Blog – Page 15 – Icess Fernandez Rojas

Revision and the small thankfulness

This, in the year of revision, it’s difficult to see the small stuff behind the big stuff. The big stuff being all the changes in my life since January 1.

When I dubbed this the “year of revision” I thought I would be revising my thesis into a novel. Instead, my life has been revised and continues to be revised, edited.

For this, I am thankful.

Most would not see this as a year to be thankful. Between changing blogs, rebranding, trying my hand at being an authorprenur (which I’m not instantly good at but I’m learning more and more), and the ever evolving roles in my personal life, the constant change has been that — constant. And seemingly unending. This year has truly been one thing after another, one fire after the previous one had been extinguished, learning more about myself — both the good and bad sides, and all the while questioning whether I was strong enough to deal with it.

Answer: I’m still here. Breathing. Writing. Thinking. Of course I am. So, the revision continues.

I don’t want you to think, dear reader, that it has been all bad. Like in every revision, there are brilliant moments, ah-ha moments, triumphant moments, and clear, transparent moments. For those I am thankful, too. Immensely thankful.

I wonder sometimes, when will it all become easier — the revision of writing and of life — when does one enjoy the fruits of change? I’m still working on that answer. Maybe there isn’t one?

NaNoWriMo is over. Now what? Revision time! Or maybe the answer is different for each person? Regardless, it is my great privilege to attempt to figure it out.

So, what am I thankful for? There is a list in my head too long to write of people who already know that I am grateful for their friendship and their kind words. What I want to acknowledge are the small things that never are acknowledged and are passed up by the grandness of the holiday.

I am thankful for every time someone said I couldn’t do something.
I am thankful for the stress of being the first born, first generation in a family of warmth.
I am thankful for the dirty looks, the gossip, and the people who supplied them. Even when they thought I wasn’t looking.
I am thankful for my stubbornness directly inherited from one set of amazing parents
I am thankful for the tears. Every single one of them, even those that didn’t deserve to exist.
I am thankful for the people who have underestimated me because I look, talk, or act a certain way.
I am thankful for my love of words and my respect for them.

I am thankful every day for all of this and so much more. Why? Because I am that much stronger as a person. A stronger me is a changed me, and a changed me makes me a better writer.

After all, isn’t that the point of revision?

Happy Thanksgiving,

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Icess Fernandez Rojas is a writer, blogger, teacher, and journalist. Her commentary has appeared in The Guardian and on Huffington Post Latino Voices. Her fiction has been published in literary journals/anthologies such as Minvera Rising and Soul’s Road. She’s working on her first book and teaches fiction writing classes. Contact her or sign up to know more.

Learning to write historical fiction

I’ve just returned from my research trip to Saint Louis, MO and I’m brimming with ideas!

Research trip? Yes! But in case this is news, here’s why I went:

I’ve been working on a longer short story (by longer, I mean 20 pages and more) that will become a novel sometime next year. The first part has been pretty much written, which is the extended short story. Now the second part takes place in Saint Louis, MO in the mid 40s/ early 50s. So, talking with a friend, we decided to take the train trip up for a day in Saint Louis from Louisiana. A quick weekend getaway for her and a mini research trip for me. Caught up? Good.

I had certain goals for the trip, which I think I achieved and now it’s a matter of developing a plan to learn more about this part of my story. Now I’m on the part that I do research on…well…doing the research. Essentially, now that I got a feel for the place, what was my next step?

I found some great resources online and some amazing advice. My two graduate advisors, Aimee Liu and Micheline Marcom are also hosting a panel on this for the AWP conference in Seattle in February. Until then, however, here’s some advice that is pretty awesome and will tie me over until then.

1.) “Allow your character to question and explore their society”

This gem came from the Writer’s Digest website. I think that’s why I was so keen on just getting a feel for the place (I have a slight crush on Saint Louis as a result). I wanted to know what made that place tick and what the pulse of it was. Essentially, the present is because the past was. (How’s that for a weird sentence.) So, if the city did a certain thing or thought a certain way then I’d want to know if it was because of recent or past events. Past events, before my timeline, means that feeling was probably around then.

2.) Use historians

This bit of advice is a good one and my friend Cate over at CommuniCATE Resources for Writers had a great guest blogger write about it. The internet is a wonderful resource but there’s nothing like hearing people talk about the era you’re writing about. You get to ask questions, ask for specifics, and there is really something magical about two people talking about something they are really interested in. I already know that I’ll have to talk to a historian for my story. I also want to visit a place that I didn’t get a chance to visit this last time that could be important to the plot.

