Your BIPOC Writing Coach

Get Your Writing Life on Track with the NBA

On episode 11 of the podcast, our last episode of the season, I am giving you a pep talk that will leave you truly lit. Before signing off for the summer, I want to get you fired up and inspired to write, but also give you a source of inspiration you can always go back to when you need that little pick me up. So, I decided to share my secret source for writing inspiration and guidance. It’s the NBA! Yes, I’ve been fashioning my writing career based on the lives and lessons learned from basketball greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. On this episode of the podcast, I’m sharing three key lessons  from these legendary basketball players that every writer should learn. 

• How Should A Writer Care for their Body
• How to Level Up Against the Competition
• How to Handle Rejection and Bad Reviews

Tune in so you can hear these lessons and more about the connections between writing and basketball.

 

Literary Links from the Show

For more writing resources and inspiration, don’t forget to visit the Read, Write and Create blog and while you’re there, sign up for the Read, Write and Create newsletter.

In honor of this being our last episode of the season, please leave us a rating or a review on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Read Write and Create Retreat is open for registration and there are still a few spots left! The retreat takes place October 8 - 14, 2023 in Sevilla, Spain.  This retreat has been specifically curated and created for BIPOC women writers who have a writing project they are working on in either fiction or creative nonfiction. We’re staying in a gorgeous country estate, and we’ll be pulling inspiration from Spain’s multicultural history including their hidden Black history. Delicious food, writing instruction, and community awaits you. To find out more and to register, follow this link. 

Let’s stay in touch over the summer: Find me on the socials where I will continue to share my literary life on Instagram and writing opportunities and resources on Twitter.

If you plan on buying some extra good books this summer by BIPOC authors and you want to support this podcast and platform, you can do both things by shopping online at the Read, Write and Create Booktore, powered by Bookshop.org. We have a wonderful selection of diverse books for adults and children, fiction and nonfiction, that will leave you #Lit!

See you in September!  Keep writing!

How to Launch, Sell, and Market Your Book: A Masterclass with Mr. Ernest Owens

On episode 10 of the Read, Write, and Create podcast, award-winning journalist and author Ernest Owens joins me on the show to provide a masterclass on how to launch, market and sell your book. The author of the new book, The Case for Cancel Culture, Ernest brings his wit and wisdom to the topic of book marketing, and provides actionable advice for authors at all stages of their career. This is an episode where knowledge is dropped, the truth is shared, and tips and tricks come at your fast. If you have a book that’s about to come out, or one you want to relaunch, be sure to press play and take notes.

 

Ernest Owens  is the CEO of Ernest Media Empire, LLC. He is the Editor at Large for Philadelphia Magazine and President of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. As an openly gay, Black journalist, he has made headlines for speaking frankly about intersectional issues in society regarding race, LGBTQIA issues, and pop culture.

 

Ernest is the executive producer and host of the hit podcast “Ernestly Speaking!” and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, NPR, Rolling Stone and other prominent media outlets. In 2019, Fobes magazine included Ernest in their annual 30 under 30 list for his journalism work. 

Ernest received his B.A. in communication from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s degree in communication management from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He’s an adjunct professor at Cheyney University, the nation’s first Historically Black College and University (HBCU). 

 

Links from the Show

 

If you want to know more about Ernest Owens, visit his website at ErnestOwens.com. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram. 

 

To purchase a copy of Ernest’s fascinating new book, The Case for Cancel Culture, you can support the Read, Write, and Create podcast by purchasing from the RWC online bookshop. 

 

Ernest mentioned an exciting new venture he’s involved in, The Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl. It’s taking place on August 26, 2023 in Philadelphia. Check out The Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl website for details. You can also follow the crawl on Twitter and Instagram.

 

In honor of our 10th episode, would you be so kind as to take a moment to rate and review the show on Apple podcasts or your own favorite podcast platform? 

