Reed, Write, and Create

On episode 5 of the Read, Write and Create podcast, get ready for an epic battle between two literary lions, Mark Twain and Toni Morrison. The battle is over whether writers should write what they know, or write what fascinates them. Mark Twain said, “write what you know.” Toni Morrison said, “please do NOT write what you know.” So who was right? And what useful writing advice can all storytellers take from these two literary legends on this topic? The answers may surprise you, so listen up and take notes. This is a pep-talk and lesson you don’t want to miss. 

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If you crave more words of advice from Saint Toni Morrison on writing, you can find a list of Toni Morrison's best quotes for writers on this post from the Read Write and Create blog.

To get a taste of what it takes to research a novel about a topic you “don’t know,” check out this inspiring interview I did with author Lauren Francis Sharma and hear her fascinating journey writing The Book of the Little Axe. 

You can buy a copy of Book of the Little Axe from the Read Write and Create Bookshop and support this podcast, Lauren Francis Sharma, and independent bookstores everywhere!

And if you want to read a book from an author who successfully 'wrote what she knew' in a novel that did so well it was turned into a popular film, then check out Terry McMillan’s, How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It’s a classic. 

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BIPOC writers, please follow me on Instagram so you can leave me a DM if you’d be interested in participating in a writing retreat with me in the south of Spain later this year. I’m in the planning process now and would love to hear what kind of writing you'd like to do with me in sunny Spain. Gracias!

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

Don’t forget to rate and review this podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you!

On today’s episode of the podcast, I’m sharing a pep talk about perseverance.  The truth is, perseverance is the most important habit, or superpower, a writer must have, even more than talent. You can be the most talented writer in the room, but if you can’t figure out how to keep writing in the face of hardship and adversity, then you’re not going to succeed in this game. 

To help explain the importance of perseverance in a literary life, I’m sharing the incredible true story of how Ms. Octavia Estelle Butler went from being a poor, young, Black girl with a dream, to a multiple-award-winning literary superstar.  More than just a celebrated science-fiction writer though, Octavia Butler’s career is a master class in perseverance and what it can get you.

Listen in to hear the extraordinary story behind Octavia Butler’s success as a Black woman writer in a white-male dominated field. Be inspired by her unwavering perseverance. And get actionable ideas to incorporate into your own writing practice to help you stay writing even when life gets in the way. 

Links from the Show.

Watch Ta-Nehiesi Coates’ short but inspiring video on the importance of perseverance in a writing career. 

If you’re looking for a beautiful book about Octavia Butler’s early years, consider  Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi. Technically it is a middle-grade book, but it is so gorgeous and brings Butler to life through poetry, prose and photographs. If not for yourself, consider getting it for a young person in your life.

Please follow me on Instagram so you can leave me a DM if participating in a writing retreat in the South of Spain with me, sounds like fun. There's no obligation if you send a DM, I'm just in the planning process and would like to hear what sounds good to prospective attendees. Let me know what you'd like in a creative writing retreat for BIPOC writers. Gracias!

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter  so you can be the first to know when I'll be hosting my workshops, classes and retreats. 

Don't forget to leave a rating or a review of the RWC podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to listen. Thank you!

On episode #3 of the podcast, the incredible Tracey Lewis-Giggetts joins me to talk about her literary life and experiences as an African-American writer and author of over 20 books!  Tracey writes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and screenplays.  Her two most recent books are Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration and Then They Came For Mine: Healing from the Trauma of Racial Violence. Tracey also works as a ghostwriter and has penned best-selling memoirs for several public figures and celebrities including, Tabitha Brown and Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated Five.

On the show, I’m interviewing Tracey to ask her all about the lessons learned on her literary journey, including how she started, and how she managed to build and sustain a career that has spanned more than 20 years. Tracey has so much wisdom to share – 

• from how she keeps going in the face of rejection, 
• to how she managed to quit her job in academia to write full time
• to why it’s okay to write in more than one genre. 

Most importantly, Tracey talks about how and why she is so prolific, why she makes no apology for centering her stories around Black people and Black culture, and why it is so important to stay ready so you can be ready when opportunities arise.

