The wicked witch is that relentless voice of self-doubt—the one that thrives on fear, uncertainty, and keeping us small. But she only has power when we give her our attention. The moment we stop feeding into her words, she starts to fade. This was such a powerful and inspiring piece, Wajeeha—an insightful portrayal of the battles we fight within ourselves. ❤️✨️🔥
Wasalam, Wajeeha! My pleasure! Always here to support your work. I truly enjoyed reading this piece—looking forward to next week’s! Keep shining and rising. Love your work! Jummah Mubarak too!
Unbelievably brilliant. I loved every word however I do believe that developing ourselves overcome this wicked witch of the mind. It’s just a voice after all and you have something so incredibly powerful within you. Far more powerful than the wicked witch of the mind 🤍🤍
Wow, cool piece! My wicked witch is my friend, we’re not always getting along but we are definitely walking the same path. It’s been like that for years now…
Another amazing piece of art.. loved it.. its the struggle that we go through every other day.. what I get is this wicked witch is our very own "nafs" that we need to fight with to stay positive and productive..
This wicked witch is all too familiar to me! I've been under her spell for as long as I can remember. I've drifted away now, the voice is weaker but still there.
Very captivating read, thank you Wajeeha! Maybe if all writerly dreamers come together, we can think of a plan to win against the wicked witch in her own game 🙃
Thanks for reading Milena, and honestly I keep falling under her spell too. I'm just more aware of her existence now, lol. We do need to make a group and do something about her for once and all. 😄
I was very excited about this piece as a horror writer myself, and you did not disappoint! I also listened to the voiceover, and I love how you brought the words to life with that anger and contempt in your voice.
This was an exquisite portrayal of self-doubt and imposter syndrome! I think every writer can relate to a piece like this.
Thank you Bradley, I'm really honored to hear that you enjoyed this piece, as horror is not my forte at all. I tried to add a little bit of personality to the voice over and I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I'm still learning to do my voiceovers well, but I think there's still room for improvement!
I lovee thiss!! Such a creative piece personifying the waswasa of shaytan. I've been a victim of the voices in my head for more than usually the past couple months, this piece definitely gave me perspective. The more I ignore the voice, the more it will diminish, like you said the voice needs me to listen to it for it to survive.
Thank you so much Leena. I'm so glad you were able to see what I meant. I've struggled all my life with this wicked witch (shaitaan), and now I try to keep in mind that it just needs to be ignored. Thank you for reading! :)
Okay Wajeeha, did you have a scret meeting with my inner demons.. because this... this right here is what they tell me when I'm on the low.... Perfectly executed and I love to hear your voice narrate it. Thank you for doing that.
not at all!! Sometimes, we learn to love some of the wicked characters we create, maybe because we understand how they come to be.. if that make sense.. so it’s not weird…also you’ve executed her well so why wouldn’t you love her!
So true! Honestly she was born out of the bad case of self doubt I was having this week. I've been calling her the wicked witch in my head for a weeks now anyway, so I thought it would be fun to write a letter from her point of view. Maybe I should do a letter from the good witch too, but let's see! :)
A great write-up as always. I would tell my wicked witch that I see through her theatrics. She masquerades as my protector, but in truth, she is nothing more than a desperate voice clinging to relevance. She thrives on my hesitation, weaving illusions of failure to keep me bound. But I know now that her power is an illusion, a trick of the mind that weakens the moment I stop listening.
So let her whisper, let her rage. I will let her voice dissolve into silence as I step forward. Because the good witch, the one she so despises, is not just another voice... it is the real me, the one unafraid to dream, to stumble, to rise. And that version of me? It is here to stay.
Haha no sorry it was meant to be our inner critic but an exaggerated version of course. But I loved the wicked witch from the wizard of Oz as a child 😋
I’m all ears for the audio version, every time. Your witch's voice is spot on! I was totally freaked out at first, like, who unleashed this little demon who’s out to get me? But then it hit me, the witch is like our inner critic, always ready to throw destructive shade!
Even though the wicked witch is hell-bent on tearing you apart, guess who's really chained to your approval? That's right, it's her, desperately chasing your spotlight.