3.) “The language has to match the setting”

This last lesson seems kind of obvious but I’ve already caught myself breaking it. This reminder comes from this Publisher’s Weekly article. Since the time period I’m writing about and the community I’m inhabiting in this prose is so foreign to me, I’m finding myself relying on the revision process for catching and changing the modern phrases. I’m also trying to make sure I’m not putting so many phrases from the past that the reader doesn’t understand what I’m writing. It’s a bit of a balancing act at the moment so obviously I’ll be working on this.

Lots of things were learned and enjoyed on this trip. I’m already making plans to go back in 2014 sometime. Here’s some pictures I took to help me with the writing.

So, do you have any tips for writing historical fiction? Share them in the comments below.

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A letter to my readers: My research trip so far

Hey guys!

Just some quick words and thoughts. Thought I’d do this in letter form.

I am on a train to Missouri and what awaits me is going to be a grand adventure into the second part of my story.

So it’s dark in the cabin right now and I have my feet up and my iPad on my lap, typing. The train rocks back and forth as if I’m an infant–it’s demanding that I sleep. But I’m too excited.

I am looking forward to stepping on Missouri soil and letting the city tell me the best thing to do for my characters. I wonder what I’ll see or hear? What will inspire me?

It’s my first trip there and my first research trip. I’m hoping to absorb everything I need to keep the momentum on the story. It’s beginning to take shape and form and that makes me happy. That means the story is growing roots and soon will be able to be ready for public consumption.

Onward to Missouri. I’m using my twitter, g+, and instagram to upload photos as I go. Here are some to pique your interest.

I’ll check in when I can!

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Too many social media sites? Depends.

I am overwhelmed and that’s saying a lot.

I’ve come to the point in my creative career that I need to align my social media efforts. This is difficult to explain really, but pretty much I played on social media back before everyone thought this was a fun thing to do to kill time. So, as I saw other writers work on their social media efforts as part of that all important writer’s platform, I noticed how social media was used not only as a way to market but as a way to find and build a fan base for writing.

Now, it’s my turn. With plans to release my first book in 2014 (Oh, wait. Did I just say that out loud?) I now have to use this tool as those before me have. Actually, I have to use two of my hats at the same time, the social media professional and the writer

So, does that mean I have to use every social media platform out there?

I actually answered this question for a group of Full Sail students recently. These students were artists –writers, screenwriters, etc — and wanted to know more about how social media could help them with their careers. (BTW, that’s quickly becoming on of my favorite topics.)

To get back to the original question, I say no. No, you do not have to use every social media site out there. In fact, don’t. In fact, please don’t. In fact, I already know the answer to this question so why am I asking? Here’s the long answer to that: different social media platforms for different goals.

Twitter

I am a Twitter girl. I cut my big girl social media teeth on Twitter and have seen the unrestricted power of 140 characters. I’ve battled big telecommunications companies and won, I’ve connected with my favorite celebrities and I’ve gained friendship and followers from people all around the country. If you’re a writer, more specifically a reporter/columnist/etc, this is the platform you want to be on. Your words can carry far and fast. And, well, it’s just fun. There’s also communities built around hashtags that are helpful (#blogchat is invaluable).

Facebook

I have a love/hate relationship. It’s big. Everyone’s on it. Conversations happen here. When it comes to engagement, this is the grand-daddy of them all. You can get lots of conversation going on Facebook because there is less of a space limitation.

Here’s why I hate it. It’s big. Everyone’s on it. Conversations happen here. Yes, I hate Facebook for the same reasons I love it. Of course, sprinkle the “privacy” issues on it and I hate it even more. I think that because it’s so congested (because everyone’s on it) it’s not a place where you will organically get new followers or potential readers. Face it, the folks on Facebook are your friends and they are sharing cat pictures and memes from ecards.

Then there’s the page vs follow function, which is it’s own blog post.

However, because everyone is on it, they’ll be looking for your presence on there. Yes, it’s the chicken and the egg argument of social media. Not sure it’s ever going to be solvable.

Google+

By far the most under-estimated social media platform ever. I consider myself one of the guilty ones who didn’t see the potential of its awesomeness sooner. I kept trying it out though because a friend of mine was having some success with its functionality.

