“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” - Milton, Paradise Lost
Each issue of our gorgeous magazine will have a loose theme to help buddingcreatives find their voice. For issue 1, the theme is “Paradise” and what that idea means to you. There are of course infinite ways to express paradise beyond the stereotype of religious or mythical images (although you could use these as a starting point). Your personal paradise could be abstract, a state of mind, a fleeting moment, a relationship, or even a creative act. Having a personal utopia can be an elusive thing, whether attainable or not, and maybe thinking about how you would define this or want it to happen could help.
Or is it an internal state of being, resilience, or hope? Do you draw strength from it? Does it evoke your senses (the musty smell of old books, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the taste of freshly brewed tea) or call your emotions (joy, serenity, nostalgia, longing, comfort, liberation) to the fore? By the way, if writing poetry, here at Fun Lovin Liminals we love powerful imagery, metaphor and symbolism!
Your personal paradise doesn't have to be flawless –you could write, paint, compose, perform about how it contains imperfections (or tension or internal contradictions) that make it more human and relatable, perhaps more authentic… And, is your ideal paradise always the same, or has it evolved or altered in form as you have changed over the years? Whether prose, poetry, art, music or photography, offer us a profound glimpse into your personal understanding of paradise.
Submissions open 1 August 2025 - Save this page.