Zainab you already know how happy it makes me to know when you listen to the voiceover. Fun fact I’m down with a cold, so my voice was a little messed up while recording the voiceover. Maybe that added an effect? Haha! The witch is most definitely our inner critic. I was really going through a case of self doubt earlier this week and so I channeled that into writing this piece. If I’m being honest the witch has kind of become one of my favorite characters out of all the ones I’ve written. 😅
Oh no, I hope you’re feeling better soon! It’s funny how sometimes even a cold can add a bit of extra character to a voiceover, right? Haha! But seriously, I can feel the energy in it, and it’s clear how much of yourself you poured into the witch.
Your own moments of self-doubt turned into something relatable. I can totally see why the witch’s become one of your favourites, she’s full of layers! Keep channeling that raw honesty, it makes the witch (and your writing) unforgettable. 😄
Bravo! I absolutely love love how you have played with the words ❤️ you have done it once again! The wicked witch is alive in all of us and it depends on us how much we give into her wickedness! I am glad you have put your witch on the backseat of your life and have started this amazing journey of writing and I must say self discovery!
I love it! We write, we hope someone will read, we hope they connect, we hope to hear something… anything… to validate that what we did was of value. And you hang on to the words (or hearts) like a lifeline. It doesn’t take long for the witch to overshadow, to yank the bit of self confidence away, like a disappearing chair, leaving you sprawled on the floor.
I find it strangely comforting that writers of some of my most favorite pieces feel the same doubts that I do. Your Bird in the Gold Cage is one of those pivotal stories, one I think of when making a mental list of my most favorite things on Substack. So, if you have that witch going on in your head, maybe my witch is at least partially fictional too.
Thank you for this piece. She made me smile and even laugh at her ridiculous claims.
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this post Rose. I was really struggling with self doubt earlier this week, so I decided to be constructive about it and wrote this piece. If I'm being honest, thinking like the witch took a toll on me. Because I'm not wicked at all I promise, so it seemed very contrary to my own personality. 😅 My aim for all of my pieces is to be able to connect to readers through my words, and it absolutely makes my day when I get wonderful comments such as yours. Thank you for taking the time out to read my writing, I truly appreciate you being here. 💕
Enjoyed reading this letter. Actually loved it. For me this witch is definitely my subconscious evil mind 😂🫣 I will share this with my 11 year old daughter who loves to read. She will definitely love it. Awesome work Wajeeha👌 keep up and keep going 👏
I’m so happy to know you enjoyed it Huma. This evil witch resides in my mind 24/7. This week her voice was particularly strong so I channeled it into this piece. I hope your daughter enjoys it too, I have an 11 year old daughter too and she loves this piece!
You're only getting better, aren't you!? This piece is absolutely brilliant! The way you've personified negative emotions as a sinister, possessive force lurking in our minds is chilling and incredibly relatable. Not to forget to mention your dramatic choice of words, the almost poetic rhythm of the prose, and the eerie, taunting tone made me feel as if they are in a battle with their own inner demons. The idea of self-doubt being a villain desperate to hold on, fearing its own demise, is such a unique and powerful perspective. It truly captures the internal tug-of-war between fear and ambition. A masterful and hauntingly beautiful piece!
Thank you for your wonderful comment Shazmeera. I'm so glad I was able to get my point across. I was actually supposed to post something else this week, but I was struggling a lot with self doubt. And so I channeled all that self doubt into this post. I have to say this was a hard one to write because I'm not wicked at all I swear, but to think like the wicked witch was eerie and I was like wait this is too mean. Interestingly this is a very unfiltered piece of mine (I did not spend a lot of time editing it). I was also nervous sending the email with this subject line as I was scared of offending people. Lol. But I'm so, so happy that this post is getting an amazing response. It's made my day! :)
The wicked witch is that relentless voice of self-doubt—the one that thrives on fear, uncertainty, and keeping us small. But she only has power when we give her our attention. The moment we stop feeding into her words, she starts to fade. This was such a powerful and inspiring piece, Wajeeha—an insightful portrayal of the battles we fight within ourselves. ❤️✨️🔥
Hello Saira! Thank you so much for reading this piece. Your description is spot on, that is exactly what I was portraying with this piece.
Wasalam, Wajeeha! My pleasure! Always here to support your work. I truly enjoyed reading this piece—looking forward to next week’s! Keep shining and rising. Love your work! Jummah Mubarak too!
