The Full Time Writer Struggle Is Real
I am a writer in progress. And for all the writers in the room, so are you. But what flavor of progress are you? An affirmation.
I am a writer in progress. Yes, even though I am a published author, I consider myself to be still, and always, in progress. Still and always becoming. In writing, and in every way.
A few weeks ago (just before my laptop crashed), I attended an awesome writing workshop called ‘Plotter vs. Pantser’ with my writing community, The Open Book Company. Here are some of my personal reflections:
I am an intuitive writer, almost 100%. I’m a pantser who wants to be a plotter when I grow up. I’ve literally never written an outline for anything (and trust me, that was loads of fun for my writing coach and my editor when we were working on my 100 chapter book lol).
I don’t feel judgmental about the kind of writer I am. I feel validated knowing my writing style and habits, and I feel encouraged to grow as a writer by starting to learn and practice bringing more structure and technique to my writing, without compromising my unique writing style and voice.
I am an emotional writer who typically only wants to write about what I want to write about and that is usually dictated by what I am feeling. I have never done/completed a writing assignment that I can’t relate to or that doesn’t spark joy for me. I write like I have sex.
I typically write the best when I am angry or aroused lol. That explains why I’ve written so much political commentary over this past year.* But I’m so ready to get to writing that turns me on like romance, erotica, poetry, dystopian fiction, maybe even get into writing plays since I just had the honor, privilege and experience of having my book turned into an elevated stage reading in choreopoem, which taught me so much!
I am a go with the flow writer and I write when the inspiration hits me and ONLY when the inspiration hits me. I have a very hard time forcing myself to write. This means that I don’t do well at all with deadlines (working on it tho!) and fortunately I have found two magnificent editors/publications that allow for my fuckery of getting my writing to them literally whenever I’m in the mood. But if you’re reading this Jo and Lina, 2025 is the year that will change, I promise!
I kinda dig that my rough drafts are shitty.
I love that here on my Substack, I am my own editor and my own publisher. So I make it a practice to just write something and publish it without overthinking it too much. Writers have enough anxiety and self-doubt as it is so I treat my writing the way I want every editor I submit to treat my writing…PUBLISH IT!
I want to read as much as I write. I read 20 books this year and will read as much or more in 2025. Returning to my childhood love for reading that my mother instilled in me has looked like everything from listening to audiobooks (my absolute favorite way to engage with a book, especially when it’s read by the author!), to pulling random junior high books from a gifted collection that I received from an old lover that is filled with discarded library books from a local Costa Rican school that just so happen to include epic titles such as I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Beloved and Paradise by Toni Morrison, Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, and many more.
My heart is happiest when my home is full of books...and when I’m writing them.
The best lovers are readers and writers ;)
What Next
As I transition now into (em)bodying my new role as a FULL TIME WRITER (that’s how it sounds in my head when I say it, all caps for emphasis), I’m obsessed with reading and writing as much and as often as I can.
And I’m bringing my writing friends with me…
I’ve been hosting a small, private monthly writing circle for almost 2 years now. Very casual and chill. Just creating the little writing world that I want to live in with a few of my favorite humans who also love to write. I’ve taken a break for the past few months (to honor my hibernation, integration and reinvention space), but will resume in the New Year. My paid subscribers will be invited.
Currently I am a beta reader for a friend’s travel memoir, as I enjoy reading my friends’ manuscripts which I have done and written about a dozen endorsements over the past few years.
Sent this text to a friend last week, ‘I want to put together an anthology of short sex/hook up stories from different women. Light, fun, simple. Is this something you would be interested in doing/publishing with me?’ (proceeded to send her a short, light, fun hook up story of mine that I’ll share here soon)
I am currently working on my next book and the sequel to Are We Free Yet? The Black Queer Guide To Divorcing America. It will be out early next year as a digital ebook. I’ll be sharing some of the juiciest stories and lessons of these past 4 1/2 years of my solo polyamorous, pansexual adventures…from Jamaica to Costa Rica. Cuz you know, liberation is a celebration. Sneak peaks coming in January for my paid subscribers.
The newest love/lover of my life is also a writer, my newest muse, and he is everything. I will share more soon ;)
I am also currently planning to host my next writer’s retreat here in Costa Rica in Spring 2025. Here are a few pics from the writer’s retreat in Brooklyn that I hosted a few months ago with my dear friends Kim and Brooke.
Would love to hear any thoughts you have about your writing process. Encouragement and affirmation welcome! Even feel free to buy me a coconut water (cuz today is Day 27 of no coffee/caffeine for meeeee!!!)
*some of my (commissioned) political commentary from this year:
What Kind of Reader Are You?
At the top of this year, I decided that I HAD to have some juicy fiction in my life because that’s what I want to start writing, so that’s what I did, thrown in with a few other books that I was delighted to find.
If you are looking for holiday gifts, or for any occasion really, please consider purchasing books directly from my Bookshop …
it’s like dropping some change into my full time writer’s offering bucket.
Here are the books I read in 2024:
Now Is The Time to Open Your Heart: A Novel by Alice Walker
All The Black Girls Are Activists by EbonyJanice Moore (and I had no idea that I am mentioned in this book!! I fell to my knees as I was walking and listening to this audiobook and heard my name!!! A DREAM!!!)
The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt
Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World by Perdita Finn
The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing The Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans by Denise Alvarado (ongoing study as I am a direct descendant of Marie Laveau)
Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven’t Tried Yet by Meggan Watterson (ongoing study)
What It Takes To Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill
Someplace Generous: An Inclusive Romance Anthology edited by Elaina Ellis and Amber Flame
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Let me know if you’ve read any of these titles! And also tell me if you have any recommendations to share for the New Year!