultramarathons and practicing Ignatian contemplative exercises. Popular articles include “Doing Hard Things that Don’t Involve Running” “Dear Francis,” and “Silent Scream.”When I woke up Wednesday morning November 6, the morning after the US election, my body could feel the overwhelm of fear of the future, dread, and an overall feeling of angst that was causing visceral distress due to my triggered PTSD. Thankfully, the holistic disciplines of physical exercise and self awareness practices help to maintain my equanimity both physically and mentally, thereby lessening the PTSD symptoms.
During a post workout run that morning, I tried to focus my meditation upon a certain thought that I believed could help my overall well being. I held onto this quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel The Idiot.
“Beauty will save the world.”
I have found beauty and solace for my soul here on Substack. As an administrator of the Asian Writers’ Collective, Tiffany Chu, has graciously invited me to share my thoughts on authors within the collective that I have found especially noteworthy. I have provided excerpts of their work and hopefully, you will take a deeper dive into their Substacks and discover the beauty to be found there.
BODY ACCEPTANCE
introduces her Substack, Body Memoir, with this quote.“Join me as I build a book-length body memoir, one gesture at a time. My posts will include excerpts-in-progress, process notes, pajama dances, writer life lessons, and other fragments on the move! PS: I love juxtaposition!”
In her work, Welcome to Coming Through: Building a Body Memoir, she defines her body memoir project.
“I try to plumb the mysteries and wisdoms of this body and the conditions I’ve experienced in the contexts of “normative” culture, religion, school and profession, that had at some point decided that bodies were not to be considered trustworthy voices at the table, if present at all. Yet for me, the body is an oracle.”
As one who suffers from PTSD, I can agree with the thought that our bodies have much to say when it comes to the differing contextual aspects of our lives. Coke Tani gives us a serial disclosure of her life from the viewpoint of using her body as the focal point.
In her work, “Where Have You Been?”, she recounts the events that led her to her own self-discovery of being queer.
“As I walked into Hapuna, I heard someone say to me, “Where have you been?” I looked around to my left, to my right and behind me, and no one was there. It was a voice that felt both inner and outer all at once. It was a calm adult female voice, absent of all anxiety or judgment. I have heard Her voice here and there ever since. She always feels, in my body, like an equanimous, supportive nudger with unforced, natural authority and internal logic. Perhaps She is Wisdom. Sophia.”
“Irreconcilable Love” gives us the intimate details of the way she dealt with her heterosexual marriage in the context of being queer.
“Wasn’t Her language curious? She didn’t say, set him down. Or, end this relationship. It was about the form of my and my then-spouse’s connection. As if marriage wasn’t the best-suited path for the Us of us.”
“Fish Can Fly” is a celebration of who she really is and who she is becoming.
“Yesterday I looked up from my late mom's backyard
absent of her and her orchids. The watering cans, bone dry.
My heart in endings, I saw it not once but twice:
small winged koi flying through the sky.”
PARENTING
There is an expression of motherly wisdom in the work of
and her Substack, Fireflies in a Jar. In her own words, this is how she describes her work. “I write about life and my musings as an Immigrant Muslim Homeschooling Mom. I was born and raised in India. Currently reside in the US with my husband and 2 kids. This newsletter is a concoction of all that amuses, bothers and enlightens me.”In her piece, Raising Kids While Witnessing A Genocide, she reflects upon the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
“A year later, while we watch more people being killed and bombed out of existence, it is a reminder to seize every day and make the most of our time here. To be grateful and consume while being mindful of the deprivation that others are suffering.”
Being able to hold disparate truths at the same time is an ability she defines in her piece, Searching For Joy In Trivial Things.
“This grief we feel is a reminder—a reminder of the here and now in which we exist. It is an ode to our capacity to be present. The ache we feel in our limbs each day as we witness Palestinian annihilation is proof of our willingness to see things for what they are…We are capable of experiencing both joy and grief. This is how we survive. The darkest times are overcome by the smallest ray of light, of hope, of joy.”
When Boys Become Men is an intimate and heartfelt letter to her son, written on the occasion of his fourth birthday, passing on wisdom that she has gained as his mother.
“I want you to know that you were placed in this world with a purpose. Find it and never abandon it. This world will try to tell you what a man should look, speak and walk like. But never forget that true strength lies in the strength of your character. That when you speak, be kind. That when you look, be mindful of your gaze. And remember those weaker than you deserve your support not your pity or arrogance.”
POETRY
According to her profile,
was born in Vancouver and raised in Hong Kong. She currently lives with her family in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. She is a wife and mother to four children and writes a newsletter of poems, essays and short stories published on Substack titled of is & was. She also co-authors a collaborative newsletter on writing, poetry and creativity with Julia McMullen entitled Of Trees & PoetryIt is the collaborative work found on Of Trees & Poetry that I find especially beautiful. Here is a taste of their co authored work Spring found on their offering Behold, the Tortured Poems.
