{"id":192,"date":"2026-04-30T00:37:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T00:37:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/byteflows.net\/wp\/inkwell\/?page_id=192"},"modified":"2026-10-07T18:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T15:08:08","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/?page_id=192","title":{"rendered":"\u041e\u0431\u043e \u043c\u043d\u0435"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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<\/div>\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n Hi, I'm Maya \ud83d\udc4b <\/div>\r\n

Writer, wanderer,
chronic over-thinker<\/em>
\u2014 and proud of it.<\/h1>
\r\n

I write essays about design, the art of slow living, creativity, and all the strange beautiful things that happen in between. Based somewhere between two cities and too many open browser tabs.<\/p> <\/div>\r\n

\r\n \r\n Read my story <\/svg>\r\n <\/a>\r\n Get in touch<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n 122<\/span>\r\n essays written<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 12.4k<\/span>\r\n monthly readers<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n 5+<\/span>\r\n years writing<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n
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\u2615 Currently sipping<\/div>\r\n
Oat flat white<\/div>\r\n
Extra shot, always.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\ud83d\udcd6 Currently reading<\/div>\r\n
Piranesi<\/div>\r\n
Susanna Clarke<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
<\/stop><\/stop><\/linearGradient><\/stop><\/stop><\/linearGradient><\/defs><\/rect><\/circle><\/circle><\/circle><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/rect><\/path><\/path><\/rect><\/ellipse><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/ellipse><\/ellipse><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/ellipse><\/circle><\/circle><\/ellipse><\/circle><\/circle><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/ellipse><\/ellipse><\/path><\/path><\/rect><\/ellipse><\/ellipse><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/circle><\/circle><\/line><\/line><\/line><\/line><\/g><\/line><\/line><\/g><\/line><\/line><\/g>\"Still figuring it out, one page at a time.\"<\/text><\/svg><\/div> <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\r\n The journey<\/span>\r\n

A few milestones<\/span><\/h2>

Not a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 \u2014 just the moments that changed something.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n

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2019<\/div>\r\n
Started Inkwell<\/div>\r\n
Published my first essay on a blog nobody read. Left it up anyway.<\/div>\r\n
\u2726 Origin story<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
<\/div><\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n
<\/div><\/div>\r\n
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2020<\/div>\r\n
First 1,000 readers<\/div>\r\n
An essay about solitude during lockdown found its people. That was the moment I understood what this was for.<\/div>\r\n
\u2726 Community<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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2021<\/div>\r\n
Consulting work begins<\/div>\r\n
Started helping brands and founders write in a way that actually sounds human. Turns out this is a real job.<\/div>\r\n
\u2726 Work<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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2022<\/div>\r\n
Moved cities. Wrote about it.<\/div>\r\n
Left everything familiar and wrote the most-read piece in Inkwell's history as a direct result.<\/div>\r\n
\u2726 Change<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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2023<\/div>\r\n
10,000 newsletter subscribers<\/div>\r\n
A number that still makes me a little dizzy. Each one is a real person who chose to open my words on a Sunday morning.<\/div>\r\n
\u2726 Growth<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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2024 \u2014 26<\/div>\r\n
Book proposal. Deep breath.<\/div>\r\n
Writing long-form for the first time. A book about slowness, attention, and why we're all so tired. Watch this space.<\/div>\r\n
\u2726 Next chapter<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\r\n What I do<\/span>\r\n

Craft & capabilities<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

\r\n Five years of writing professionally has sharpened a particular set of muscles.\r\n Here's where most of the energy goes.\r\n <\/p>\r\n

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\r\n Essay & long-form writing<\/span>\r\n 95%<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
<\/div><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n Brand voice & strategy<\/span>\r\n 88%<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n Editorial design thinking<\/span>\r\n 80%<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n Photography & visual storytelling<\/span>\r\n 74%<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
<\/div><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n Newsletter & community building<\/span>\r\n 90%<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
<\/div><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Things I use & love<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Writing<\/div>\r\n
\r\n \ud83d\udcdd<\/span> Notion<\/span>\r\n \u270d\ufe0f<\/span> iA Writer<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\udcd6<\/span> Ulysses<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\udd8a\ufe0f<\/span> Moleskine<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Design & Visual<\/div>\r\n
\r\n \ud83c\udfa8<\/span> Figma<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\udcf8<\/span> Lightroom<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\uddbc\ufe0f<\/span> Procreate<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Reading & Research<\/div>\r\n
\r\n \ud83d\udcda<\/span> Kindle<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\udd16<\/span> Readwise<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\uddc2\ufe0f<\/span> Obsidian<\/span>\r\n \ud83c\udf10<\/span> Pocket<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Publishing<\/div>\r\n
\r\n \u2709\ufe0f<\/span> Substack<\/span>\r\n \ud83c\udf0d<\/span> Ghost<\/span>\r\n \ud83d\udcca<\/span> Fathom<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\r\n Currently on my shelf<\/span>\r\n

Books that shaped me<\/span><\/h2>
\r\n A rotating selection of the ones I keep coming back to. Not a definitive list \u2014 just what feels true right now. <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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The Artist's Way<\/div>\r\n
Julia Cameron<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u2726 Creativity<\/div>\r\n
Read this four times. Changed my relationship with making things each time.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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How to Do Nothing<\/div>\r\n
Jenny Odell<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u2726 Philosophy<\/div>\r\n
A book about attention and resistance that I wish everyone would read.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Piranesi<\/div>\r\n
Susanna Clarke<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u2726 Fiction<\/div>\r\n
The most beautiful strange world I've ever been lost in. I never want to leave.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Bird by Bird<\/div>\r\n
Anne Lamott<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u2726 Writing<\/div>\r\n
The only writing book you need. Honest, funny, and completely unafraid of the mess.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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The Sense of an Ending<\/div>\r\n
Julian Barnes<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\u2726 Fiction<\/div>\r\n
A slim novel about memory and self-deception that took a week to process.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\r\n Say hello<\/span>\r\n \r\n

Let's have a
conversation<\/em><\/h2>
\r\n Whether you want to talk about a piece I wrote, explore working together,\n or just say that something resonated \u2014 my inbox is genuinely open.\n I read every message, and I reply to most of them. <\/div>\r\n
\r\n \r\n Send me an email <\/svg>\r\n <\/a>\r\n Subscribe to newsletter<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n \"List\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Twitter \/ X<\/div>\r\n
@mayainkwell<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n
\r\n <\/i> <\/div>\r\n
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Instagram<\/div>\r\n
@maya.inkwell<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n
\r\n <\/i> <\/div>\r\n
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LinkedIn<\/div>\r\n
maya-chen-writer<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n
\r\n <\/i> <\/div>\r\n
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Newsletter<\/div>\r\n
12,400+ readers \u00b7 Every Sunday<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi, I’m Maya ???? Writer, wanderer, chronic over-thinker \u2014 and proud of it. I write essays about design, the art of slow living, creativity, and all the strange beautiful things that happen in between. Based somewhere between two cities and too many open browser tabs. Read my story Get in touch 122 essays written 12.4k […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-192","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=192"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":494,"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/192\/revisions\/494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gromykolina.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}