When I finally began to take it seriously, I found out that it was similar to Twitter in that people were willing to talk and engage (by +1) with complete strangers, therefore there is an opportunity for increasing an audience. But it also had the best part of Facebook, the ability to house the conversation.

Then there’s the whole circle thing and the hangouts on air which I LOVE. Of course you can’t forget that this is Google and they have found a way to include its social media platform with its Google search results. Have a blog? You need to be on G+. And sign up for authorship while you’re at it.

Pinterest

I love Pinterest as a bookmarking type of thing. I’ll start using it soon in other ways. For me, the jury’s still out on this platform. I’ll keep you posted.

So, what should you use? Use what your potential customer/clients/reader use. You go there. You engage there. Social media for the artist is a verb and it’s very much like courtship. If you want to get to the point of asking folks to buy what you’re selling (the proposal) you have to invest the time and establish that relationship. (How’s that for a metaphor?)

I’m putting together a Social Media 101 guide for the writer/artist. If you want to know when it’s ready, sign up in the link in the small bio at the bottom of this post or just click here.

What social media sites are you on and which do you think are must use?

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Researching your story: Taking a research trip for your writing

Meet me in St. Louie, Louie! The trip for the current story I'm working on to Saint Louis, MO. Photo by Steve Moses — Meet me in St. Louie, Louie! The trip for the current story I’m working on to Saint Louis, MO. Photo by Steve Moses

Have story? Will travel.

And by traveling I mean getting on a train to St. Louis, Missouri to hang out for 12 hours and then coming right back. That’s what I’m doing this weekend. This research trip was a long time over due.

There’s this story I’ve been working on since before February 2012. It’s set in the south in the 1940s. I had been having some trouble with it at the time. It wasn’t until I hopped a train to Chicago that I realized what the story was and what it could possibly be. On that train trip up and back, the story opened up to me. In fact, one of the key scenes takes place on a train and by far it’s one of my favorites.

Now, I’m getting back on the train to go to Saint Louis, another place that is in this story.

This trip comes at a perfect time as well. This particular story is being worked on as a short story. Because my writing schedule is about to pick up soon with another project (Yes, I’m still going to tell you about that soon. Very soon-ish.) I wanted to work on it to the point that I could pick it up after my project. But I also wanted it solidified as a story with its own arc and rhythm and enter it for contests and possible publication later. Essentially, I want this story to grow roots and to find its tribe so making it a short story that could become a novela or novel later on was a perfect idea.

I’ve done some research already on the front end, i.e. the internet, but I’ve never been to Saint Louis and needed to get a feel for the place. My friend and I also needed a mini-vacay for not a lot of money so there you go… a solution.

This is how I plan to conduct my research:

Getting a feel

Because this is a short trip, I’m wanting to play tourist and get a feel for the place. Since my story takes place in the 1940s, I’m going to want to see buildings and places that maybe from that time period (which will happens as we we’re on our way to some fun attractions). I’m also going to want to see names of streets, neighborhoods, statues of big local heroes (maybe). In the 12 hours I will be there, I want to get a chance to know what kind of place Saint Louie is. At least enough to do…

A bit of plotting and character collecting

The next part of the story takes place in Missouri, but I’m not quite sure what the next turn in the plot would be. I’m the kind who writes as the characters tell me to write so doing some plotting, if only mentally, could help when I finally sit down and write this thing.

I also want to do a bit of people watching. What are Missourians like? Do they talk slow? Are there certain phrases they use? How would a southern girl do in a midwest city?

Checking my scenes

Some of the scenes I’ve already written happen on a train. Since I’ll be on one, I want to make sure my descriptions are dead on. The sway of the trains. The sound of the rails. The smell of the food from the food car. It’s been a bit since I’ve ridden on that train (and that line) so I’ll be double checking my work, sort of speak.

Getting ready for the next trip, maybe.

This is a short trip. Twelve hours! So, I’m going to have notes and questions that will need to be addressed. What I don’t find online and through pictures I’ll have to interview people to get. I’m one who likes to conduct interviews in person. So if it looks like I’ll have to interview half a dozen people or more, I’ll ride the train back and spend more time in the city.

How am I going to do this, collect all this information? I’m going to take pictures. Lots. Notes, of course. But also I’m be paying attention to my natural reactions to things. This is very much me becoming my character and discovering the city at the same time she is.

