Previously published November 26, 2023
What’s on my plate?
Leftovers.
Luckily, the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone. Thanks to my family, the cornish hens, greens, honey roasted carrots, and seafood lasagna has all been eaten. (There are still a couple of slices of sweet potato pie, but that’s a good thing). I decided to do a less traditional dinner, but still give my family some of their favorites. It turned out great.
There are also still copies of my book, Imani’s Heart: Book One in the Tiwa Series left over as well (also a good thing). Get your copy here.
One of the writing events that I participated in this year has been lingering in my mind. I was a summer fellow with the Hurston/Wright Foundation. It was a great experience for me to build my writing community and improve on my writing. With Destiny Birdsong as my cohort’s instructor, we spent some of the weekend discussing the writing process, joy in writing, and being in conversation with characters. The experience served as fuel for me as I continue with my Tiwa Series.
Still Cooking.
I’ve continued to find ways to improve on my writing. I was accepted as a fellow for the Words of Resistance & Restoration Fellowship through Roots. Wounds. Words. beginning this fall. What a journey the 12-week program has been! I’ve read and written more about the craft of writing and workshopped my work with a very talented set of writers. The community I felt from my cohort empowered me to keep building and, of course, keep writing. I learned so much from them. My instructor, Naseem Jamnia, was so talented and humble. They set the tone for how much I took away from the fellowship.
I also learned from the Brown Bag meetings where published authors spoke to us about the craft, the process, and believing in yourself as a writer. One of my takeaways could apply to anyone, not just writers:
Believe you got it. Others will follow.
The fellowship is not over, yet. It will conclude in a showcase where writers from my genre of speculative fiction, and other genres, will read from the work we developed during as fellows on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Join us virtually for free: https://secure.givelively.org/event/roots-wounds-words-inc/2023-words-of-resistance-restoration-fellowship-showcase
Meals Planned.
2023 has been a great year for my writing. I’m looking forward to bigger and better things in 2024. To start, I’ve been accepted to participate in a week-long virtual writing retreat in January with Roots. Wounds. Words. (Can you tell how much I love this organization?) During this time, I plan on doing some work on my second book in the Tiwa Series (Book One found here). I also get the privilege of working with the talented C.L. Clark as my instructor. I can’t wait to have the dedicated time to write and see what comes of it. As always, I’m looking forward to continuing to build my writing community.
Dessert.
If you’re reading this, you’ve joined me on this journey and I appreciate you. If you have purchased my book, send me a pic of you and the book to post on my socials. If you’ve read my book, leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. I’m looking forward to seeing what you thought of Imani’s Heart: Book One in the Tiwa Series. Sweet!