Thank you so much Saira! I wish you the same. 🥰
My pleasure! Mine is later 🥰
Unbelievably brilliant. I loved every word however I do believe that developing ourselves overcome this wicked witch of the mind. It’s just a voice after all and you have something so incredibly powerful within you. Far more powerful than the wicked witch of the mind 🤍🤍
Thank you Meredith. I agree, and we must always strive to recognize the wicked witch and not listen to her.
By the way, I think you are one of the best writers I’ve read on Substack so far.
Meredith you have no idea how much that means to me. Truly, thank you for your kind words. ❤️
Wow, cool piece! My wicked witch is my friend, we’re not always getting along but we are definitely walking the same path. It’s been like that for years now…
I think our wicked witch does walk with us at all times...it's upto whether we listen to her or not. Thanks for reading! :)
Another amazing piece of art.. loved it.. its the struggle that we go through every other day.. what I get is this wicked witch is our very own "nafs" that we need to fight with to stay positive and productive..
Thank you Sana, and yes I agree with the nafs part. You are spot on about that!
This wicked witch is all too familiar to me! I've been under her spell for as long as I can remember. I've drifted away now, the voice is weaker but still there.
Very captivating read, thank you Wajeeha! Maybe if all writerly dreamers come together, we can think of a plan to win against the wicked witch in her own game 🙃
Thanks for reading Milena, and honestly I keep falling under her spell too. I'm just more aware of her existence now, lol. We do need to make a group and do something about her for once and all. 😄
I was very excited about this piece as a horror writer myself, and you did not disappoint! I also listened to the voiceover, and I love how you brought the words to life with that anger and contempt in your voice.
This was an exquisite portrayal of self-doubt and imposter syndrome! I think every writer can relate to a piece like this.
Thank you Bradley, I'm really honored to hear that you enjoyed this piece, as horror is not my forte at all. I tried to add a little bit of personality to the voice over and I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I'm still learning to do my voiceovers well, but I think there's still room for improvement!
I lovee thiss!! Such a creative piece personifying the waswasa of shaytan. I've been a victim of the voices in my head for more than usually the past couple months, this piece definitely gave me perspective. The more I ignore the voice, the more it will diminish, like you said the voice needs me to listen to it for it to survive.
Thank you so much Leena. I'm so glad you were able to see what I meant. I've struggled all my life with this wicked witch (shaitaan), and now I try to keep in mind that it just needs to be ignored. Thank you for reading! :)
Okay Wajeeha, did you have a scret meeting with my inner demons.. because this... this right here is what they tell me when I'm on the low.... Perfectly executed and I love to hear your voice narrate it. Thank you for doing that.
Thank you Annie! Haha, I think all of us experience similar thoughts. I had a really good time bringing them to life with this wicked witch of mine. 😄
hahah and you’ve done so splendidly!
Is it weird that I kind of fell in love with her? She's become one of my favorite characters now. 😅
not at all!! Sometimes, we learn to love some of the wicked characters we create, maybe because we understand how they come to be.. if that make sense.. so it’s not weird…also you’ve executed her well so why wouldn’t you love her!
So true! Honestly she was born out of the bad case of self doubt I was having this week. I've been calling her the wicked witch in my head for a weeks now anyway, so I thought it would be fun to write a letter from her point of view. Maybe I should do a letter from the good witch too, but let's see! :)
Ahhh.. that’s something i will look forward to.. but nope, no pressure
A great write-up as always. I would tell my wicked witch that I see through her theatrics. She masquerades as my protector, but in truth, she is nothing more than a desperate voice clinging to relevance. She thrives on my hesitation, weaving illusions of failure to keep me bound. But I know now that her power is an illusion, a trick of the mind that weakens the moment I stop listening.
So let her whisper, let her rage. I will let her voice dissolve into silence as I step forward. Because the good witch, the one she so despises, is not just another voice... it is the real me, the one unafraid to dream, to stumble, to rise. And that version of me? It is here to stay.
Thank you so much Iqra! I love your interpretations of my work, and as always this one is also on spot.
This was a fascinating take on the wicked witch and what I'm assuming is the Wizard of Oz!
Haha no sorry it was meant to be our inner critic but an exaggerated version of course. But I loved the wicked witch from the wizard of Oz as a child 😋
That’s funny because I immediately thought of the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz but either way - great piece!
Haha, now that I think of it, she's probably the most famous witch of all time, so maybe that's why. 😅
I would guess that’s true!
This wicked witch is very scary pls don’t let it come to life with these words!
Don’t worry she’s not real! Thanks for reading.
