Blog Posts

February 16th, 2014

16/2/2014

Being the romantic that she is though, she left two red blooms on the tree. They were sursprisingly firm, fully intact and dancing away in the breeze.
"Well, happy Valentines Day to you too," I said.
See, even the wind can be a romantic. On Friday the 14th, the night after one of the heavy storms had passed, I looked out of my window to find the savage wind had picked every leaf off my rose bush.

Hope you had a good one!

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Hurray for Social Media!

24/1/2014

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Soon after attending the ‘debate’ on Black publishers, which I talked about in my last blog, I attended another very interesting event: ‘Gatekeepers in fiction publishing’ which was organised by a London based organisation: ‘Spread the Word’.

Coming to terms with the powerful roles gatekeepers play in deciding which works of fiction get published and which get cast aside or remain on the so called slush pile, was rather daunting and a little demoralising. However, on the positive side, it was encouraging to hear about the tremendous publishing opportunities social media such as Kindle, on-line magazines and blogs currently offer writers.

I can safely say that I have found social media invaluable, not only for promoting my writing, but also for getting my work published.

My first published short story, ‘The Last Leg’, came out of an exercise I was given in one of Jacob Ross’s writing workshops. The instructions were to write a short story with a whole recipe running through it. A challenge, I thought at first, but I produced, ‘The Last Leg’.

This story fell under the genre of crime. I was even newer to the publishing world than I am now, so wasn’t quite sure where I could get it published. I left it sitting around for over a year, then took good advice and googled ‘crime stories’, whereupon I found the Short-Story.Me website. I submitted to them and hey presto, they said they would publish it. Chuffed? You bet I was. And what a boost it gave to my confidence as a writer.

I’m sure many emerging writers have similar tales to tell.

Thank you social media!

As writers we are always told by those who know about the publishing world that short stories don’t really sell. We are told that if we’re not a known author (i.e. have one or two published novels behind us) publishers will not be interested in taking a risk on a book of short stories from us. Even if they do, we shouldn’t expect to make any money from sales.

Sadly, making money from published short stories is still extremely unlikely, but if the main aim is to get readers reading your work, the money’s not too much of a problem.

It is fair to say that gatekeepers will always exist in one form or another in fiction publishing, but I think the most important gatekeepers are readers. They are the ones who really give the writer that big red tick and worth while recommendations.

Check out my article on the ‘Gatekeepers in Fiction Publishing’ event published in the New Black Magazine.

As always, feel free to leave your comments.

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The Publishing Maze

17/1/2014

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I have found that as I progress into taking my writing more seriously, it has become imperative to keep an eye out on what’s going on in the publishing world.

Having a number of writing projects on the go and working full-time does not leave me much time for this, but I have decided to make a concerted effort to at least get about to more literary events which will enable me to learn more about what feels like ‘the publishing maze’.

At the tail end of 2013, I attended a literary event entitled, ‘The State of Black Publishing in the UK’. It was organised by Words of Colour Productions.

The panel consisted of four individuals from the publishing world. They were: Patsy Antoine, former editor at HarperCollins and former commissioning editor for Random House, Steve Pope former editor of The Voice newspaper and co-founder of X Press, Kadija (George) Sesay the founder of SABLE LitMag and series editor for the Inscribe imprint at Peepal Tree Press. The fourth was Jacob Ross, whom I have learnt a great deal from in writing workshops I attended in the earlier stages of my writing. I discovered at this meeting that he was also a former editor of Artrage Intercultural Arts magazine and an associate editor for fiction at Peepal Tree Press.

At the event, Joy Francis, Executive Director of Words of Colour Productions, informed the audience, that there is a long history of Black publishing in this country. However, one of the key messages I took away from the event was that Black publishing in the UK is next to non-existent or at least struggling to exist.

(Did anyone notice the word ‘former’ attached to the titles of most of the panelists?)

A member of the audience said they felt there was a lack of trust on the part of talented Black writers towards Black publishing houses and also a lack of collaboration and mutual support between the two.

Even before attending the event, questions which sometimes crossed my mind (and still do) are:

1.      Would Black writers benefit from having Black publishers?
2.      Do Black publishers have a better understanding and appreciation of the work of Black writers and hence are more likely to publish their work?
3.      Is getting one's work published simply a question of whether or not one's writing ‘meets the mark’ i.e. is interesting and of a high standard, therefore making it publishable and marketable?

