Slap in the Face

The Million Man March, what can I say? It was ignored by all major media outlets which is a slap in the face to all African Americans. If you don’t realize here in America as African Americans, no as a Black person, you are not important to the majority rule. You are a fool. It’s an inbred fact and it’s being perpetuated every day.

Why is it that when we are violent it gets all of the media coverage; but when we are peaceful, even though the message is antagonistic, we are usually ignored? I’ll tell you why. It’s because in order for the continued “success” of this country Black people have to remain second class citizens. Even though our wealth feeds this country, we cannot feed ourselves. I swear I’m so tired of it that it sickens me.

Why do I have to explain to my husband, a student at the esteemed Ohio State University and native Nigerian, why there is a need for Black student unions and separate entities that uplift my community? It bothers me that I have to explain that to any outsider looking in who clearly does not get it. He was born into a community that knows who they are, where they come from and where they are going. He can literally trace his roots to Kings where his sur name means “crown of wealth”. Now can I do that, can most Blacks? I think not.

The mental, physical and spiritual castration of the Black man has been continuously perpetuated throughout generations in our community. The attack started when the first African was stolen from their family to till the land of another country (not workers McGraw Hill). It will not end until he, the Black man, cannot produce heirs. 

Why do you think being homosexual is the in thing to do now? If you take away a man’s ability to reproduce you kill generations. These genocidal actions, whether objectively perceived or realistically carried out, like the murder of Tamir Rice, needs to be addressed people. I can tell you the truth, integration has killed our community. Please for the love of God, stay woke.

Inside the life of a writer

            Most of the time, I am daydreaming about the different characters I have created for the many books I plan to write. Other times I am doing my job at work and actually writing. Yet what I generally do is work on being the woman of God I am supposed to be for my husband. That includes making sure his favorite meal is ready every day after a long day at school or work.

            Now don’t get me wrong, that last to do list is definitely out of order, but don’t shoot me yet, I’m still a newlywed. My life is pretty much unexciting and plain. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Kunle, my husband, knows that I had goals for my writing career before he walked into my life. So now that we are both working on our passions it all balances itself out.

Being a writer is a career that I hope will turn into many opportunities to show readers who God is. Hopefully one day I will just be out somewhere like a mall and a stranger will walk up to me and say “Your book lead me to pray and seek God.” That would be the most awesome payment for the labor that I do each day. Not even a bestseller could top that.

So, is my labor in vain? I don’t think so. I get to minister in verse to people who otherwise wouldn’t want to be bothered with modern day religion. Christianity has gotten so many bad reviews from non-believers and even those who say they know who Christ is that it is almost impossible to sincerely minister to others. So I keep writing. Even when it gets hard and the words are not coming out the way I would like, I keep writing.

Life as a writer has been uneventful for the most part however I wouldn’t trade it for the world. One day, as my success comes, I will need to travel and visit different places and meet all kinds of people. Maybe then it would be a little more exciting. For right now though, the task of perfecting my craft is at hand. That’s enough excitement for me right now so I’ll keep writing.

What's going on?

Well this month was full of all sorts of craziness. It was topped off by the killing of two innocent people on national television. That is what this world has come to, or our beloved America at least. Execution style killings are being filmed on national television for all to see. In the words of one of my favorite artists Marvin Gaye, “What’s going on?”

Not only that, but we have a ruse taking place within a process that may dictate who will become the leader of the free world. The Donald Trump roller coaster ride has taken off with full steam while inadvertently tanking the serious effort of possible Republican Presidential candidates. His antics are nullifying an otherwise civilized process for finding the best candidate to fill the shoes of the President of the United States.

I don’t know what to do other than continue to sit at my laptop and write about people who live in my head and actually make sense to me. I feel sorry for the children who are growing up now witnessing all of this turmoil which can be found right around the corner. I don’t know if I would want to bring another precious life into this world we live in today. The devastation is too much for an adult so I can just imagine what it is really doing to our children.

There is so much foolishness afoot that it is a wonder that anyone is deemed sane anymore. God cannot be pleased with this at all. Yet He allows it to happen which tells me one thing: I will survive. Everyone will have their own cross to bear which is why we must not lose hope. Even though times are hard and tragedies are common place we have to keep the faith.

