Growing up, I loved writing, perfectly complementing my passion for reading. Between elementary and middle school, I filled countless pages in notebooks, Google Docs, and even the occasional Wattpad entry with stories—often rooted in mythology. (Fun fact: I wrote a Norse-demigod story long before Rick Riordan made it cool.)
But somewhere along the way, between school pressures and the burnout that comes with academia, I stopped. Even while earning a film degree in university, writing became more of an obligation than a joy. I wrote for assignments, churned out scripts when I had to, but the spark just wasn’t there.
Fast forward a few years post-graduation: my love of reading has reignited, and I’ve surrounded myself with creative, inspiring people who’ve reminded me how much I want to create something of my own. Enter Project Laurel.
Project Laurel is a Greek retelling of a lesser-known but poignant story from Ovid's Metamorphoses. This tale has always intrigued me—not just because it’s a queer narrative, but because of its brevity. The original offers only a fleeting glimpse: a single moment, devoid of context or aftermath. I wanted to dive deeper, to explore what came before and what might have followed.
This isn’t a faithful recreation of the myth, nor does it aim to be. Instead, Project Laurel is a reimagining—a fusion of history, legend, and invention. My goal is to capture the essence of a story that transcends its ancient roots, breathing new life into its timeless themes.
Project Laurel just finished its first draft—a journey that’s been both challenging and rewarding. This stage has been a crash course in relearning the art of writing and revisiting the foundations of story structure. Despite the hurdles, I’ve had so much fun discovering these characters and rekindling my love for storytelling.
Once I’ve refined it through a second or third draft, I’ll likely start sharing it with readers. For now, I’m savoring the process and the growth that comes with it.