 

If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts, and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on the Read, Write, and Create website at ReadWriteandCreate.com. For example, check out my list of writing retreats taking place in 2023 or my list of BIPOC writing festivals also taking place this year. 

 

Keep Writing!

 

How to Leave a Literary Legacy with Lorraine Hansberry

On episode nine of the podcast, I’m sharing a pep talk meant  to encourage you to seize your moment to write. You must get your stories out into the world, so that you can leave a legacy of your words, your wisdom, and your dreams behind. Writing is such a powerful tool to leave a lasting legacy for our loved ones and for the world. Just look at the work our literary ancestors have left behind for us to learn from and love. To drive home my point, I’m going to be sharing the life and times of the award-winning playwright, Lorraine Hansberry who died at age 34, but whose work continues to impact the world today. 

 

Lorraine Hansberry was a writer and racial justice activist. She wrote articles, essays and plays, in her abbreviated lifetime, but she is most well-known for her groundbreaking and award-winning play, A Raisin in the Sun. 

 

During the episode you’ll learn:

• • How a horrible childhood experience for Lorraine Hansberry inspired A Raisin in the Sun.

• The awards and accolades, A Raisin in the Sun brought to Hansberry’s life. 

• What role Langston Hughes played in Lorraine Hansberry’s creative life.
• The surprising connection between Nina Simone and Lorraine Hansberry.
• What it means to be, “young, gifted and Black,” according to Lorraine Hansberry. 
• What lessons can we learn from Lorraine Hansberry about leaving a literary legacy?

Links from the Show

 

To learn more about Lorraine Hansberry, read Dr. Imani Perry’s new-ish,  award-winning biography, Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry

 

Langston Hughes poem Harlem/ A Dream Deferred can be read here.

Don’t forget, I am hosting a one- day intensive workshop on Sunday May 7  on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal, open to any and all writers working on a nonfiction book, including memoir.  If you want to sell a nonfiction book to a publisher, you have to write a proposal first. So, if you’re ready to start pitching agents with your nonfiction book, you should register for my workshop because you’ll leave the workshop with a template and a working outline for your proposal. Follow this link to register for the workshop.

 

If you haven’t already, sign up for the RWC newsletter so you’ll be the first to know about all of my upcoming workshops, classes, retreats and other writing opportunities that I share, including writing contests and calls for work from presses all over the world.

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content at ReadWriteandCreate.com. And follow Read,Write, and Create on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can also follow me, LoriLTharps on Instagram, where I’m always sharing #Lit content. 

 

Please don’t forget to rate and review the podcast on your favorite podcast app. 

 

Thank you!

You’re Never Too Old to Start Writing or Keep Writing: Dorothy West

On episode # 8 of the podcast, I’m giving you a quick pep talk about the perfect age to become a literary star. Spoiler alert: There isn’t one. The truth is, age is completely irrelevant in the writing game. You never know when your big literary break is going to come, you’re never too old to pick up the pen, and it’s never too late to tell your story. Rather than worrying about your age, you should be working on your words.

 

To prove this point, I’m going back to the ancestors, and I’m sharing about the literary life and times of  Ms. Dorothy West, who officially became literary famous when she was 88 years old. Dorothy West was considered one of the youngest members of the Black literati of the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Boston, she is most known for her critically-acclaimed novel about a wealthy Black family, The Wedding. 

So, check your ageism and your doubts at the door, and tune in to this powerful episode of the show. 

 

Links from the Show:

 

If you haven’t already, read The Wedding by Dorothy West. It’s a beautiful book.

 

You can also watch this amazing documentary about West, called As I Remember It. 

 

The interview I referenced with author Laura Warrell, who wrote the new novel, Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm was on the Black and Published podcast. 

 

Jocelyn Johnson was the other author I mentioned, whose critically acclaimed, debut novel, My Monticello came out when Johnson was 50 years old.

