When Tala first suggested an un-themed edition, Sani almost fainted. Who can blame him? In its 16 years of publication, TWIP has always operated under a theme. It is our way of documenting Palestinian discourse by examining it through a particular lens. So when we first started searching for authors for this edition, we were treading uncharted territories. This was an experiment to see what happens to a space like TWIP when the constraint of a theme is removed.

What we present to you after a grueling month of work is a quilt of narratives. Myth has it that quilting was only done by using unwanted scraps of old clothes, but the truth is quilts were made of the finest materials, and this edition is exactly that, a conglomeration of fine, young, vibrant, and hopeful narrative. TWIP this April blooms with new stories.

We hope that you’ll enjoy the gift of all the writers – those whom we sought out and those who reached out to us. What we discovered during our short search is that many people have things to say, and more than a few of them can do it beautifully. What’s also special about this edition is that it brings you stories about new startups such as Manshar, liwwa, and Live Action Role Play in Palestine, which will make you reconsider quiet Fridays spent at home when you could be role-playing in Jericho. We also have stories about growing up and older, traveling to strange places, cooking khobaizeh, and many more. We are also honored to have a special article on the Armenian Genocide, which will never be forgotten.

We hope you enjoy this special un-themed edition, and start
sending us stories!