Strong Women Make for Strong Characters

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!

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?