“Daffodils are slowly opening their mouths
Hallowing the ground before me while
Birds speak in a language I cannot comprehend.
What is it like to be their friend?
They are like cherubs, trying hard to be sweet
For a season, standing guard before the door of Eden.”
The two co authors have an ongoing series of poetry and creative prompts entitled Craft and Play. Here is an excerpt from Volume 21 of that series.
“I become mud, and yet I long to be even dust,
for your footsteps to disturb my peace,
so that I float in the air around your robe,
and settle there. O Lord, let me be dust,
like earth wrung dry of sorrow, and when
I rise like dust, let it be praise that fills the air.”
FICTION
, the author of khayāl imagination, is a multi-award-winning poet and an alumna of the University of Waterloo. This is how she describes the purpose for her writing. “A few years ago, I decided to quit social media, and to instead devote my efforts towards my personal and academic projects. As my writing career progressed, I realized it was time to find a space to share my work online, as well as to connect with both readers and writers alike.”A wonderful example of her work can be seen in her series of poems that she started writing two summers ago titled, “i was supposed to get married this summer”. “This series was inspired by a wide variety of sources, including what I’ve read online about other Muslim women’s experiences, what I’ve heard directly from friends and family members, as well as my own lived experiences.” Here is an excerpt from her poem, “my grandma, so clean” which is the first in that series.
“...my mom points it out before I notice the fresh period blood starting to stain the back of my sweatpants…my grandma, so clean raised to believe that period blood was one of the dirtiest substances known to man…”
the real one is coming soon is the second in the series. We are given another intimate snapshot of the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter.
“He got that one for you, is it real gold? Yes, I lie because it is gold enough for me…My mother calls from behind why are you lying beta? It’s okay, I say, the real one is coming soon…”
I was supposed to get married this summer. is the third poem in the series. The revealing relationship between a girl and her boyfriend is brought out in this piece.
“If things don’t go well, both our families will accept it I’m doing my best to make this easy I didn’t even ask for a big wedding. If you wanted a haram relationship you should have pursued somebody else.”
Red wedding dress from Lahore is the fourth installment of the series still leaving us with questions.
“Just my father’s words still sagging in the air– I will call the police. I will call the police and tell them the boy is a human trafficker.”
AGENCY
is the author of abhinav's substack.“i’m no longer a passive observer in my own life. i’m engaged, taking risks, putting myself out there. i’m driven to make an impact, to leave my mark. for the first time, i’m not just living by my parents' rules—i’m also living for myself. i’m thinking about the future, worrying about it, even. i’m not coasting on autopilot anymore. and sure, it’s overwhelming. there are nights when i can't sleep because i’ve taken on too much, days when the anxiety feels crushing. but in a strange way, i’m grateful for that too. it means i’m growing. it means i care.”
For Abhinav, the preciousness of true connection is expressed in his work, the intimacy of being understood.
“one of the most intimate things you can experience in life is that deep connection of being understood by another person. it’s a moment that catches you off guard, often when you least expect it. one minute you’re talking about something that’s been weighing you down or trying to express how you feel about something important, and suddenly, the other person responds in a way that makes you realize they’re not just listening—they’re actually with you. it’s like they’ve found a way to translate the abstract thoughts in your mind into something tangible, something they can hold alongside you. and it’s in that shared understanding that intimacy blossoms.”
Character is a measure of true self and in his work, sometimes i wish i didn’t care, but then i wouldn’t be me, we get a glimpse of his true self.
“if i didn’t care, i might be free of the weight i carry. but i’d also be free of everything that makes me feel human. the love, the hope, the moments of connection that remind me why it’s all worth it. so i care. even when it hurts, even when i wish i didn’t. because to stop caring would mean losing myself—and i don’t think i could bear that.”
LANGUAGE
describes herself in this manner. “Infinitely curious. I like to ask questions and think out loud.” She is the author of the Substack titled The Character Project. She describes the purpose for her writing in this way. “And this is why The Character Project was born, coming to you as a special collection of essays. An anthology of different interpretations of Chinese characters written to you in English, and the lasting impact they’ve had on me. An ongoing reconciliation of my, and our, shared heritage. Because language shapes our worldview. Language, after all, is how we have a voice. And language, for me, began with characters.”
Yina gives us an example of the interplay between Chinese and English.Even with the use of modern technology, the nuance of this interplay between the languages can be lost in translation as she explains in her work, 辛苦你了 (xīnkǔ nǐle) / i see you
“Take the direct translation for 辛苦你了 (xīnkǔ nǐle). People usually say this to acknowledge someone’s work. Google Translate suggests this meaning to be “thanks a lot.”
And this is where Google Translate falls short.
辛苦你了 (xīnkǔ nǐle) means so much more than that. It recognizes the labor, time, care and attention someone puts into their work. A more sincere translation is, “thank you, I deeply appreciate it.” However, even with the added context, that translation still feels like it’s missing something.”