Very intriguing, I’m sure most of you will agree. This is something I will return to again in future blog entries.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

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January 11th, 2014

11/1/2014

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Yes, 2013 is over and we herald in 2014.
But what does it all mean this New Year stuff?
I mean, isn’t January 2014 simply the month after December 2013?

What’s all the fuss about? Has anything really changed?

I’d like to see the progression of time as me getting closer to achieving aims and ambitions. Although, I must admit in the last two months, I’ve felt like as soon as one of my goals get within my grasp, it wobbles further away, leaving me almost falling... oops, flat on my face.

You bet, I'm gonna crack that nut!

Here’s to a brighter, more successful and goal achieving 2014!

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Have you heard the word?

3/12/2013

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This week, I joined The New Black Magazine as the Literary Editor.

The magazine’s readership comes predominantly from people in the African diaspora. It is published at least once a week (a target my blog has yet to meet!) and aims to “provide insightful features and opinions on issues concerning today's Black men and women”. Articles and features are varied and relate to politics, the arts, business, lifestyle, travel and well-being.

If you would like to be one of the 350,000 ‘unique visitors’ and 1.5 million hits the magazine receives each month you can start now by clicking the link below.
http://www.thenewblackmagazine.com/

Have a read of my review of a debut novel, ‘A Cupboard Full Of Coats’ by Yvvette Edwards, a novel that is likely to stir your taste buds as well as your emotions.

I am sure you will find something which will interest you on the site.

Take a peek. Let me know what you think.

Contributions, including reviews from readers, are welcome.

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'Crowning Glory' - Black women, how do you feel about your hair?

7/11/2013

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I recently took myself to the Theatre Royal in Stratford, East London, to watch a theatre production: Crowning Glory, by Somalia Seaton.

Set in present day 2013, the play explores the influence Western perceptions of beauty have on us, black women. Through whose 'eyes' do we view ourselves and assess our beauty? In particular, the play explores issues around black women and our relationship with their hair.

The performance opens with a 'DEAR WHITE GIRL' sketch telling the 'white girl' that the world loves her and was made for her. Through a series of monologues messages are conveyed from women with hairstyles ranging from weaves, dreadlocks, 'Bal-ed' and the natural curls of the ‘Halfbreed’.

The play pulled no punches and I found the themes very easy to relate to. There were occasional utterances of, ‘Uh-huh’ and ‘Yes’ from the mainly black female audience. And despite the serious political, psychological and social issues raised through the sketches, there was still room for giggles and laughter. (Although at times I wondered if some of the latter was due to a touch of painful or awkward truth.)

For me the real success of Crowning Glory is bringing into the public arena some of the hidden and unspoken messages we are given as black women about our hair. These messages probably start as early as infancy, from our families, the media and society in general.

I was so affected by the performance that I was inspired to write a short piece: 'He Said...', which you can find in the 'Other Writing' link on my website.

Going to see the performance is an ideal night out and an education for women and men of all ages - whatever your nationality. One thing's for sure, it will get you talking!

The play closes at the Theatre Royal is on Sat 9th November 2013. So hurry along, if you can. You won't regret it.

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CATS

21/9/2013

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Cats, our furry, feline friends? Not mine.

At the risk of offending the millions of cat lovers I know are out there (including very close friends of mine) I am going to have a winge – no more like a rant!

First, I’d like to say that I have nothing in general against cats, or any other animal. Everything in its place, that’s what I believe, but surely if we as individuals choose to adopt an animal to share our lives, we should face the consequences and not inconvenience or offend others in the process.

Let me explain. I have chosen not to own a cat, not just because of my allergy to their fur, but also because it simply doesn’t suit me. So someone please tell me why I should, on a daily basis, have to be reduced to picking up, treading (or do my best not to) in cat poo over my front and/or back garden? In addition, why do I have to live with the anxiety that a cat or cats will be excreting all over my vegetables? Can anyone give me an answer to that?

Could my predicament be because I live in an area where there are just too many cats or cat lovers? What do I do, move house and whilst hunting, ask: “Is there a ‘cat poo’ problem in this area?”

HELP!

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Bring on the summer!

9/7/2013

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Apologies to those who find this small heat wave we’re being blessed with unbearable. I, for one, think it’s glorious. Cold weather always has me wishing I lived in sunnier and warmer climates and strangely enough, so does this hot warm weather. The added bonus of having lovely warm weather though is while I am wishing I lived somewhere hot, I’m also enjoying having it. Look what it’s brought on:

1. I’ve taken the time to style my hair into beautiful little twists to give my scalp some air and in the process exposed my greying roots, which are usually concealed.