I don’t know what’s going to happen next but I think I am so numb to everything now that it wouldn’t even matter. From #BlackLivesMatter to #TrumpforPresident, this summer has been fascinating. We have all survived it though, so at least we have that going for us.

The Best Tip For Self-pulished Authors

Okay so let’s just get right to it. You have the novel you’ve been keeping under lock and key all ready to publish. You don’t care how many people actually read it; you just want to see your life’s work in print. Well if you just don’t care what happens in the future of your writing career let me suggest one thing: don’t edit your work.

There you have it, the secret to getting your novel in the hands of more readers, editing. Good editing that you will have to invest in is worth every penny. Especially if you want to be taken seriously in the world of writing you will need to have your works edited. I know this fact all too well.

I made the mistake of self-publishing too fast without a professional edit of my book. Now granted I sold over one hundred copies, which is a success for any author. (Selling even one book is a feat all in itself). But I had to deal with some not so good reviews from even my closest friends who knew I was a good writer.

My best tip for any self-published author is to take the little pennies you do have and hire an editor. You can even get on Fiverr to get some help with it. I know, it sounds crazy but it can be done economically. But if it sounds like a ridiculous price to pay then it probably is. 

Pay attention to who you trust with your work as well. As I’ve always done, get it copyrighted before you let it leave your hands.  It is easy to do online now. As your work is in process you can have all the editing done and self-publish when it is really ready to been shown to the world. With that, go on ahead and step out on faith and get that masterpiece edited.

Times have changed

This month a landmark event has taken place. In all actuality two landmarks took place. The LGBT citizens of the United States now have the right to marry who they love and their marriage be deemed  legal in all 50 states. The POTUS spoke out reverently on racial divides and outwardly approved the condemnation of a symbol that has continuously terrorized peoples of color. Both of these truths are taking our country into unmarked territory.

To the cynics, it’s time to recognize that we are all one, a human race, whether African American, gay or straight. As a Christian I know one thing, God is still God and His word is true. My opinion on gay marriage is that it is a choice and if one chooses to be gay and to marry then that is their decision. I will respect anyone who has the courage to live the life that they want to live just as I do every day.

The killings at the AME church in Charleston, SC were an event that haunts me still today. Even as Senator Pinckney was laid to rest and President Obama gave his eulogy, I pondered where is this country going? Now that the “last” group of people who felt their rights had been trampled on have their landmark decision made, is that enough? I will have to say it is not. Why, because there will still be atrocities taken out on my people and this country still doesn’t want to deal with that. So congratulations to the LGBT community. The timing was now but it is bittersweet.

Facebook the distractor

One thing that gets on my nerves is when I sit down to write is being distracted. I can get distracted by some of the silliest things. One of them would be good ole Facebook. Sometimes I really think that Facebook is the devil. I will sit down and have all these ideas flowing for one of my characters but I just see the button to go to Facebook and there I go.

Sometimes it’s a good distraction but more likely than not it is not. People get on there and forget to show a little decorum. Then it’s all of those cute little videos of children growing up and those pets OMG. So the next thing I know the five minutes I was supposed to spend to actually make a post on my author’s page turns into two hours of nothingness.

That is one of the nuances of being a writer. The first thing is classic avoidance by distraction. What that really means is I am avoiding the inevitable of hours and hours of writing. Now don’t get me wrong, I love writing, but sometimes I can get very discouraged. That’s because I feel I am not where I want to be as a writer. I feel like maybe I should just go back to school and get a writing degree. 

However, I don’t have time for that and I already have two degrees so I don’t need another one just to placate my insecurities. With this in mind I have to get over myself and sit down and ride out the storm. Writing, good writing does not come easy for anyone not even the greats. We put our every being into the craft and hope to come out with something, anything that is worth being seen by another’s eyes. Even if you are just writing for yourself you still want it to be worth the time you spent.

This little nuance of avoidance by distraction can easily be cured. You just do the work and keep doing the work.  Still though, everyone falls into that little hole of avoidance. What you have to do is make the avoidance tactic work for you. If you gotta be on Facebook look at stories that will give you more ideas for your writing. Life as it written, especially on Facebook, can make for some of the best stories. All I need to do is pick and choose a vibrant story then sit down and write.