The meaning behind the meaning for language is explored in her work 开心果 (kāixīn guǒ) / a mother’s wish
“In traditional Chinese etiquette, it's usually expected to bring a gift when you visit someone's home. Sometimes it's food or drinks. In business instances, it’s cigarettes. Red pockets for Chinese New Year (my favorite). Perhaps some fruit to symbolize prosperity, or tea as a wish for good health.
For my mom, her gift to me is always pistachios.
In Chinese, pistachios are translated as 开心果 (kāixīn guǒ).开心 (kāixīn) means happiness, joy.果 (guǒ) means fruit.
A happy nut. How joyful.”
And even the meaning behind the meaning is still open to personal interpretation as seen in her work, 吃苦 (chīkǔ) / for amara
“There is a phrase in Chinese called 吃苦 (chī kǔ).
吃 (chī) = to eat苦 (kǔ) = bitter, difficult, painful, hard
The character 吃 (chī) is a verb and its literal meaning is "to eat." In this context, it means "to endure" or "to undergo."
As for 苦 (kǔ), other definitions include hardship and suffering. If you remember, this 苦 (kǔ) is also part of the characters for an earlier piece.
Literally, the two characters mean to "eat bitterness." The figurative translation means to "endure hardship."
In ancient Chinese culture, the concept of "吃苦" was a virtue. You’ll hear parents say about their children: 他很能吃苦 (tā hěn néng chīkǔ).
Direct translation, “They can really eat bitterness.”
What it really means: “They can endure hardship. They know how to work hard.” More dramatically, it means “they know how to suffer.”
If we were to simplify it down, I like to think it means resilience.
That we can rise through resilience.”
MINDFULNESS
introduces herself and her work to us. “Hi, I’m Rachel Ooi, a Chinese-Malaysian currently living in Germany. I wear many hats—as a mother, a wife, a traveler, and an advocate for conscious living. These roles shape how I approach life, creativity, and my ongoing journey of feeling “at home” while far from my homeland…Through this newsletter, I share stories about my journey in conscious living and reflections on motherhood, identity, life abroad, and self-worth. If you choose to join me, I welcome you with an open heart and an invitation to explore conscious living together.”She has entitled her work, Conscious Living, and she explains the purpose for her newsletter in this way.
“Through stories and insights from my journey in conscious living, we explore themes like identity, resilience, culture, creativity, and the way of conscious living. Together, we deepen our connections—with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.
It is also a community of curious readers embracing a mindful, intentional life while inspiring and supporting one another along the journey.”
She attempts to answer the question, “What exactly is conscious living?”, with her piece, Why conscious living is the key to happiness
“But what exactly is conscious living? I've once described it as the battle between the first and second minds.
The first mind is where we go about our everyday lives on autopilot. Like when we go through our morning routine mindlessly, getting ourselves ready, commuting to work, and finding ourselves at the office to start the daily grind. All these unfold without us noticing the little joyful details that make up our lives. This is what I call auto mode.
The second mind, on the other hand, is fully conscious. It anchors us in the present moment and makes us aware of every action and its purpose. It is conscious of what it is doing and why it is doing it. This mind is really what we want to engage in whenever possible.”
The exploration of conscious living is not just a phenomenon solely experienced by her. She addresses the question of resonance with readers with this appeal from A journey to conscious living, together.
“You are here because something about this idea of conscious living resonates with you. Maybe it’s a longing to feel rooted in the present, a desire to rediscover yourself, or a curiosity about what it means to live with intention and forge deeper connections—with others and the world.
This newsletter is here to guide and inspire you as you take steps on your journey. It will be a space where we can support each other—celebrating every moment we stay in the present, gently pulling each other back when we stray, and inspiring and encouraging one another to keep moving forward, no matter how imperfectly.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: conscious living isn’t something you achieve—it’s something you practice. And every moment is a chance to begin anew.”
This issue of AWC features was curated by
of Tales from the Trails,. If you enjoyed these picks, be sure to subscribe to his Substack.
 | A guest post by
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thank you for the feature! i cannot express how grateful and honoured i am to be featured alongside such exemplary authors and writers on asian substack. excited to check out all the authors and writers featured here ❤️
Thank you for featuring my work in this post! I'm very honoured!
I would just like to offer two corrections. Firstly, my series of poems should be labelled as fiction rather than memoir as I took many creative liberties and these poems do not entirely reflect my actual life. I apologize if this was not clear. I mentioned this within each post for the series.
Please see a quote regarding this from my post for "my grandma, so clean" below
"This series was inspired by a wide variety of sources, including what I’ve read online about other Muslim women’s experiences, what I’ve heard directly from friends and family members, as well as my own lived experiences.
While working on this series, I’ve taken many creative liberties, which have lead me to produce a set of fictional poems that aim to encapsulate the complex emotions and dramatic events surrounding broken engagements in the South-Asian Muslim community, an unfortunately common occurrence."
Secondly, I started on this series in the summer of 2023, so that would now be two summers ago.
Again I really appreciate that my work was featured here! I'm so excited to check out the other writers that were featured in this list, thanks for doing this!!!