Hi Friends,
Because writer's block is an excuse to binge-watch television, this edition includes:
A sip…
The muse is a product of its environment.
If change is necessary, take it to Paradise.
A shout out…
Raw, explanatory, and semi-autobiographical, Manchild in the Promised Land, details life in Harlem during the early 20th century by acknowledging the cultural isolation, racism, and damaging effects of urban poverty experienced by Southerners who migrated north.
Shaped by the harsh realities of tenement life, Claude Brown did not curb his appetite for the streets before witnessing several friends and a younger sibling become addicted to heroin. Heartbroken and determined he completed high school at night, received a church grant to attend Howard University, and later enrolled in Stanford and Rutgers law schools.
Released in 1965 to critical acclaim, challenged and/or banned since 1971, Manchild has been translated into fourteen languages. Described as unrelenting and humane, it resulted in Mr. Brown testifying before a Congressional panel where he carefully reminded the committee of non-minorities in similar situations and suggested a need to stop problematizing and start humanizing.
An essayist and lecturer, he was penning a third book about the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic when he died.
A sentence…
Prompts gleaned from Manchild in the Promise Land:
“For where does one run to when he’s already in the promised land?”
“There’s just something fascinating about religious chicks anyway. It’s the high potentiality for corruption that’s so fascinating.”
“The cops down there were terrible, but we were living right near the Bowery, so we couldn’t expect but so much. They wouldn’t put any good cops down there—if there is such a thing as a good cop.”
“I could sense the fear in Mama’s voice when I told her once that I wanted to be a psychologist. She said, “Boy, you better stop that dreamin’ and get all those crazy notions outta your head.” She was scared. She had the idea that colored people weren’t supposed to want anything like that.”
“There was always a chance somebody would say, “Well, he died. The cat took an O.D.,” an overdose of heroin; or he was pushed out of a window trying to rob somebody’s apartment or shot five times trying to stick up a place to get some money for drugs. Drugs were killing just about everybody off in one way or another.”
A few contests/competitions…
GETLIT! Contest is seeking submissions.
Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is seeking submissions.
On the Premises Short Story Contest is seeking submissions.
3-Day International Chapbook Contest is seeking submissions.
A few submission opportunities…
Big Other is seeking experimental submissions.
The Today Show is seeking essay submissions.
RWW Winter Writers’ Retreat for Storytellers of Color is seeking applicants for its 2024 virtual event.
A few useful tips…
Defeat writer’s block by:
Starting an idea file.
Taking a break that does not involve reading or writing.
Creating and maintaining momentum, write more often.
Recording observations, thoughts, and kernels of new stories.
Switching content -write about an alternate topic that speaks to you.
Writing out of sequence, and jumping ahead to scenes or chapters that excite.
A few sessions & workshops…
August 14th
August 15th
Self-Paced Idea Files Workshop hosted by
August 16th
Are Your Characters Compelling?
August 17th
August 18th
August 19th
August 20th
Ongoing
And a final thought…
This installment is collaborative, and contains an affiliate link; if you purchase books using that link, I will earn a commission.
Thanks for reading,
Thank you for generously sharing these resources to get us going!
You are more than welcome, Scarlet!