You can follow me on Twitter or Google+ as I go through this adventure, I’m sure I’ll have tons to say. I’ll also post stuff on my Pinterest board after awhile.

Have you been on a research trip for your writing? How did you handle it?

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How to put together a writing bucket list

Special thanks to Moyan Brenn for use of this image.

This is a just a morbid thing for me to write about but, hey, I’ve reported on mayhem so I can deal.

I have a writing bucket list. Yes, a list of things I want to write before I kick the bucket.

This thought comes after hearing several of my favorite writers express the same thought — “I have too many ideas to write down.”

I also have too many ideas and so many that I want to execute but I know that I have to focus on one project at a time. Focus is something I’m working on not only in my writing but in my life. So, I put that project idea on the shelf and kind of keep there until whenever.

Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite the bucket list. Some are just huge goals that a younger me was crazy about, aiming for the moon (I wanted to win a Pultizer) and others I have already done and had to remind myself I had done them (reporting from a foreign country).

So, now, at the mature age of mid-30s, I put together a new writing bucket list, goals really, that I have for myself.

1.) Write a mystery series

Did you know I cut my fiction teeth on the mystery genre? I did. I was the weird kid reading Edgar Allen Poe. In east Harris County in the 80s, there were no bookstores so I would buy books when mom and I went to the Fiesta Mart. At the grocery store they sold those little thick books, adaptations of the great novels. I loved reading Cask of Amontillo. Soon, I’d move up to more contemporary novels for children like Nancy Drew and the Boxcar Children mysteries. Encyclopedia Brown was a favorite. But it was Joan Lowery Nixon’s “Whispers from the Dead” that sold the genre to me.

Now, I write as many kinds of things as I can — articles, commentary, essay, literary fiction, short stories, some non-fiction, etc. However, I’ve recently come full circle and am seriously considering some options. (Details on this later.)

2.) Write an epic love story

I’ve written about this before. I would love to write a love story in the category of Love in the Time of Cholera and Anna Karenina. Tragic. Beautiful. Emotion stealing. Epic love stories told beautifully, I believe, are crafted by true artists. I’m not there yet but hopefully I will be one day!

3.) Write a t.v. script

I’ve written spec scripts before just for the challenge and I loved the process! Again, it was just me and my idea so knowing that writing scripts is a bit of a team sport, (by team I mean there’s a room of writers thinking about things) is intriguing.

4.) Finally have a space for my writing

How jealous I am of writers who have their own space for writing? Ridiculously jealous. Robert Olen Butler and Isabel Allende have shared pictures of their writing spaces. It’s like looking into the inner sanctum of genius. Just them and their world.

I have a space where I do my writing. It’s called the corner of my living room. For now, it will do.

5.) Write for Texas Monthly, the Atlantic, and Vanity Fair

This should really read: get really good at non-fiction storytelling. I LOVE narrative writing — reading and writing it. I love the idea of reporting on a story for a longer period of time and getting down to the meat of it. The challenge of telling the story, after reporting and research, is lovely even though in the thick of it I want to pull out my hair. But at the end, when it goes through the process, it is art. These three magazines I love and have always wanted to write for them.

One day.

6.) Become a columnist

I’ve done this before but not as a full time gig. It’s always been a reporter who writes an occasional column, which is fine but column writing is something I want to work on doing well. Crafting an argument and considering from all sides really is takes some time.

I’ve written commentary for The Guardian and for the Huffington Post now and I’ve enjoyed it each time I’ve done it. I want to do more of that here in the future.

7.) Write the great American novel

Everyone wants to do this, however, I’m amending this. I want to write MY great American novel. There is no one definition of being American, just the overall feeling of can-do and patriotism. My American story is different than others but it deserves to be heard. It should be part of the tapestry and will be one day.

So what are your goal for your writing? Do you have a writing bucket list?

The NaNoWriMo prep. Yes, it’s that time of year

Oh, it’s October and it’s getting closer to Halloween and the temperatures are getting cooler. (Unless you live in Louisiana. In that case it’s still summer.)

For most writers, that means it’s time to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Don’t know what that is? Where have you been! This is the superbowl for writers…kinda…well, it is for me.

Last year, I decided to write a novel in a month TWO days before the month started. Next thing I know, come Nov. 30th, I’m printing out my certificate and doing the I won dance in the middle of my office.

