Storytelling, to me, is one of the most powerful healing modalities in the world. If you love to read, or listen to people’s stories, if your elders/ancestors have passed stories down to you, you know what I’m talking about.

Do you dream of telling your own stories? What are the stories that sit in your mind and your heart? Do you only dream of them or do you write them down? Do you lack the discipline to complete a story, are seeking heart-centered nurturing and encouragement on top of the actual writing/editing/submission process? Do you dream of having a literary agent and not going the self-publishing route, but too many people in your life tell you how difficult it is to be a successful writer?

Here’s the truth: no one can guarantee your success as a writer. No one can guarantee mine either. But writing isn’t just about success––it’s healing. It’s alchemizing. It’s powerful.

You write for yourself first. You create, period, for yourself first. Your creative health matters. Your stories matter. And what you want to create is waiting to be birthed through you.

Here’s where I come in: Yes, you’re a writer. But maybe you don’t have the access to an MFA program. Maybe you don’t thrive in a classroom at all. Maybe you’ve been sitting on a manuscript that is gathering dust and needs a fresh set of eyes.

Here’s the thing. A lot of writers either feel that it will never happen, that they have to do everything on their own, or that they won’t ever get published. Most people believe that no one will ever want to read their story. I’ve struggled with this feeling too and I won’t pretend that I have every answer to every problem. That’s scarcity marketing and that’s not who I am.

So, who are you?

I am a writer, like you, on my publishing journey. I have big dreams and big goals. I have my Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, I had a quick stint as a literary agent’s assistant, I briefly interned at EBONY Magazine under the Digital Senior Editor at the time, I got my “dream job” at a publishing company and was let go because of budget cuts, and I’ve worked at a book store hosting author events––connecting with authors, editors, publishers, and agents. I’ve self-published two collections of poetry that I don’t encourage you to read, and I ran my own online literary magazine, publishing over 100 writers and managing over 20 writers/editors on my team (or as we called it, in the coven). I’ve been around, to say the least. I’ve also worked the Target fitting room, been a server, spun crepes, made smoothies and lattes, taught 3rd graders as a teacher’s assistant with a huge non-profit, you name it. Writers can fall into the trap of being a jack of all trades when all we really want is to master a story (or more!)