I am hosting a one day intensive workshop on Sunday May 7 on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal, open to any and all writers working on a nonfiction book, including memoir.  If you want to sell a nonfiction book to a mainstream publisher, you have to write a proposal first.  You need a proposal to get an agent and the proposal is needed to get the book deal. So, if you’re ready to start pitching agents with your nonfiction book, you should register for my workshop because you’ll leave the workshop with a template and a working outline for your book proposal.

 

There’s still room in the Creative Writing Workshop for BIPOC writers. If you’re looking for a creative writing workshop that will have you generating new work in every class, help improve your creative writing skills, and offer a supportive BIPOC centered writing community, then please join us. The class meets Saturdays online  at 12:pmEST through June 3, 2023. If you promised yourself that 2023 was the year you were going to write more, then this is a great way to make good on that promise. You can register here. 

 

If you haven’t already, you should  sign up for the RWC newsletter, so you’ll be the first to know about all of my upcoming workshops, classes and other writing opportunities that I share, including writing contests and calls for work from presses all over the world.

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on the Read, Write, and Create website at ReadWriteandCreate.com. Just as an example, I recently posted an amazing list of upcoming BIPOC Book  festivals. You can plan your summer vacation based on what lit literary festivals you want to attend! 

 

Remember, a #Lit life  is the best life. 

 

P.S. Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast. 

The Secret to a Productive and Prolific Literary Life with Jabari Asim

On today’s episode of the podcast, award-winning author, journalist, professor, and poet, Jabari Asim,  joins me on the show, to share his advice and experiences maintaining a productive, prolific, and eclectic literary career for more than thirty years. 

Jabari Asim is the Distinguished Professor of Multi-Disciplinary Letters at Emerson College, where he also directs the MFA Program in Creative Writing. He is the author of 23 books, including Yonder, the essay collection We Can’t Breathe, and Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis. His awards include a Guggenheim fellowship and a Pushcart Prize. Jabari lives in the Boston area and has 5 adult children

 

On the show Jabari shares: 

 

• How an encounter with the poet Gwendolyn Brooks inspired him to be a writer.
• The practical reasons why he is so prolific.
• Why it’s important for writers to write in multiple genres.
• The best education for aspiring and working writers. (Hint: It’s not an MFA)
• How to stay motivated in the face of rejection.
• The  advice he has for BIPOC writers who want to be published by one of the big five publishers. 

 

It’s an inspiring interview full of actionable advice and writing tips. You don’t want to miss it. So press play.

 

“Artists are here to disturb the peace.” -James Baldwin.

 

To learn more about Jabari Asim, visit his website.

 

Jabari’s most recent novel, Yonder should be on your TBR list now. And if you have little people in your life, get them a copy of Whose Knees are These and Whose Toes are Those?

Jabari mentioned the inspiring and instructional example of how the author Ann Napolitano queried 80 agents before finding one who would work with her. You can read her story in this article in The New York Times.

 

I will be teaching a Creative Writing Workshop specifically for BIPOC writers who are looking to develop a creative writing habit, improve their creative writing skills, and share their work in a safe and supportive writing workshop. We will be working with creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry. The class meets Saturdays online from 12:00pm - 1:30pmEST. 

 

You don’t have to be a published writer or be trying to write a book, this class is truly for those who want to engage in the act of writing and develop their skills in a BIPOC centered workshop. The class will meet online from April 15 - June 3. ( (note I accidentally said June 10 on the episode.)  Class size is limited. For more information and to register, visit the classes and workshops page on the Read, Write, and Create website. 

I am also teaching  a one- day intensive workshop on Sunday, May 7,  2023 on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal, open to any and all writers working on a nonfiction book, including memoir.  If you want to sell a nonfiction  book to a mainstream publisher, you have to write a proposal first.  You need a proposal to get an agent, and the proposal is needed to get the book deal. So, if you’re ready to start pitching agents with your nonfiction book, you should register for my workshop. Space is limited so sign up soon. For more information and to register visit the classes and workshops page on the Read, Write, and Create website. 