2. Returning home late last night after visiting friends, there was a dark ball rooted in the middle of my doorstep. First I froze, went into fight or flight mode, dreading it was a big rat, perhaps hiding its tail. But on careful examination (at a good distance, of course) I discovered it was a prickly hedgehog. A hedgehog? What here at my doorstep in London? Yes! Wonders will never cease, eh? Then…

3. on the same night, as I was in the kitchen getting myself a drink, I took one step, then another and wondered why under one of my feet felt sticky. I looked at the floor, saw somethng that could have been a piece of apple skin (gone brown, of course) and again, on close examination, found I’d just stepped on a slug. Yikes! I screamed. Yes, it was a slug! How did it get into the kitchen? I’ll never know. I’m sure my relatively new kitchen is slug tight.

On reflection, perhaps it slowly wandered in through the opened back door ‒ to get out of the heat. But don’t they say, if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen? Oh, slugs don’t know that …

Seems the sudden heat has an effect on all creatures great and small.

But what about my writing, you might want to know. Well… it’s happening … .

A bit more on that in my next blog, perhaps.

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June 12th, 2013

12/6/2013

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It’s been too long since my last blog, hasn’t it?
Yeah, I can hear the millions of you out there shouting:
“Where’ve you been? We’ve been waiting…”

I must admit not having comments from readers of my blog has been a little disheartening, but as one who has to swallow and digest rejections and ‘criticisms’ of her work on a regular basis, I think I’m woman enough to take it on the chin. So, I’m plodding on regardless.

Since my last blog entry, I've been thinking, reading and contemplating and have returned to this question which I have raised on more than occasion on my blog: What is a writer?

This subject was one aptly addressed by Anne Goodwin in her blog, ‘4 definitions of a writer,’ posted on her site on 16.5.13.

A few weeks ago, when reading Anne’s blog entry, I was still of the opinion that a ‘real’ writer is one who is able to earn an income from their writing. Perhaps that was my fantasy, because as pointed out to me by a friend, this definition would surely suggest that writers such as myself are not ‘real’ writers, because I have not as yet earned anything from my writing.

To confuse me even further, someone suggested to me that my definition fitted into that of a ‘professional’ writer. That is, a writer who writes for a living. This would include professional bloggers, journalists and other creative writers who are fortunate enough to be able to live off the sales of their novels and other creative works. In this one might include writers such as the late Ian Banks, Stephen King or J.K. Rowlings.

In addition to this, last week I read with interest, the results of a survey undertaken by Mslexia entitled,
‘The big question: Do you write for love or money?’

Out of the 2500 women writers taking part in their survey 63% had received some payment for their writing at some point in their career. This amount, however, hardly covered their expenses for paper and ink cartridges. Half of the women earned nothing from their writing last year and a quarter earned under £500.00.

I’m not quite sure what the situation is for men, but those stats are not very encouraging for those of us (like myself) who hope at some point, to be able to acquire some monetary compensation in recognition of all the hard work, time and energy spent creating even a small piece of writing.

All things considered, I have come to the conclusion that there really are different types of writers, some just happen to be more ‘accomplished’ than others. Suffice to say that all writers write (and read, hopefully) and as Anne states in her blog, we edit our work, know the rules of writing, have readers etc.

Needless to say, I am in agreement with the 40% of the participants of the Mslexia survey, who felt that ‘writers should be paid for what they do…’

However, like a lot of the women in the survey I will, of course, continue writing even without monetary rewards because ultimately it’s not about the money. Writing a piece for me is like creating a new recipe, using old and new ingredients and each time aiming and hoping to create something tasty enough to stir or tickle the pallet of everyone who samples it. That is satisfaction in itself.

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Sa ka fèt?

13/5/2013

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What do you do when you feel you’re just not getting it right with the writing? When you’re not getting any movement on the major writing project you know you’re supposed to be progressing with?

Those were the questions I was asking myself last week, whilst staring at the blank screen after having taken two of the ‘precious’ annual leave days from my full-time job to get stuck into the writing. Fortunately for me, a little voice suggested I work on another writing project which was keenly motivating me at the time. So I did. And not only did I complete that second writing project, but I also managed to move the heroine in my novel from the two brick walls she seemed to be stuck between. Hallelujah! I shouted. Then, once more motivated, I had to return to work (the bread an’ butter type, you know).

It ain’t easy working full-time whilst trying to become a ‘writer’. (Oops, here comes that question again. What is a writer?) I wonder if one day I’ll actually be able to answer that.