J.E "Mahal" Cuya

the writers diary

Society EN ↓ 30 episodes

Join me every week while I document my journey as a Naarm-based emerging writer through my visual diary, ranging from topics such as literature, pop culture and the wider writing industry as a whole through a FaceTime-esque format. So for all the chronically online, twenty-something writers, sit back, get comfortable and treat me like your writing bestie rambling to you. Email: thewriterssdiary@gmail.com

Author

J.E "Mahal" Cuya

Episodes

commentary and think piece discourse culture ~ episode 31 24.05.2026 7:54

welcome to the to the 31st ep where today, it seems like everyone has a thought they want to articulate reading list: euphoria, all shall mourn by elle marney check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

so i finished reading yesteryear by caro claire burke... ~ episode 30 17.05.2026 9:56

welcome to the to the 30th episode! today, i talk about my experience and thoughts about reading yesteryear and... reading list: yesteryear... by caro claire burke check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

on writing workshops ~ ep 29 10.05.2026 9:02

welcome to the 29th ep of the writers diary where today, we're all talking about writing workshops and it's vague, strange environment reading list: yesteryear by caro claire burke heartstopper by alice oseman check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

writing is a part time job ~ episode 28 04.05.2026 7:43

welcome to the to the 28th episode of the writers diary where we talk about the writing industry and girl... it's struggles reading list: yesteryear by caro claire burke check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

my favourite media that i've consumed lately ~ episode 27 26.04.2026 9:05

welcome to the to the 27th ep of the writers diary! today were talking about all my fave films and tv books recently! reading list: check please by ngozi john rich and the big picture by ngozi slayyyters new album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA star shipped by cat sebastian films: project hail mary the drama check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

i have nothing new to say but i'll keep writing ~ episode 26 19.04.2026 9:52

welcome to the to the 26th episode of the writers diary! i have nothing new to say. reading list: wuthering heights by emily bronte (finally finished!) wuthering heights... the fennel movie (need to watch!) star shipped by cat sebastian (romance) john rich and the big picture by ngozi ukazu (romance, web novel) check please! by ngozi ukazu (romance, fluffy, web comic! hockey!) check out my ⁠ sub...

writing rituals ~ episode 25 12.04.2026 6:01

welcome to the 25th episode!! we did it joe, we're all about dissecting writing rituals reading list: (find out in the next ep!) check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

feeling stuck and calcified with life ~ episode 24 05.04.2026 6:13

welcome to the to the 24th ep of the writers diary where we'll all about... feeling stuck with life reading list: wuthering heights by emily bronte check out my ⁠ substack⁠ and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

you are not running out of time ~ episode 23 29.03.2026 7:42

welcome to the to the 23th episode of the writers diary where we have to constantly tell ourselves that we are not running out of time reading list: wuthering heights by emily bronte check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

should we care about the literary it girl? ~ episode 22 22.03.2026 11:14

welcome to the to the 22th episode of the writers diary where today we discuss the ethics about the 'literary' it girl aestheticism... is it a problem? reading list: against the literary it girl by elle jones on substack are you developing taste or performing it by eleni di luzio check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

girl screw your inner peace ~ episode 21 15.03.2026 7:45

welcome to the 21st episode of the writers diary! we're all about discussing the inner peace, finding your groove again as a writer and going out! check out my⁠ substack⁠ and instagram , reading list: wuthering height by emily bronte semails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

journalism? in my influencer internet era? ~ episode 20 08.03.2026 11:57

welcome to the to the eighth episode of the writers diary where we talk about the abudance of talk shows and journalism-esque content! reading list: wuthering heights by emily brontëfirst impulse by laurel flores fantauzzo gaywyck by vincent virga check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

well yes! i am writing an adult romcom ~ episode 19 01.03.2026 9:59

welcome to the to the 19th episode of the writers diary where i finally talk about my manuscript! reading list: wuthering heights by emily brontë first impulse by laurel flores fantauzzo gaywyck by vincent virga check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

in which we talk about bridgerton and book adaptations ~ episode 18 22.02.2026 11:14

welcome to the to the 18th ep and today, were all about adaptations and how well they fair in the modern world reading list: bridgerton the secret lives of country men by kj charles check out my ⁠ substack⁠ and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

analogue media, bridgerton season four and vintage athleisure ~ episode 16 15.02.2026 11:47

welcome to the to the 16th episode of the writers diary where we'll be diving into the resurgence of analogue media, bridgerton and regency and fashion reading list: cleanness by garth greenwell bridgerton season 4 check out my ⁠ substack⁠ and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

melbourne weather and rawdogging the moment ~ episode 15 08.02.2026 10:10

welcome to the to the 15th episode of the writers diary where today, we talk about the scorching melbourne weather and rawdogging your commute reading list: cleanness by garth greenwell check out my substack⁠ and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

girl: confused ~ episode 14 01.02.2026 9:50

welcome to the to the 14th episode of the writers diary, this one was filmed a while ago where i talk about the turmoil of my life and the balancing of sharing our personal lives through writing on the internet reading list: game changers series by rachel reid check out my ⁠ substack⁠ and instagram , emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

this is a reality tv dating podcast now: boyfriend netflix episode recap ~ episode 13 ~ episode 13 25.01.2026 11:03

welcome to the to the 13th episode where we primarily become a podcast about reality tv dating show...reading list: game changers series by rachel reid check out my substack⁠ and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

the episode that's totally not a month late - episode 12 19.01.2026 8:03

hi everyone and welcome to another episode of the writer's diary! we're talking about the game changers series by rachel reid and so much more <3 glad to have yall back reading list: common goal by rachel reid check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

change and the holidays - episode 11 14.12.2025 10:00

welcome to the 11th episode of the writers diary where we talk about the end of the year and change within our careers reading list: carol check out my ⁠ substack⁠ and instagram

childhood and writing for an audience ~ episode 10 07.12.2025 11:05

welcome to the to the tenth episode of the writers diary (yay!) and today, we're all about unpacking how writing for an audience changes us. reading list: hated rivalry tv show 3 check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

i rant about being uninspired and not having time to do anything ~ ep 9 30.11.2025 11:14

welcome to the to the 9th ep where i rant about not having time to do any writing and being uninspired reading list: tall man by chloe hopper emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram

fatigue and burnout ~ episode 8 23.11.2025 8:52

welcome to the to the eighth episode of the writers diary where we talk about fatigue and burn out in writing reading list: this house of grief by helen garner check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 and instagram emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

oversharing through writing ~ episode 7 15.11.2025 16:50

welcome back to another episode! we're all gonna be talking about writing and the act of 'oversharing' reading list:this house of grief by helen garner looking for my work? check out my ⁠ substack⁠ / instagram etc with my handle jemahalcuya emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com

procrastination via creating another project ~ episode 6 09.11.2025 14:27

welcome to the to the sixth episode of the writers diary where we talk about how to get over your procrastination on your writing project (we know what you’re making another manuscript to avoid completing your current one) reading list: it had to be him by adib khorram check out my ⁠ substack⁠ <3 emails? thewriterssdiaryy@gmail.com