I have yet to understand why Blacks in this land, do not strive to leave the country that constantly rapes them of their dignity   Yet to understand where the kindness towards the others comes from; the courage to smile and just keep it moving   Yet to understand why they long to be like ...

Trigger Warning: Abuse, Murder, Hallucination     Hate keeps a man alive. It keeps him going. And James is full of it. He’ll no doubt live a long time, and he’ll hate her, all the days of his life. When he does die, his soul will go on to hate her. He vows to haunt ...

When I was young, I cast a spell. I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know how powerful my words were. I was just… creating–writing a silly, little poem. That, and I’d also developed a particular writing style from reading a spellbook I’d found in an old house some years before. So, again. ...

If all kings and queensLooked down belowUpon the gathering massWhat would they see? A poor manClinging to a blanket for warmthAsking for spare changeAnything for food or water Or a girl walking down lonely streetsHoping to find a companionSomeone for the nightTo cure her broken heart Maybe a soul on his deathbedOn borrowed timeHoping for ...

On Monday, August 10, 2020, a dreadful storm tore through the Midwest. The sirens didn’t go off where I live near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Instead, a weather-alert text warned me of a “severe thunderstorm.” While my husband and I continued to work outside, we saw the sky change from sunny to dark in a matter ...

In Part 1, I pleaded my case for why it is essential to know how to plot. In Part 2, I’d like to discuss character. We can all agree that character is king in storytelling. Be it your protagonist or antagonist, developing them is critical for their appeal. And appeal plays a massive role in ...

To plot or not to plot, that is the question. A cursory search through Google or YouTube (they’re the same company but shh!) will show you endless results of ‘how to’s. From unknown to famous authors, they all value ‘plotting their stories.’ Whether or not you plot your stories, you should know how to do ...

As you may have picked up by now is I am having a hard time during this quarantine. I am finding it hard to center myself and find that happy place. I know I am blessed and I am thankful all day every day, but staying upbeat has been almost impossible. I have been trying ...

Time ceases when she enters a room   Her existence is the eminence of perfection   She has a voice that quells your clamor   For she is your – Nubian Goddess   Her whisper settles your uneasiness   Her touch transports your mind   Allowing your body to transcend worlds   For she is ...

Constant readjustments to build trust of people who continue to take advantage of us   The tears of their mothers, daughters, grandmothers   can take the lives of our fathers, grandfathers, sons   No chance to defend ourselves, for savages have no say in their impeccable, uncontaminated communities   Our word against their tears, our ...