Dramatic, Prosaic, and Structured
Royally blessed
Hi Friends:
Because writer’s block isn’t polyvocal, this issue includes:
A sip…
The muse is neither a mean girl, a Naked Lady, nor otherwise othered…
Hello, paid Subscribers ~ are you ready for the equinox?
A shout out…
For someone who accomplishes remarkable work, several terms apply depending on the context and the nature of the achievement. In general, he or she is an
accomplished achiever. In terms of high expertise, Bernardine Evaristo is a virtuoso.
The first Black woman to win the Booker Prize, she is an academic professor, author, editor, essayist, literary critic, literary mentor, literary prize jurist, playwright, and poet who founded the RSL Scriptorium Awards and the Brunel International African Poetry Prize/Evaristo African Poetry Prize. She also co-founded Spread the Word and Theatre of Black Women. Additionally, she organized Future Histories, Britain’s first major Black theatre conference, and Tracing Paper, the first major conference on Black British writing.
The recipient of over 80 awards, fellowships, honors, and nominations. An appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to literature, she is the first Black British author to reach number one on the UK paperback fiction charts. Her bibliography includes Girl, Woman, Other, which is listed as one of Barack Obama’s and Roxanne Gay's favorites.
A dual phenomenon, active since 1994, she is a long-time advocate for the inclusion of writers and artists, calls on publishers to look beyond clichés and stereotypes, and is highly vocal about the industry’s need to hire more people representing a wider range of communities.
A chaser…
Louisiana Channel | Bernardine Evaristo on The Process of Writing and Getting Published
And another for the road…
ARTE.tv Culture | The Book of my Life: Bernardine Evaristo:
A sentence…
Prompts inspired by Girl, Woman, Other:
“Be a person with knowledge, not just opinions.”
“It’s important to counterbalance the state of being cerebral with the state of being corporeal.”
“There was no such thing as objective truth and if you think something’s good because it speaks to you it is.”
“Let us wonder at how X was just a rare letter until algebra came along and made it something special that can be unravelled to reveal inner value.”
“What matters most to me, is that I know how I feel, and the rest of the world might catch up one day, even if it’ll be a quiet revolution over longer than my lifetime, if it happens at all.”
“People have to share everything they do these days, from meals, to nights out, to selfies of themselves half naked in a mirror. The borders between public and private are dissolving.”
“His bredren and sistren could damned well speak up for themselves why should he carry the burden of representation when it will only hold him back? White people are only required to represent themselves, not an entire race.”
“People won’t see you as just another woman anymore, but as a white woman who hangs with brownies, and you’ll lose a bit of your privilege, you should still check it, though, have you heard the expression, check your privilege, babe?”
“Ageing is nothing to be ashamed of especially when the entire race is in it together. Although sometimes it seems that she alone among her friends wants to celebrate getting older because it’s such a privilege to not die prematurely.”
A book list…
A few more titles detailing the lives and struggles of multiple characters:
Intermezzo, by Sally Rooney
White Teeth, by Zadie Smith
The Vegetarian, by Han Kang
Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart
Queenie, by Candice Carty-Williams
Open Water, by Caleb Azumah Nelson
The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden
Evenings and Weekends, by Oisín McKenna
Cleopatra and Frankenstein, by Coco Mellors
Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder, by Asako Yuzuki
A few author freebies…
Harlequin’s A Romance Writer Starter Kit
Thriving Writer’s 52 Thriving Weeks
A literary listicle…
Although London isn’t Bernardine Evaristo’s hometown, she is a current resident, and that is even more reason not to adhere to the stereotypical. Its inspiration includes:
A bit of warmth from Dark Sugars Chocolates;
Ma Petite Jamaica, a little piece of feast and dancing beats from the Caribbean; and
The showcase of the UK’s changing Black history and culture, The Black Cultural Archives.
A few useful tips…
On writing multiplicity of voices/polyphonic narration:
Employ perspective shifts;
Use details to reinforce differences;
A rich, layered narrative works best;
Each voice must be carefully crafted;
Describe the overlapping cacophony;
Clarity must be maintained throughout;
Use formatting to differentiate voice overlap;
Ensure that each character's point of view is a unique worldview;
Use chapter breaks and section dividers to signal changes in point of view;
Use distinct vocabulary, sentence structure, and tone to establish unique character voices;
Each character must be highly developed, fully realized, with unique motivations and backgrounds;
Ensure that each character's viewpoint is given an appropriately smooth and logical transition between perspectives; and
Give each character unique characteristics and specific words/word choices, typical sentence length, and tone of voice.