Tracey drops some real gems, tips, tricks and actionable advice for writers at all stages of their journey. I hope you find her words inspiring for your own writing practice.

To learn more about Tracey, please visit her website.

To get a copy of her book, Black Joy, which was recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award, consider purchasing it from the Read Write and Create bookstore. 

Tracey mentioned the following useful resources for writers:

The Hurston Wright Foundation is an excellent resource for Black writers.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a book for writers about writing that Tracey recommends. 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

Don't forget to share this episode with other BIPOC writers who might need a creative pep-talk!

On episode number two of the Read, Write and Create Podcast,  I give BIPOC writers their marching orders for their literary lives I explain why the world needs writers of BIPOC heritage to pick up their pens and write their stories; why we have to write like our lives depend on it; and why we have to write for ourselves.  For inspiration and edification, I’m using the literary life and times of Zora Neale Hurston to help make my case. 

In the episode I will be sharing:

• The grim statistics about the lack of diversity in the books published by mainstream publishers.

• Why books are powerful weapons in the fight against white supremacy and oppression.

• Who needs more books by and about BIPOC people and why.

• Why should we look at the courage and conviction of Zora Neale Hurston when searching for a role model for our writing lives as BIPOC writers. 

• What lessons Zora Neale Hurston can teach us about centering Black lives in our work.

Links from the Show

If you haven’t listened to the first episode of the show, where I coach writers on how to find the  time to write and talk about the life and times of Phillis Wheatley, do yourself a favor and have a listen. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the incredible and inspiring life of Zora Neale Hurston, I highly recommend reading Valerie Boyd’s masterful biography of Zora, titled, Wrapped In Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. 

Also, earlier this month, PBS released a new documentary about Zora Neale Hurston called Zora Neale Hurston Claiming A Space. Check PBS.com to find air times in your city.

The Read Write and Create Podcast is produced by Lori L. Tharps.

Our editor is Brad Linder 

And our theme music is by Wataboi.

Be sure to subscribe to the show on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Audible podcasts, so you won’t miss a single episode. 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

Don't forget to keep writing.

On episode number two of the Read, Write and Create Podcast,  I give BIPOC writers their marching orders for their literary lives I explain why the world needs writers of BIPOC heritage to pick up their pens and write their stories; why we have to write like our lives depend on it; and why we have to write for ourselves.  For inspiration and edification, I’m using the literary life and times of Zora Neale Hurston to help make my case. 

In the episode I will be sharing:

• The grim statistics about the lack of diversity in the books published by mainstream publishers.

• Why books are powerful weapons in the fight against white supremacy and oppression.

• Who needs more books by and about BIPOC people and why.

• Why should we look at the courage and conviction of Zora Neale Hurston when searching for a role model for our writing lives as BIPOC writers. 

• What lessons Zora Neale Hurston can teach us about centering Black lives in our work.

Links from the Show

If you haven’t listened to the first episode of the show, where I coach writers on how to find the  time to write and talk about the life and times of Phillis Wheatley, do yourself a favor and have a listen. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the incredible and inspiring life of Zora Neale Hurston, I highly recommend reading Valerie Boyd’s masterful biography of Zora, titled, Wrapped In Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. 

Also, earlier this month, PBS released a new documentary about Zora Neale Hurston called Zora Neale Hurston Claiming A Space. Check PBS.com to find air times in your city.

The Read Write and Create Podcast is produced by Lori L. Tharps.

Our editor is Brad Linder 

And our theme music is by Wataboi.

Be sure to subscribe to the show on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Audible podcasts, so you won’t miss a single episode. 

If you’re looking for more creative writing inspiration, writing prompts and useful resources for your literary life, be sure to check out all of the amazing content on ReadWriteandCreate.com. While you’re there, you can also sign up for the Read, Write and Create bimonthly newsletter.

Don't forget to keep writing.

This is the very first episode of the Read, Write, and Create podcast! 