This year, I already know that I’m not participating. I just have too much on my plate this year. I was asked by the Shreveport Writer’s Club to put together a presentation for next month’s meeting on NaNoWriMo and perhaps some tips.

The key to winning this thing, or how I won, came down to some basic things. Four basic things. Below are four more.

1.) Scrivener is amazing. Use it.

Download this software! Scrivener. This software housed my outline, what little background/research I did, and pushed out my manuscript to PDF already formatted.

It also allowed me to write my story in scenes.

Humans are already pre-programmed to write in order– first, second, third–and that’s how we typically tell stories. What helped me last year is that I didn’t write my story in order. That’s why I found Scrivener so helpful. Because it sectioned it off, I can just start a new section for a scene. I can move around scenes in the order I want them to be by just dragging and dropping. So I never worried about what happens next, I could just write the scenes that I knew needed to happen and then focus on the in between parts, which became all the more interesting.

It’s $40 and it’s 100 percent worth it. I’m a huge fan!

2.) Use a spreadsheet.

This is the one I used last year. This is how I kept up with my word count. I would take my count from Scrivener and put it in the spreadsheet which told me how many words I had left, the percentage completed and (here’s the best part) based on my pace, when I was expected to have the novel done.

There are other spreadsheets out there but this one was by far my favorite.

3.) Don’t do it alone.

You gotta have a posse for this, if only to keep you accountable. I found that connecting with my local region and going to write-ins was helpful. I would talk things about with people and participate in writing sprints. For me, the writing sprints were so helpful. In a 15 minute stretch we would challenge ourselves to see who could write the most words. A couple of those sprints and you could easily get 1,000 or more words in a session.

Don’t just limit yourself to your local group, use social media. Last year, folks used Google Plus and Twitter to host writing sprints. Those could also be helpful if you needed a jolt of words.

4.) When you do win, you get one of these. You should plaster it EVERYWHERE.

When I finally did win, I was tired, hungry, and so happy. I had a sense of accomplishment and a certificate that probably cost about 9 cents but in my eyes, it was worth a million bucks. I will forever know what it’s like to put my mind to something and accomplish it, no matter how crazy it is. And I also have a manuscript to work on should I chose to work on it.

Want more tips? Here’s my NaNoWriMo toolbox.

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Did you win last year?

Take a step back to move forward

Sometimes, you need to take a step backward to go forward.

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a post. It’s not because I’ve run out what to say (that rarely happens). It’s because I needed to concentrate on a few things.

Yes, even I get overwhelmed.

One thing that I’m learning as a writer is that sometimes you have to slow down and concentrate on one thing to make it really great. I got this advice most recently from Francesca Escoto, who is my life/business coach. And she was right in so many ways.

Now that I’ve taken some time, I’m back to blogging. Here’s what I’ve been concentrating on.

Huffington Post

I went viral, y’all. Yes, my last post was picked up by Huffington Post Latino Voices and went everywhere. So many people commented on it on this site, on theirs, and on social media. It was an amazing thing to see people reacting to me work. That’s what’s so exciting about the interwebs and social media. Something like a blog post can be reacted to instantly and can be read by so many people. As a result, you grow your audience and your influence and as a writer this is nothing but a good thing.

I hope to write another post for them soon and write something else for the Guardian, which gave me a start in writing commentary. I love writing for them and the CommentisFree editors rock!

Fiction Classes

This is where most of my time went. I promoted and started my online fiction writing classes. The goal, as you know, is to start a writing community and I think this is happening! I’ve got two classes going right now and there is interest starting to build for the next round of classes starting in January.

They are seven week classes and we not only cover the basics but we also workshop pieces and really focus on who we are as writers. It’s a great time and in my class, which I do through Google Hangout, we have everything from published authors to those who have a story in their head and need to figure out how to put it on the page. I love teaching this class. Consider joining us in January.

Speaking

Can you believe I have two speaking gigs coming up? It makes me smile just thinking about it.

First, I’m speaking with a group of students at Full Sail University about how to create and manage their artist platform with a heavy emphasis on social media. Essentially, I’m teaching people just about everything I know. I’m up to 40 slides into my presentation and I know I’m forgetting some things. I know something will come up during our discussions and questions will come up.

