Hi Friends:
Because writer’s block could be the best attempt at preserving one's identity, this issue includes:
A sip…
Although not held to the same level of esteem, the muse is as mythical as the Fallen Angel…
A shout out…
If criticism is a form of literary genius, educator, novelist, poet, publisher, and scholar, Albert Chinụalụmọgụ (Chinua) Achebe, masterminded fierce recrimination with, Things Fall Apart, his seminal portrayal of the socio-psychological disorientation resulting from forced imposition of non-traditional customs and values upon ancestral societies.
Regarded as a central figure of modern African literature, he was born in an area that was part of British Colonial Nigeria. Although a convert to the Protestant Church Mission Society, he maintained continued respect for the traditional religious and oral storytelling practices of his Igbo ancestors.
Educated at what is now the University of Ibadan, he initially studied medicine but switched to English, history, and theology after an evaluative read resulted in his lifelong belief that Joyce Cary was culturally ignorant. He debuted as an author while studying, initially wrote essays, letters, and short stories, and later radio scripts while employed with the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS).
The author of more than twenty books, he defended his preference for and use of English due to its ability to reach a broader audience and is credited with texturizing Igbo identity by highlighting themes of the intersection of tradition, colonialism, and modernity, and social conceptions of gender roles in males and females.
Originally penned by hand and rumored to have never been edited, Things Fall Apart, has been banned or challenged for more than a decade. Described as a masterpiece, it had an initial print run of 2,000 copies; it has since sold 20 million copies, has been translated into 57 languages, and remains the most widely analyzed, studied, translated, and read African novel to date.
A recipient of more than 30 honorary degrees, and more awards, fellowships, prizes, and accolades than this space will ever permit, he is also credited with galvanizing the careers of Flora Nwapa and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, yet despite his dominance and everlasting influence, it is important to note that he was never revered with the Nobel Prize for Literature.
A sentence…
Prompts gleaned from Things Fall Apart:
“A child cannot pay for its mother’s milk.”
“He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
“Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
“A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there.”
“If you had been poor in your last life I would have asked you to be rich when you come again. But you were rich. If you had been a coward, I would have asked you to bring courage. But you were a fearless warrior. If you had died young, I would have asked you to get life. But you lived long. So I shall ask you to come again the way you came before.”
A few useful tips…
Elements which make backstory realistic:
Time – which includes period, time of day, season, etc.
Location – which can include a region or city, a house, a room, etc.
Mood/Atmosphere – which includes feelings created by the mix of other elements.
Context – which includes culture, space, and objects which impact character choices and actions.
A conference opportunity…
Macondo Writers at Trinity University
A few contests/competitions…
The Cardinal Poetry Prize for Poets Age 40 and Above
Dragonblade’s A Historical Romance Writing Contest
The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award
Pasadena Literary Alliance Essay Contest
A few grant/fellowship/scholarship opportunities…
The Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Parent-Writer Fellowships
Writer’s Guild Veterans Writing Project
A few submission opportunities…
In These Times is seeking culture pitches.
The Guardian is accepting pitches for its “Why I Quit” series.
Huizache is currently accepting prose and poetry submissions.
൪uartet is seeking poetry submissions from women fifty and over.
SFGATE is open to pitches that cover news and entertainment from the Bay Area.
SISTORIES invites submissions along the theme of Uses of the Erotic.
SPIN is seeking pitches for music/culture stories.
The Ujima Wire is accepting pitches
West Trestle Review is open to work from around the globe, as long as it's written in English by a woman or non-binary writer.
A few sessions & workshops…
January 23rd
January 24th
January 25th
Open Book Neurodivergent Creative Writing Group
Writers Lunch: What to Do When You Write Yourself Into a Corner
January 26th
January 28th
January 29th
Ongoing
Dramatist Guild National Silent Writing
Her Story: Women of the Bible Journaling Series
Sit & Scribble Virtual Writing Sessions
And a final thought…
This installment contains an affiliate link; I earn commissions when you purchase books using that link, or you may please buy me a coffee.
Thanks for reading,
I only read a few pages of Things Fall Apart, but I found the contrasts between the grandfather and father quite remarkable.
I read “Things Fall Apart” last year and the amount of times I laid in bed thinking “what if?” It’s was one of those books I’ll read once a year. And i had no clue it was part of a trilogy🤯 Thank you so much for uplifting Achebe’s work here as well sharing these resources.💙