A few contests…
Rossemary Daniell Fiction Prize
Latino Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest
Moonlit Getaway Short Fiction Contest
The Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Competition
A few creative resets…
September 16th
September 19th
September 21st
Multi-Date Options
A few fee-based accountability/retreat/workshop opportunities…
Single Sessions
September 17th
How to Blend Personal Narrative and Reportage in Essays and Books with Mallary Tenore Tarpley ($59 - $119)
September 20th
Let’s Lighten the Mood: Why and How to Add Humor to Your Stories with Rachel (R.L.) Toalson ($59 - $119)
September 24th
Secrets and Shortcuts for Transforming Your Self-Publishing Career with Cyndi Hughes ($29 - $119)
September 27th
2025 Agents Symposium: From Acquisition to Publication with Stephanie Delman ($35 - $45)
October 15th
Triangular Relationships as Engines for Tension and Conflict with Anca L. Szilahgyi ($65)
October 28th
Series Sessions
September 18th – September 20th
September 26th – October 31st
September 28th – October 12th
October 4th – October 25th
Using Folklore to Tell Our Stories with Soraya Palmer ($360)
October 5th – November 9th
October 7th – November 11th
A few fellowship/grant/scholarship opportunities…
AWP Tribal Colleges & Universities Fellowship Program
A few retreat/residency opportunities…
Dora Maar Cultural Center Residencies
Sundance Collab 2026 Cultural Impact Residency
A few freelance opportunities…
Apartment Therapy is accepting pitches for stories tied to upcoming holidays, events, and observances in October, November, and December.
Complex seeks a freelance Pop & Internet Culture Social Editor.
Critical Mass seeks a freelance Copywriter.
Grassroots Thinking is accepting pitches on a rolling basis for the following verticals: Politics, Culture, and Social Life.
Long Now is accepting pitches for essays, reported features, interviews, book reviews, shorter articles, fiction, and poems for Ideas, their living archive of long-term thinking.
Mother Jones is seeking pitches for their print culture section, Mixed Media.
NoGood seeks a freelance Health & Wellness Copywriter.
A few submission opportunities…
Electric Lit seeks submissions for The Commuter section, its home for prose, poetry, and graphic narrative.
The Ex-Puritan seeks fiction, nonfiction, experimental/hybrid work, interviews, reviews, poetry, and poetry in translation.
Rathalla Review seeks fiction, non-fiction, and poetry that is vulnerable and honest, universal yet personal, and sharply written.
Short Story, Long is open for fiction submissions.
Translunar Travelers Lounge seeks fun speculative fiction with elements of science fiction or fantasy.
Trollbreath Magazine seeks speculative fiction, poetry, and non-fiction in the dark fantasy, slipstream, and fabulism forms.
Westerly seeks fiction, poetry, creative as well as scholarly non-fiction, comics, and art.
A few sessions & workshops…
September 16th
September 17th
September 18th
September 19th
September 21st
Multi-Date Options
Clicking the Pen: Writing Your Lunch Hour
Friday Evening Shut Up & Write! Session
Neuro-Myths: Creative Writing Workshop
An open critique group/open mic/shared reading opportunity...
September 14th
A few virtual artist/author/creative events…
September 16th
Lunch & Listen: Virtual Reading of Miranda's Garden by the Author
September 17th
Author Voices/Voces de Autores: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
September 18th
Hub City Press and University Press of Kentucky: Reading and Conversation
September 22nd
October 2nd
A few virtual book/script clubs and discussions…
Beyond the Page: Reading with Networks
Earth and Soul Book Discussion Group
Philly Book Club: Gwyneth, The Biography by Amy Odell
Virtual Romance Book Club: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Yale Club of Vermont Book Club
And a final thought…
Hi there,
This is an informal poll: as you are reading, what are you sipping?
I’d really like to know, and if it’s your own concoction, please share the recipe!
As usual, this posting is filled with embedded links, and I earn a commission on each book purchase if you are inclined to make one.
Have a great and super easy week,
I'll be playing all her interviews. Sounds interesting! Thanks!