Next Generation of Black Writers
From Left to Right - Abdul, Nkenge, Marita, Stacia, & Jalal
Remember these names-Abdul Ali, Jalal Naeem, Stacia Yearwood, and Nkenge Feagin. These are writers who represent the best of the next generation of Black writers. Each one has been accepted by the MFA Graduate Creative Writing Program at American University and will begin the program in September. There writers, two poets and two fiction writer are symbols of the promise and healthy of the future of African American writing.
I am exceedingly pleased that the creative writing program at my undergraduate alma mater, American University has the singular distinction of accepting four Black writers in the same class. Four students may not sound like a large number, but many MFS programs accept only a dozen or so writers into their programs each year, so these students will be a significant presences in the program and symbolize A.U.’s commitment to creating a writing program that makes a place for the real diversity of contemporary American letters.
This is an achievement that these writers should and do feel justly proud of. But I am also very proud of them because I had the honor of mentoring or teaching each of them. Abdul, Jalal, Stacis, and Nkenge are dedicated to mastering the craft of writing beautifully and powerfully and in their work have already shown the requisite courage required os the writers whose work will be remember. So I urge you to remember their names, you WILL hear from them.
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Summer Writing
Summer is typically the time when writers want to make significant progress on in-progress writing or just jump-start their writing lives. I can’t say enough about the benefits of attending one of the hundreds of writing workshops offered around the country and even internationally.
- Working with a master teacher who is also a published writer
- Access to a large and diverse community of writers
- Making connections with agents and editors
- Getting new perspectives and ideas about your writing
- Gaining a powerful sense of renewed energy about your writing
These are just some of the benefits of attending a summer writer’s workshop. Many range from weekend to week-long or longer in duration and can be held in bucolic, back-to-nature settings or in urban areas. If you think you might want to attend a writer’s workshop next summer, now is the the time to start serious research and planning. Poets & Writers website is a good place to start your search for the right writers workshop for you.
Tips for finding the best workshop:
- Research the faculty and the published writers who are alumni of the workshop
- Determine if your focus is primarily on writing or on writing and making contacts with editors and agents
- Begin saving money to cover the cost of the workshop several months in advance. Most writers overestimate the amount of scholarship money available for attendees and underestimates the number of writers vying for scholarship support.
African American writers have several well established and excellent workshops to consider:
North County Institute for Writers of Color
Attending a writer’s workshop is a great way to spend part of your summer vacation.
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Ask Marita! Part II – A Free Tele-seminar for Writers
Due to the overwhelming positive responses I received from my first Ask Marita! tele-seminar I am offering a second no-cost tele-seminar on Thursday, September 16th at 8pm(EST). I hope you will be available to listen and get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about writing and the writing life.
This information-packed call will be based on questions submitted by participants and will allow you to have YOUR most pressing writing questions answered.
While I will answer general questions that you submit about writing, I will focus extensively on the six questions you must ask a literary agent. Even if you aren’t ready to look for an agent, this thiry minute tele-seminar will broaden your sense of the role an agent can and should play in your life. I look forward to answering your questions.
Even if you don’t have a questions, you can still listen in. Remember it’s free.
To register for the tele-seminar and submit your question please click on the link below.
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I Want to Write! – A 2-Day Writing Retreat
If you are having difficulty getting your words from your head and heart onto the page then this is the workshop for you. This workshop is for writers of any genre: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or journalism. This workshop will:
- guide you through writer’s block
- help you complete projects you began
This popular 2-day workshop has helped hundreds of writers get un-blocked and take the leap into their story and start writing. Beginning and veteran writers create a supportive community and learn techniques to write through fear, anxiety and self-censorship.
Schedule
~Saturday, September 25, 2010
~Sunday, September 26, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Tuition: $299
Alumni Tuition: $270
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Tags: Abdul Ali, Arts, Creative writing, Organizations, United States, Writer, Writers Resources, Writing circle
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Good news that the American University did have them. Actually there was a time when blacks are being discriminated. But they excel in many things not just sports, music but also in literature. I’m going to see updates of these four people on their writing career.
It is quite exciting to see young writers come up under, most preferably the ones under you. It is more exciting to see that writers and other artists are evolving from your community. Writing is a great way to let out and tell the world what you know or have. It is a great tool. As it stands true that pen is mightier than the sword.
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Interesting to read!
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I bet you must be really proud of all your accomplishments. I have to say that you are one of the best writers I have ever got the chance to read and analyze at university classes and not only there. I really enjoy the way in which you depict reality and the new meanings it gets through your eyes. The Edge of Heaven was my personal favourite.
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