In our over three years of publishing life, İlkyaz, meaning Early Spring, was able to bring to light over 300 young writers under the age of 35, some even under 15 years of age. We created collaborative ventures between writers in 14 countries, provided honorariums, amplifying their insights to around 5 thousand readers a month on average, translating the main features to English. This all thanks to the contributions of our team five person team supported by Norwegian PEN and PEN International.
We are now happy to report that our team has expanded with 10 new representatives of young İlkyaz writers, advising on our journey and path ahead.
We offer our heartful thanks to friends named below who agreed to give their shoulders.
Özge Sargın, Nur Özyurt, Sinan Cumart, Meliz Elendil, Adem Öner, Mehmet Sarı Sezgin, İmgesu Ünal, Farabi Orhan, Eşref Yener, Suhan Laletayyin, Binnaz Deniz Yıldız, Uğur Akkaş
What is in Issue 33?
If you haven’t yet had a chance to read, you can reach the last issue’s writings here.
New “5Faces” File is Ready: 500 words on the word “HOME” from five young writers across Turkey!
Don’t forget to check out our new writers under the age of 15 in “15-“, the archive of stories from everyday lives in “Human Portraits”, and the collaborative work of young writers and artists at “Literature +
In the “İlkyaz’ıları” section you can read the early works of famous writers or thinkers like this month’s Da Vinci file of his early life and works.
You can listen in to our Spotify playlist while reading below our home page.
This month’s reading recommendations for young writers comes from respectable author Şükran Yiğit!
MAIN WRITERS
Osman Cenk – Yukarı, Aşağı Ve Çepeçevre / Up, Down and All Around
“Don’t exaggerate,” I told him. Meanwhile, I gave the coins to a paper collector. I walked a little further, saw a woman of the opposite sex on the opposite pavement, and a sudden wind blowing, bringing the scent of her perfume to the tip of my nose. Don’t worry. The first flower to bloom after all this necessity and the harsh winter is yours again. Anyway, come on! Don’t go and stop either. It is profitable to realize that you lack the courage to do what needs to be done; But the deficiency is also in another sense. We were forgetting ourselves very quickly. Was it our fault to see the sea in a glass of water?
About author:I am 23 years old. I live in Edirne. I have been doodling and writing and drawing on a freelance basis for about 2 years.
instagram: osmancenkb_
Yaren Nur Ersin – Lotus Çiçeği/ Lotus Flower
lotus flower,
one forward two backward; Their intuition calls the sun.
When he grows up, he searches for melodies.
However, the lost are not meant to be searched when grown up.
About the author:
I live in Istanbul. I am a first-year university law student. I have been writing poems and articles since my childhood. I am interested in writing.
Yezdân Eser – Saat Üçü Kırkbeş Geçe / Forty Five Minutes Past Three O’clock
I turned my face to the night color of the sky.
Don’t leave my heart in a makeshift slum
carve chisel
On its crooked, twisted and broken path…
In my chest breathing vertical climates
My sadness suddenly became alive, struggling at right angles…
Yazar hakkında: X
Fahri Alpyürür- Kestane/ Chestnut
My father didn’t leave the house for a week. He always smoked in front of the window. He didn’t even know about Galatasaray’s match this week. He wasn’t turning off the television. When the news ended on one channel, he would immediately switch on the other. Even though I couldn’t watch my favorite cartoons in the morning anymore, I couldn’t say anything. While the situation was like this at home, it was best to go out. I thought maybe I’d play some ball. But there was no one around. I sat in the garden. I waited for a few more children to come out.
About the author:He was born in Mersin in 1996. He completed primary school in Mersin, secondary school and high school in Istanbul. He received his undergraduate degree from the Department of Philosophy at Istanbul University in 2018 and his master’s degree in 2020. He worked as a guest researcher at the University of Pisa for a while. He is currently continuing his doctoral studies at Istanbul University. Since 2013, he has appeared in many magazines with his poems, stories and poetry translations. His first poetry book, The Self-Filling Emptiness, met with readers in 2023.
Twitter/Instagram: @fahrialpyurur
Sıla Elifnur Kuş- Ağustosun Böceği / August’s Bug
Blue was drawn down to my ankles
located on rocks eroded by waving waters
acceptance of the river that now flows into the sea
gently carries me away
Someone who waited under my skin for seventeen years
Early spring in Pieria
Ecem Erdal- Dalga/ Wave
Step by step, I’m a witness, like the waves are moving
Same wave, same sea
Uncompetitive, unhurried, strange.
Nadir Can Sucu- Yüzüğündeki Şarkının Adı Serap / The Song On his Ring is Called A Mirage
He was the older brother of my neighborhood, but we met him the summer I was working in the industry. He was working as an upholsterer in the next shop. There were no people coming or going during the day, and there were not many customers either. Luckily, five cars a week were coming to the shop. That’s why he spent his time watching movies.