 

If you haven’t already, you should  sign up for the RWC newsletter so you’ll be the first to know about all of my upcoming workshops, classes, retreats  and other writing opportunities that I share, including writing contests and calls for work from presses all over the world. You can sign up for the newsletter here. 

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on the Read, Write, and Create website. 

 

Thank you for supporting the show with a rating, review or a share on any of your favorite social hangouts.

 

The pen is mightier than the sword. Lessons learned from Ida B. Wells

On today’s episode of the podcast, I’m giving you a pep talk on the power and the potential of the written word to change the world. Yes, the pen is mightier than the sword, and I want all of my BIPOC writers to wield this powerful weapon with intention and agency. And because you know I like to give you role models to emulate, I’ll be sharing the inspiring story of how Ida B. Wells weaponized her words in order to make miracles happen. This is a pep talk you don’t want to miss. 

 

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”  Ida B. Wells

 

To learn more about Ida B. Wells, check out all the resources in the show notes for this episode on the Read, Write and Create blog. 

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, visit ReadWriteandCreate.com.

 

Sign up for the Read, Write and Create newsletter if you want writing inspiration, resources, and paid writing opportunities to show up in your inbox twice a month. 

 

Thank you for listening, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform. 

Should Writers Only ’Write What They Know?”: Mark Twain and Toni Morrison Have the Answers

On episode 5 of the Read, Write and Create podcast, get ready for an epic battle between two literary lions, Mark Twain and Toni Morrison. The battle is over whether writers should write what they know, or write what fascinates them. Mark Twain said, “write what you know.” Toni Morrison said, “please do NOT write what you know.” So who was right? And what useful writing advice can all storytellers take from these two literary legends on this topic? The answers may surprise you, so listen up and take notes. This is a pep-talk and lesson you don’t want to miss. 

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If you crave more words of advice from Saint Toni Morrison on writing, you can find a list of Toni Morrison's best quotes for writers on this post from the Read Write and Create blog.

 

To get a taste of what it takes to research a novel about a topic you “don’t know,” check out this inspiring interview I did with author Lauren Francis Sharma and hear her fascinating journey writing The Book of the Little Axe. 

 

You can buy a copy of Book of the Little Axe from the Read Write and Create Bookshop and support this podcast, Lauren Francis Sharma, and independent bookstores everywhere!

 

And if you want to read a book from an author who successfully 'wrote what she knew' in a novel that did so well it was turned into a popular film, then check out Terry McMillan’s, How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It’s a classic. 

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BIPOC writers, please follow me on Instagram so you can leave me a DM if you’d be interested in participating in a writing retreat with me in the south of Spain later this year. I’m in the planning process now and would love to hear what kind of writing you'd like to do with me in sunny Spain. Gracias!

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

 

Don’t forget to rate and review this podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you!

For Writers: Perseverance is More Important than Talent + Octavia E. Butler

On today’s episode of the podcast, I’m sharing a pep talk about perseverance.  The truth is, perseverance is the most important habit, or superpower, a writer must have, even more than talent. You can be the most talented writer in the room, but if you can’t figure out how to keep writing in the face of hardship and adversity, then you’re not going to succeed in this game. 

 

To help explain the importance of perseverance in a literary life, I’m sharing the incredible true story of how Ms. Octavia Estelle Butler went from being a poor, young, Black girl with a dream, to a multiple-award-winning literary superstar.  More than just a celebrated science-fiction writer though, Octavia Butler’s career is a master class in perseverance and what it can get you.

 

Listen in to hear the extraordinary story behind Octavia Butler’s success as a Black woman writer in a white-male dominated field. Be inspired by her unwavering perseverance. And get actionable ideas to incorporate into your own writing practice to help you stay writing even when life gets in the way. 

 

Links from the Show.

 

Watch Ta-Nehiesi Coates’ short but inspiring video on the importance of perseverance in a writing career. 

 

If you’re looking for a beautiful book about Octavia Butler’s early years, consider  Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi. Technically it is a middle-grade book, but it is so gorgeous and brings Butler to life through poetry, prose and photographs. If not for yourself, consider getting it for a young person in your life.