Each episode of the show will include a pep-talk for BIPOC creative writers, inspired by the lives of our literary foremothers and forefathers of color. These pep talks will be short, sweet, and to the point, so you can get off the couch and back to your desk, writing the masterpiece you were meant to write. 

On this first episode of the Read, Write and Create podcast, host Lori L. Tharps tackles an issue that vexes almost every writer: “How do I find the time to write?” Tune in to hear how Lori uses the inspiring life and times of poet and author, Phillis Wheatley to answer that critical question. 

If you want to learn more about the life and writings of Phillis Wheatley, a woman whose story deserves a million more podcast episodes, please check out the following books by BIPOC authors:

The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

The Trials of Phillis Wheatley: America's First Black Poet and Her Encounters with the Founding Fathers by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

Phillis Wheatley: Complete Writings by Phillis Wheatley

If you’re looking for more inspiration, resources and advice for your writing life, check out the Read, Write and Create blog at ReadWriteandCreate.com. Follow Lori L. Tharps on Instagram @LoriLTharps, and/or check out our selection of books on writing at the Read, Write and Create independent online bookstore.

The Read, Write, and Create podcast is a biweekly podcast for BIPOC writers. New episodes are released every other Monday. 

The show is hosted and produced  by author, journalist, and creative writing coach, Lori L. Tharps. 

The show is edited by Brad Linder. 

Our theme music is by Wataboi.

This is the very first episode of the Read, Write, and Create podcast! 

Each episode of the show will include a pep-talk for BIPOC creative writers, inspired by the lives of our literary foremothers and forefathers of color. These pep talks will be short, sweet, and to the point, so you can get off the couch and back to your desk, writing the masterpiece you were meant to write. 

On this first episode of the Read, Write and Create podcast, host Lori L. Tharps tackles an issue that vexes almost every writer: “How do I find the time to write?” Tune in to hear how Lori uses the inspiring life and times of poet and author, Phillis Wheatley to answer that critical question. 

If you want to learn more about the life and writings of Phillis Wheatley, a woman whose story deserves a million more podcast episodes, please check out the following books by BIPOC authors:

The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

The Trials of Phillis Wheatley: America's First Black Poet and Her Encounters with the Founding Fathers by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

Phillis Wheatley: Complete Writings by Phillis Wheatley

If you’re looking for more inspiration, resources and advice for your writing life, check out the Read, Write and Create blog at ReadWriteandCreate.com. Follow Lori L. Tharps on Instagram @LoriLTharps, and/or check out our selection of books on writing at the Read, Write and Create independent online bookstore.

The Read, Write, and Create podcast is a biweekly podcast for BIPOC writers. New episodes are released every other Monday. 

The show is hosted and produced  by author, journalist, and creative writing coach, Lori L. Tharps. 

The show is edited by Brad Linder. 

Our theme music is by Wataboi.

It's been a while since a new episode of the MAMP podcast dropped, and sadly there won't be anymore new episodes.

However, I am launching a brand new, bimonthly podcast called Read, Write & Create and on this short little episode, I'm going to tell you all about it. Think bite-sized creative pep talks for BIPOC writers.

The new podcast officially launches in January 2023 and I hope if it sounds like something you need in your life, you'll tune in and subscribe. Until then, Write On!

This is the final episode of season six of the podcast and it’s going to be a short one. I have a few important announcements about the future of the show to share, some personal updates, and of course, some multicultural book news.

One of the big announcements I'll be sharing is that I am launching a new podcast called, Meltingpot Stories. Yes, the podcast that will be all about multicultural books.

Please follow me on IG @LoriLTharps and visit the My American Meltingpot website to know when the new show will officially launch. 

Thank you all for listening. I appreciate you!

This is the final episode of season six of the podcast and it’s going to be a short one. I have a few important announcements about the future of the show to share, some personal updates, and of course, some multicultural book news.

One of the big announcements I'll be sharing is that I am launching a new podcast called, Meltingpot Stories. Yes, the podcast that will be all about multicultural books.

Please follow me on IG @LoriLTharps and visit the My American Meltingpot website to know when the new show will officially launch. 

Thank you all for listening. I appreciate you!