The Writers’ Block Podcast

Keturah Kendrick is a force of nature, and it is fitting seeing that her hometown is New Orleans, Louisiana! This interview is the continuation of the conversation that Keturah and I had last year on Instagram dealing with the value of representation. This conversation is a reminder that representation is a process, erasure is a choice, and owning all of yourself as a Black woman--walking in an an...

Have you ever had that feeling of trying to write everything you think about all at one time? Yeah... This show is for you. In this particular episode, we are going to talk about the scramble, what that means, and even how to handle it when it happens. Don't worry! It's common, and with all common problems, there is a solution for it!

The Black Girl Poetry Scrapbook is the brainchild of Chanel Hardy and Hardy Publications. The anthology is available July 15! For all order information, please visit http://www.chardypublications.com. There are physical (print) copies and digital copies that will be available as well. Pre-order copies are $20.99 and digital copy $4.99.  For this bonus show: Sometimes the hardest thing about b...

There is more to creating a podcast and just downloading an app and having an idea. This show it's a combination of thought, time, prayer and pushing. Although the list of thank yous is not exhaustive on this show, please know that I tried to be as inclusive as I possibly could be. Always special thanks to the crew that helps to keep this portion of Beyonce's internet up and running Clarissa Dyson...

The book you want to read you may have to write!  The 9-book series known as THE COLLEGE LIFE series is the brainchild of JB Vample. The idea came to her as a Senior in high school, and was finished just recently! Whew! Talk about a writing journey! This interview was edification, encouragement, and a reminder that the story you want to write--you are more than capable of writing. Even if the stor...

Disclaimer: This show is not for anyone under 18 .  For book purchase, click here. (Available on Amazon and Kindle).  Narc'ing. Narcissist. NPD. In their book DON'T BELIEVE YOUR LYING EYES, these three authors reveal just how insidious NPD, what makes a narcissist exactly that, and how to avoid, breakaway and heal from those engaging in these destructive activity.  Collective Bios:&...

Summer Amaya is an 8-year-old author and the youngest we have ever had on this podcast! Yet, she is the age most of us were when we discovered our love of writing. It is with great joy that I introduce this budding author (and her mother, Jasmine) to all of you! I look forward to more books from her and wish her the brightest of futures! Find Summer's book on Summer’s website called www. Creativel...

Intelligence is one of the things by which writers need to keep in mind when they are constructing characters, worlds, and the settings and scenarios they find themselves in. Intelligence I believe is one of the things that needs to be discussed most often especially when writing cross-culturally - - when especially you are trying to counteract a narrative or trope. In this particular episode I ta...

The most powerful thing about storytelling is the empowerment that it brings to the listener. It is with that focus this bonus show was recorded to the memory of Jahaira Balenciaga (DeAlto)ballroom legend, mother of many, and woman of trans experience who was murdered at age 43. She was light, humor, and a soft place for many. It can only be hope that this particular bonus program be a light in th...

There there is nothing so positive as to seeing yourself as a minority person in fiction. Even Tony Morrison said in an interview with a British reporter that some people cannot and could not accept that where she is right now where she was right then as a black female writer was the mainstream! One of our jobs is writers is to put those who have not been and making them seen: to make their lives...

This week, I want you to think about genre and just how powerful the story that you tell will be for it. When you identify something, you give it attention and focus. This is even more apparent when you decide what story to tell under what genre! Be brave! Tell the story that you want, dear one--not that people want you to tell.  The book HOW TO WRITE A DRAFT IN 5 DAYS, is available on Amazon...

Image allows you two things. To see the world, and to see yourself in it. For this week's episode, I want you to become comfortable in writing down the world you want others to see. It is important that you have the confidence to do that especially as a minority writer. In having that confidence to create the world that you want, you then grant a window or mirror where there where there may not ha...

Writer Spotlight:  Dani Skye, poet, writer, spoken word artist.  For reference, Dani's original work is found in Episode 36--the SEND FOR A POET segment is the last part of the show. Listen all the way to the end! You won't want to miss this! Follow Dani Skye on Instagram (@iamdaniskye) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/daniskye1980). Remember! Dani's event is going to be August 21-22, 2021! W...

April Writing Spotlight: Dani Skye and Talva the Author! Follow Dani: @iamdaniskye Follow Talva: @talvaauthor (Instagram) Writing is hard work! And sometimes that work feels insurmountable! But the thing you must know is you have more support than what you think, and you have more strength than you know! Even the best writers get tired! Even the best have a moment they want to quit! And...so will...

Toni Morrison said that language is the measure of our lives. And I am inclined to agree.  For the measure, with, breath of language, they're also worth it or not able to be redeemed. And there are some things that are so vile in written form that the only thing you can do to counteract them is to accept that kind of vitriol, and changing it into something that you two can use. The possession...

It is said by the hostess of this space that, "A good editor is worth their weight in gold."  For this bonus show, the founder and Executive Editor of I. AM. Editing, Ink, Adrienne M. Horn explains just how essential it is to edit your work with a professional eye, what it truly means to be an editor, and just how important the work (and it is work!) of editing is! The hope is for this is you bene...

*There is some adult content (erotica is mentioned).* Space matters. Platforms matter. BLACK WRITERS MATTER! In the place that is BlG BLACK CHAPTERS, Raquel de Lemos and Tiffany Richardson have provided a place where Black writers are able to be encouraged, gather resources, and be reminded that the space they occupy, they don't occupy alone! On this show, we discuss what it means to be at the int...

Jean N. Rivers is writing a genre which few Black writers do, let alone Black women! From her imagination has come a cast of characters whom are relatable, magical, troubled and always Black. Jean N. Rivers looks at classic troupes for Black people to write characters with depth and complexity. From that complexity, she breathes new life into the horror genre from an unapologetically Black perspec...

Social media has given us a power to connect in ways we could only have dreamt about. With such riches, especially during Black History Month, it seems fitting that this month should end with the words of one who makes a living of teaching them.  In this show, you will hear passions that only educators can fathom and understand. From representation of Black people in media, implementation of new o...

For this show, we are going to be delving into how to deal with criticism. I know, I know! No one wants to hear the dreaded c-word as a relates to their writing, but this culture of toxic positivity demands honesty! There's a way to deal with criticism especially if it's constructive and there's also way to deal with criticism when it's just mean and nasty. For this show we are going to learn the...

Imposter syndrome a real thing for creative people! It will rob you of your vision, of your creative juices, and will lie to you about the very thing you are passionate about. It operates in the belief that other people need to validate you rather than you validating yourself! For this show, our host talks about her most recent bout with imposter syndrome how she sometimes still suffers from it an...

Writers assemble! Have a job you have a job to do as a writer and that job is to record the world around you! Don't let the world you see, stop you from writing the world you want to see and that others need to see let's get to work!

Earlier this month, Eric Jerome Dickey New York Times bestselling author passed away at age 59. He leaves behind a wife the Legion of fans and numerous books! This show is dedicated to him and thank him for elevating black fiction is only a black man can. Rest in Words and Power, Eric Jerome Dickey.

This holiday season is unlike any we have ever seen! With that said, we as the staff of The Writers' Block are going to celebrate, because there is still joy to be had in the year of 2020! For that persistence, we create and are glad to!

Writing is a process as unique as the writer! With this in mind, there will come a time in your writing journey that you may encounter the desire to write more than one thing at one time. While this is normal, and may happen more than once, you must bare in mind that you must have a plan to do this--otherwise you are courting disastrous calamity!