 

Please follow me on Instagram so you can leave me a DM if participating in a writing retreat in the South of Spain with me, sounds like fun. There's no obligation if you send a DM, I'm just in the planning process and would like to hear what sounds good to prospective attendees. Let me know what you'd like in a creative writing retreat for BIPOC writers. Gracias!

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter  so you can be the first to know when I'll be hosting my workshops, classes and retreats. 

 

Don't forget to leave a rating or a review of the RWC podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to listen. Thank you!

How to Have a Long-Lasting Literary Career with Tracey Lewis-Giggetts

On episode #3 of the podcast, the incredible Tracey Lewis-Giggetts joins me to talk about her literary life and experiences as an African-American writer and author of over 20 books!  Tracey writes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and screenplays.  Her two most recent books are Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration and Then They Came For Mine: Healing from the Trauma of Racial Violence. Tracey also works as a ghostwriter and has penned best-selling memoirs for several public figures and celebrities including, Tabitha Brown and Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated Five.

On the show, I’m interviewing Tracey to ask her all about the lessons learned on her literary journey, including how she started, and how she managed to build and sustain a career that has spanned more than 20 years. Tracey has so much wisdom to share – 

• from how she keeps going in the face of rejection, 
• to how she managed to quit her job in academia to write full time
• to why it’s okay to write in more than one genre. 

 

Most importantly, Tracey talks about how and why she is so prolific, why she makes no apology for centering her stories around Black people and Black culture, and why it is so important to stay ready so you can be ready when opportunities arise.

 

Tracey drops some real gems, tips, tricks and actionable advice for writers at all stages of their journey. I hope you find her words inspiring for your own writing practice.

 

To learn more about Tracey, please visit her website.

 

To get a copy of her book, Black Joy, which was recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award, consider purchasing it from the Read Write and Create bookstore. 

 

Tracey mentioned the following useful resources for writers:

 

The Hurston Wright Foundation is an excellent resource for Black writers.

 

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a book for writers about writing that Tracey recommends. 

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

 

Don't forget to share this episode with other BIPOC writers who might need a creative pep-talk!

 

 

 

Why BIPOC Writers Must Get their Stories Into the World + Zora Neale Hurston

On episode number two of the Read, Write and Create Podcast,  I give BIPOC writers their marching orders for their literary lives I explain why the world needs writers of BIPOC heritage to pick up their pens and write their stories; why we have to write like our lives depend on it; and why we have to write for ourselves.  For inspiration and edification, I’m using the literary life and times of Zora Neale Hurston to help make my case. 

 

 

In the episode I will be sharing:

 

• The grim statistics about the lack of diversity in the books published by mainstream publishers.

 

• Why books are powerful weapons in the fight against white supremacy and oppression.

 

• Who needs more books by and about BIPOC people and why.

 

• Why should we look at the courage and conviction of Zora Neale Hurston when searching for a role model for our writing lives as BIPOC writers. 

 

• What lessons Zora Neale Hurston can teach us about centering Black lives in our work.

Links from the Show

 

If you haven’t listened to the first episode of the show, where I coach writers on how to find the  time to write and talk about the life and times of Phillis Wheatley, do yourself a favor and have a listen. 

 

If you’re interested in learning more about the incredible and inspiring life of Zora Neale Hurston, I highly recommend reading Valerie Boyd’s masterful biography of Zora, titled, Wrapped In Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. 

 

Also, earlier this month, PBS released a new documentary about Zora Neale Hurston called Zora Neale Hurston Claiming A Space. Check PBS.com to find air times in your city.

The Read Write and Create Podcast is produced by Lori L. Tharps.

Our editor is Brad Linder 

And our theme music is by Wataboi.

 

Be sure to subscribe to the show on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Audible podcasts, so you won’t miss a single episode. 

 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

 

Don't forget to keep writing.