Category: Blog

A short little story called Knuckles has been added to the Other Stories page of the website. It’s about running through Rotterdam. A city that I have called home for the past twelve years. But can I still call this city my home?

I hope you like it.

Lots of love,
Martijn

The Things That I Have Kept From You is now available for download as a PDF on the website. It’s a bit easier to read this way, compared to clicking through each chapter individually. I hope you enjoy it for what it is — a small first experiment in writing.

Lots of love,
Martijn

Sharing your writing is one of the most important — and scariest — parts of being a writer. Putting your work out there can feel vulnerable, but it’s also the only way to grow. So far, I’ve been sharing my stories on my little website, and now I’m starting to reach out more. I haven’t been published yet, and that’s okay. I’m learning as I go, and I believe that one day, one of my short stories will find its way into the world. I’m also planning to try open mic storytelling soon — I had to skip it last time, but I’m hoping to make it work next time around.

What’s coming up on the website? The PDF version of The Things That I Have Kept From You will be available sometime this week. Not long after that, I’ll be releasing the first chapter of Until You Fall Asleep. In the meantime, I’m working on a brand-new short story that I hope to share soon after. I’m trying to stay busy and keep improving my craft.

Lots of love,
Martijn

I’m currently turning The Things That I Have Kept From You into a downloadable booklet, which has been a really fun process. Once that’s done, I’ll begin releasing Before You Fall Asleep in chapters.

There’s also a new short story called Handkerchief on the “Other Stories” page of the website. It explores the idea of losing your imagination as you grow up and take on the constant responsibilities of adulthood. I hope you like it.

Lots of love,
Martijn

All fifteen short stories that make up The Things That I Have Kept From You are now available online. Some have been slightly revised, and the introduction to the collection has also changed. When I first started writing these stories in the Notes app on my phone, I never imagined they’d one day be shared publicly. And yet—here they are, all together.

It’s a strange little collection. Some pieces might feel unfinished, incomplete, or rough around the edges—but that’s part of what I love about them. I’m still learning how to write, and this is part of that journey.

I hope you enjoy reading them.

With love,
Martijn

“Rest” is the newest story in The Things That I Have Kept From You. It explores the quiet ache of slow endings and the fear that comes with starting over. It’s a space many of us have found ourselves in—and one we’ll likely revisit more often than we’d prefer.

I hope it resonates with you.

With only two short stories left, The Things That I Have Kept from You is slowly approaching its conclusion. Maybe picks up right where we left off, as doubt begins to resurface, weaving its way through the narrative once more.

I truly hope you enjoy this next piece.

Lots of love,
Martijn

The things that I have kept from you continue with my latest short story, Spent. It explores the need for guidance when we lose touch with reality. Sometimes, we wander too far and need someone to pull us back—fortunately, there are always those who will help guide us home.

I hope you all like it.

Lots of love,
Martijn

Hello everyone,

Writing is an ongoing journey for me, one that I hope will continue to evolve over time. I’ve come to understand that sharing the imperfect moments is just as meaningful as celebrating the progress along the way.

The Things That I Have Kept From You is a collection of fourteen notes that I’m now ready to share. Once the final three stories are out, all fourteen will be compiled into a downloadable booklet, available for free. Think of it as the younger sibling of Until You Fall Asleep, or maybe a rough draft of how notes might eventually transform into a short story.

Lots of love,

Martijn

Hello everyone,

Torch is the latest short story that has been added to The things that I have kept from you. With only three short stories left in this series, I will soon put this one to bed. It’s time to write about different things again. And the slow release of the first version of Until you Fall Asleep is also coming up.

Torch is about another restless night with some doubts. I hope you enjoy it.

Lots of love,

Martijn