I’m all ears for the audio version, every time. Your witch's voice is spot on! I was totally freaked out at first, like, who unleashed this little demon who’s out to get me? But then it hit me, the witch is like our inner critic, always ready to throw destructive shade!
Even though the wicked witch is hell-bent on tearing you apart, guess who's really chained to your approval? That's right, it's her, desperately chasing your spotlight.
Zainab you already know how happy it makes me to know when you listen to the voiceover. Fun fact I’m down with a cold, so my voice was a little messed up while recording the voiceover. Maybe that added an effect? Haha! The witch is most definitely our inner critic. I was really going through a case of self doubt earlier this week and so I channeled that into writing this piece. If I’m being honest the witch has kind of become one of my favorite characters out of all the ones I’ve written. 😅
Oh no, I hope you’re feeling better soon! It’s funny how sometimes even a cold can add a bit of extra character to a voiceover, right? Haha! But seriously, I can feel the energy in it, and it’s clear how much of yourself you poured into the witch.
Your own moments of self-doubt turned into something relatable. I can totally see why the witch’s become one of your favourites, she’s full of layers! Keep channeling that raw honesty, it makes the witch (and your writing) unforgettable. 😄
Thank you so much Zainab, such a kind thing to say. :)
Bravo! I absolutely love love how you have played with the words ❤️ you have done it once again! The wicked witch is alive in all of us and it depends on us how much we give into her wickedness! I am glad you have put your witch on the backseat of your life and have started this amazing journey of writing and I must say self discovery!
Thank you Asma, your words mean so much to me! I can say that your comment has made me cackle in wicked glee! 😉
I love it! We write, we hope someone will read, we hope they connect, we hope to hear something… anything… to validate that what we did was of value. And you hang on to the words (or hearts) like a lifeline. It doesn’t take long for the witch to overshadow, to yank the bit of self confidence away, like a disappearing chair, leaving you sprawled on the floor.
I find it strangely comforting that writers of some of my most favorite pieces feel the same doubts that I do. Your Bird in the Gold Cage is one of those pivotal stories, one I think of when making a mental list of my most favorite things on Substack. So, if you have that witch going on in your head, maybe my witch is at least partially fictional too.
Thank you for this piece. She made me smile and even laugh at her ridiculous claims.
Keep writing!
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this post Rose. I was really struggling with self doubt earlier this week, so I decided to be constructive about it and wrote this piece. If I'm being honest, thinking like the witch took a toll on me. Because I'm not wicked at all I promise, so it seemed very contrary to my own personality. 😅 My aim for all of my pieces is to be able to connect to readers through my words, and it absolutely makes my day when I get wonderful comments such as yours. Thank you for taking the time out to read my writing, I truly appreciate you being here. 💕
Enjoyed reading this letter. Actually loved it. For me this witch is definitely my subconscious evil mind 😂🫣 I will share this with my 11 year old daughter who loves to read. She will definitely love it. Awesome work Wajeeha👌 keep up and keep going 👏
I’m so happy to know you enjoyed it Huma. This evil witch resides in my mind 24/7. This week her voice was particularly strong so I channeled it into this piece. I hope your daughter enjoys it too, I have an 11 year old daughter too and she loves this piece!
You're only getting better, aren't you!? This piece is absolutely brilliant! The way you've personified negative emotions as a sinister, possessive force lurking in our minds is chilling and incredibly relatable. Not to forget to mention your dramatic choice of words, the almost poetic rhythm of the prose, and the eerie, taunting tone made me feel as if they are in a battle with their own inner demons. The idea of self-doubt being a villain desperate to hold on, fearing its own demise, is such a unique and powerful perspective. It truly captures the internal tug-of-war between fear and ambition. A masterful and hauntingly beautiful piece!
Perfect start to a Friday ✨️
Thank you for your wonderful comment Shazmeera. I'm so glad I was able to get my point across. I was actually supposed to post something else this week, but I was struggling a lot with self doubt. And so I channeled all that self doubt into this post. I have to say this was a hard one to write because I'm not wicked at all I swear, but to think like the wicked witch was eerie and I was like wait this is too mean. Interestingly this is a very unfiltered piece of mine (I did not spend a lot of time editing it). I was also nervous sending the email with this subject line as I was scared of offending people. Lol. But I'm so, so happy that this post is getting an amazing response. It's made my day! :)