February 16, 2026 Good morning, Stay Zen family, As co-owner of this space, we want to speak clearly and respectfully about something important to the health of our community. Since our writing group began in October, our goal has always been to build a circle where pens grow stronger and people grow deeper with themselves. This space was created for writers who show up, share, respond, and pour into one another. We are not focused on numbers. We are focused on presence, intention, and community. Because of that, members who have not participated at all from October through now, February 2026, will be removed from the group by tomorrow morning. This is not a punishment. Life gets heavy. Seasons change. We understand that. Anyone who is removed is welcome to return when they are ready to truly engage, write with us, respond to others, and be part of the growth we are building here together. Stay Zen, Gimme The Mic, Love & Lyrics and every room we curate are meant to be living spaces. Spaces where voices are heard, encouragement is shared, and healing happens through words. We want members who are ready to step in with intention, not simply hold a seat. If you are still here and active, thank you for showing up with your ink and your heart. You are the reason this community continues to breathe and we appreciate the time you have dedicated to this space. With respect and appreciation, Miss Lady & Angel Kim Owner & Co-Owner of Stay Zen Writing Community

Aftertongue™: Language Under Pressure Anthology I · Spring 2026 We’re opening submissions. This anthology is for work written under constraint, consequence, and clarity. Language that handles the strain when comfort drops. What we’re looking for: - Writing that already did the work - Pieces that stand without explanation - Language shaped by pressure, not performance What this is not: - Reaction writing - Spectacle - Prompt-chasing - AI-generated work AI policy: ✔️Use of AI is limited to minor edits only. ✔️Writing created with the help of AI beyond minor edits is not permitted. ✔️If a piece does not qualify for copyright under law, we won’t accept it. ✔️Submissions may be reviewed for compliance by human editors. Rights - Authors retain full copyright - First publication rights only - No AI training - Adaptations are opt-in Timeline: - Submissions open: January 15, 2026 - Submissions close: February 15, 2026 - Publication: late April 2026 How to submit: One piece. No explanation required. Submit via the form linked below. If you’ve been carrying something that’s been waiting for the right conditions… this is the window. — Aftertongue™ https://sites.google.com/view/language-under-pressure/home

Each day I’ll be dropping daily writing prompts to spark your creativity. Write to what resonates, whether it’s a whisper of emotion, a roar of truth, or a reflection of your journey. There’s no right or wrong way to respond here, only honesty and with your heart. Feel free to drop your pieces in the chat either from prompts or just poems you feel, show love to others, and engage with the magic being shared. This is a space for growth, inspiration, and community. Let’s write, uplift, and remind the world what passion looks like when it’s spoken from the soul.❤️🎶✍🏽