Secondly, I’m talking with the Shreveport Writer’s Club next month about NaNoWriMo (which sadly I’m not doing this year). I won that sucker last year and it was a blast so I’m excited to teach folks how I was able to do that and still remain relatively sane. Relatively. Well, I have the t-shirt that proves it.

Writing

Yes, I know. What about the writing? It’s coming along and in a big way. By stepping back, I was able to return to a short story I’d been working on that just seemed a bit off. Finally, it’s starting to take shape and the character’s voice is coming through. The subject is a bit taboo and it’s definitely darker than what I’m use to writing. However, it’s exciting that I’m naturally challenging myself to try something a bit different. I hope to write more about the taboo subject soon — I ‘m still getting my head around it.

And I have gotten some reading done! Yes! As you know, there is no writing unless there is reading. You can check out what I have planned to read and what I’m currently reading on my Goodreads site. Right now, it’s some Raymond Chandler.

How has your writing been going? Have you ever taken a step back to move forward?

An open letter to Jakiyah McKoy and the little black Latinas

Note: This open letter is in response to the backlash of a little afro latina girl winning a pageant. The pageant was for Miss Little Hispanic Delaware. The reason for the backlash? She’s black. Here’s more about this story.

Dear Jakiyah,

Congratulations on winning Little Miss Hispanic Delaware! Despite what came after your win, know that you are a winner and no one can take that from you.

I’m writing you this letter because I am also an Afro Latina. That’s what we’re called because part of our roots come from Africa. We have darker skin and courser hair than our other friends. But this stuff you already know because I know, even without meeting you, that you are brilliant.

So, let me tell you something you don’t know, something that is going to be hard to understand for someone so young. My love, this will happen to you over and over again in different ways and sometimes by the people who claim to be Latino/a themselves.

I know. We are all Latinos and come from places that speak Spanish, eat delicious food, and have a zest for living that few other cultures have. I understand that perhaps one of your other friends is also Latina. She may have lighter skin and doesn’t have to straighten her hair with chemicals. You both share the same culture, but in this world, she will always be seen as beautiful and you will be seen as exotic. Some will call you ugly.

This is what happens when people label and expect people to be a certain way. When you are different, and different in a way that insults people’s perceptions, you are the last person in the world they want to acknowledge. They want you to not exist. They fail to see the beauty in life and chose to see it with boundaries.

And some of this will come from the people you love the most, your own Latino community. And it will hurt. This is an issue that few people talk about much less try to correct. Look at the publications and television networks that represent us. You are hardly there and if you are, you are never the lead or front and center.

But don’t lose heart, lovely. There is change coming. As Latinos grow and become more educated in this country, this idea of the typical Latina — what she looks like, where she’s from — is becoming more accurate. There are women like Soledad O’Brien, Ilda Calderon, and Concha Bukia who are changing the world just by their existence. They are undeniable forces for good and they are cracking ceilings and busting doors so that one day, the thing that happened to you and to me and other dark girls with pelos necios, doesn’t happen anymore.

I want to say that those changes will be quick and that in one year things will be as they should. They aren’t but changes are happening and that is important to understand. Changes are happening. They. Are. Happening.

And there are Latinos out there who understand. And they know. And they get it. They are out there, lovely. Find them. Join with them. Exist in that world because they will be there to hold you up when things happen.

So, how do you deal with things when things happen. (And we both know what those things are.) Handle them like the princess you are, nena. With grace and strength. Don’t take no for an answer but don’t get loud and crazy in front of them , that’s what they expect. You must be better than you are and better than what people expect you to be.

At this point you may think that this color is a burden. Not at all. This is a gift, your super power, your secret weapon. Because you will know what it’s like to be different and discriminated against, you will be able to recognize it when it happens to someone else. You’ll be able to lift them up as I am doing with you. And then they will pay it back with someone else and so on and so on. This super power means you have the potential to stop this ugliness just by being you. If that is not a gift, I don’t know what is.

Jakiyah, I want to leave you with this. You will have an amazing life. There is more beauty in the world than there is ugliness. Just follow what is true and good in this world and things will work out. It may not be an easy journey but, as you already know, that doesn’t make it any less worth the trip.

Be well. Be incredible,

Icess

Words from Alice Walker

Never doubt the importance of your writing voice.

“If you deny people a voice, their own voice, you will never know who they were. And so they will be erased.”

— Alice Walker.

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