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BUDDING writers and poets can turn to an enterprising teenager in Bahrain to showcase their work to the world.
Laala Kashef Alghata is herself a budding poet and novelist in the kingdom's arts scene. The 18-year-old, former St Christopher's pupil - Laala has just completed her A'levels.
She has published two books: the first a children's novel, Friendship in Knots when she was 13 and a book of poetry collection, Behind the Mask: A Folded Heart in 2006.
Laala's online poetry journal: 'Write me a Metaphor' that she began last year and updates triannually has proved a popular community tool.
"My website is an extension of my writing and although there are several online magazines none of them accept works from aspiring writers which is quite discouraging.
"So 'Write me a Metaphor' actually showcases poetry and short prose of budding writers," said Laala, a resident of Budaiya.
From technical aspects to editorial work, Laala manages her website single-handedly and receives submissions from across the world.
In February this year, Clemson Art Centre in South Carolina, US, selected a poem - I want to feel Van Gogh's night - from Laala's collection of poetry and commissioned 30 emerging artists to interpret the poem through art.
The exhibit ran for a month through March and April and brought much publicity to Laala's work; her poem was painted on the art centre's walls.
Laala, however, hasn't received any formal training in writing.
She primarily writes about everyday life and started writing poems mainly to express her emotions.
She writes in free verse with rhythm but no rhyme.
Although she enjoys reading the works of great poets like Blake she maintains that they don't inspire her like modern do.
"I've written about most of the things that affect me so maybe moving to the UK will provide my poetry with the freshness that it requires at the moment," she said.
Laala is presently awaiting her examination results before starting college in the UK and plans to pursue a double major in English and Psychology while also taking up some writing courses.
She has her sights set on becoming a clinical psychologist but her vocation for writing will always remain close to her heart.
