Last night I was thinking about being of color and what it means to me. I felt a smile spread across my face and wonderful memories flooded my mind. Growing up Black and female is an awesome thing. I am taught I can do anything I set my mind to and work hard at. So I was strongly encouraged educationally and not just that, but I was encouraged in living life. A life of purose. A life of courrage. A life of strength.
What does this have to do with writing? Everything! It helps me work through the crazy process of attempting publication. I am encouraged by friends and family and told that I will make it as long as I keep at it. I have a whole cheering section all my own. When I'm knocked down by a rejection, my community and family are right there reminding me that I can do it. My husband's mother has always said, Nothing beats a failure but a try. That is absolutely the truth.
I have an unquenchable desire to write stories that captivate. Stories that encourage. Stories that change lives. Everyday my writing improves and grows.
The strength of my culture helps me to write strong characters. Characters with depth. Characters with drive. Characters with voice. (yes, the ever elusive, but necessary, quality).
In the immortal words of Worf, with a slight spin, of course. Today is a good day to be Black!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Brighter Side of Culture
Now that I've gone on and on about the negative and difficult things about being a writer not of the majority culture, I'm ready to tell you the good stuff. One of best things is that I have a wealth of emotions to pull from, mine and others. It helps me to create realistic characters and their reactions.
Someone recently asked me to consider writing about the more difficult things I've experienced, but I'd rather focus of the funny things; like statements having different meanings in different cultures. Someone once said in a group, "That dog is not gonna run." Because I'm of southern extraction I knew what he meant and laughed out loud. Everyone else in the group just stared. I would have thought the context made it clear. I guess not. It took a while to explain. Honestly, their response was funnier than his comment. I think there's a book in there somewhere. If not, there's definitely fun stuff to blog about.
Life can be a living comedy when I choose to see the lighter side. Sometimes it's not so easy to do, but I keep working at it. So today my question is, what double meanings have you run into?
Someone recently asked me to consider writing about the more difficult things I've experienced, but I'd rather focus of the funny things; like statements having different meanings in different cultures. Someone once said in a group, "That dog is not gonna run." Because I'm of southern extraction I knew what he meant and laughed out loud. Everyone else in the group just stared. I would have thought the context made it clear. I guess not. It took a while to explain. Honestly, their response was funnier than his comment. I think there's a book in there somewhere. If not, there's definitely fun stuff to blog about.
Life can be a living comedy when I choose to see the lighter side. Sometimes it's not so easy to do, but I keep working at it. So today my question is, what double meanings have you run into?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Memoirs and Me
I've been away for a while. Then I went to the SCBWI Summer Conference, all resulting in the neglect of this blog. There is no excuse except that preparing for retirement and then attending the conference distracted me. At the conference I was getting so much information and attending so many breakout sessions that I am exhausted. I've been home for two days and I'm still exhausted. I experienced something very interesting; at least to me.
I had the pleasure of having an editor of a large and growing house critique my work. During that conversation we talked about my experiences as a teen growing up in a world where my dark skin brought varying responses from those around me. She suggested that this would be great written as a memoir. I've been thinking about what she said and trying to determine if I have anything of interest to say.
While this could be an interesting endeavor, I have concerns about what might get tapped into. There are feelings that lie unresolved because there is no resolution. And how do I express these without awakening the rage that sleeps within? How do I create a work of this nature without overwhelming the reader with that rage?
Maybe that would be the thing she's looking for, an emotional piece that a teen could identify with and be absorbed by. As a psychologist I am aware that for the reader walking though a piece like this would beneficial. I am also aware that writing a piece like this might dispell some of my own demons, or maybe not. Unfortunately it is very possible that the rage awakened, without the possiblity of resolution, could remain awake and become destructive, not just to me, but to those around me.
I have worked so hard to understand what the world has and doesn't have for me without uselessly pointing fingers or placing blame. I have worked to maintain as much balance in my life a possible. I fear this balance could be destroyed. Even writing this much saddens me.
My desire is that my writing would leave the world a little better for my grandchildren, giving them a positive place to see themselves in literature. Will writing this piece aid in this? I don't know. And before I attempt something like this I really need some answers.
I am open to suggestions.
I had the pleasure of having an editor of a large and growing house critique my work. During that conversation we talked about my experiences as a teen growing up in a world where my dark skin brought varying responses from those around me. She suggested that this would be great written as a memoir. I've been thinking about what she said and trying to determine if I have anything of interest to say.
While this could be an interesting endeavor, I have concerns about what might get tapped into. There are feelings that lie unresolved because there is no resolution. And how do I express these without awakening the rage that sleeps within? How do I create a work of this nature without overwhelming the reader with that rage?
Maybe that would be the thing she's looking for, an emotional piece that a teen could identify with and be absorbed by. As a psychologist I am aware that for the reader walking though a piece like this would beneficial. I am also aware that writing a piece like this might dispell some of my own demons, or maybe not. Unfortunately it is very possible that the rage awakened, without the possiblity of resolution, could remain awake and become destructive, not just to me, but to those around me.
I have worked so hard to understand what the world has and doesn't have for me without uselessly pointing fingers or placing blame. I have worked to maintain as much balance in my life a possible. I fear this balance could be destroyed. Even writing this much saddens me.
My desire is that my writing would leave the world a little better for my grandchildren, giving them a positive place to see themselves in literature. Will writing this piece aid in this? I don't know. And before I attempt something like this I really need some answers.
I am open to suggestions.
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