Nik Nicholson's Blog, page 24
June 12, 2014
On Maya Angelou
Initially, I was really angry at the Schomburg for doing such a small display and advertising it as if they’d done Maya Angelou’s life and work justice. There were three pieces of paper behind a glass. There was a picture of her that looked like they’d printed it off of a website. There was a book, from the library system with all the markings of being process… There was no more information than I could have Googled. I was really disappointed with the Schomburg, and that was one more strike against it.
A jewel had left us and they’d thrown together her farewell honor. I felt she she deserved more, but then again, could any presentation capture and reflect her? Could any presentation soothe or even touch the absence of her walking among us?
Now that I am reflecting on the words in those letters between Angelou and Malcolm X or her and James Baldwin… I am grateful for those three pieces of paper… Maybe nothing would have been enough and in accepting that I can appreciate what was, what is… I have reflected on those letters and words so often since reading them, for me, maybe they were enough.
June 10, 2014
Praying Over Poems
I’m compiling my first poetry book, or so I thought. I’m all over the place. I can’t decide if I want to publish a book of poems written over the years, or write and release all new poems, from where I’ve arrived as an artist and poet. So I’ve been praying over the idea of releasing a poetry book. I’m praying that this is the right time and these are the right words. I am praying over it’s purpose and my purpose. I am praying I hear my spirit clearly. I am also praying for the time, space and patience to write what I feel or hear…
I am frustrated. I am frustrated that I’m tired so often. It seems there are a million little survival things required of me…washing dishes, cleaning, eating, working and I should be working out too. Writing seems to be a luxury. Even this blog, I’m writing with a headache and nausea… I miss Linny, Coley, 1914 and sitting in the silence of my thoughts weaving a story.
Every day I’ve been telling myself, “Tomorrow.” But then tomorrow comes and there are other things that need to be done. Writing doesn’t need me the way my job, girlfriend and friends do. Writing doesn’t call or text me at all times of the day asking me to give it something or to do something… It’s just, like a nagging guilt, and I have so much guilt over other things it’s often drowned.
I’m praying for an opportunity to be still… and project my light.
June 9, 2014
“Nathan Burgoine’s First Lammy’s – his blog post about attending the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
It’s interesting to read other writers feelings. I attended my first Lammy award this year as well.
Originally posted on Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing:
‘Nathan Burgoine was previously featured on my other blog, Reading Recommendations, just a week ago on May 30, 2014. I discovered after posting this that his first novel, Light, had been nominated for a LAMBDA Award and he would be attending the awards ceremony in New Youk City held this past Monday evening. ‘Nathan has written a blog post of his own about this experience, and what he says about the sense of community and belonging to a group really hit a chord with me.
From ‘Nathan’s blog:
@NathanBurgoine: Because the majority of the time we’re not born to LGBT families,
and often have to go find our own. Stories can be maps. #OutWriters
When I arrived in New York for my first ever Lambda Literary Awards, I was nervous. I was actually a little surprised I was nervous, but there it was. After so many years of…
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June 8, 2014
Black Man PROVES Adam and Eve Biblical Story is a LIE : His DNA Dates Back 338 THOUSAND YEARS!
I not only appreciated this post, but I also loved the comments.
Originally posted on The MadMan Chronicles:
in today’s good news…
Editor’s note: This man is NOT the SC man described in the story. We use it as a visual to show you an example of the original man. #Who’sYourDaddy?
As a child, the story of Adam and Eve always perplexed me.. even to my childlike sensibilities I knew it did not make any logical sense AT ALL. Countless debates and sometimes fights were had around the dinner table, as I sought to bring logic to my family who had an illogical belief in what seemed to be a completely absurd story (along with santa claus, the easter bunny, the tooth fairy and everything else fantastical) that they based their lives (and the oppression of women) around.
So imagine my vindication when I found this article about a Black man in South Carolina whose DNA is traced back 338 thousand years…
so now creationists have quite a…
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May 27, 2014
AUTHORS: Four Ways Fictional Romance Sometimes Reads False
Originally posted on Creative Writing with the Crimson League:
Writing a sweet, romantic moment is probably one of the hardest things to do in fiction. Seriously. I can’t claim to excel at that kind of scene, and that’s why in my novels love stories take a bit of a backseat and become subplots (excepting perhaps “The Magic Council.” But I consider that one even more of a coming of age tale than an out-and-out love story.)
However, I have recognized through some failed “sweet” (read “sickly sweet”) romantic moments I tried to write in my unpublished novels that when my tender moments go wrong, it tends to be for one of a limited set of reasons. I’d like to share those just for reference and to ask if you’ve found this same thing happening in your writing.
When romance feels off, somehow in my writing:
Things are too cliche.
We’re talking knight in shining armor, “You had me from…
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The Top Seven Qualities All Writers Have
Originally posted on Creative Writing with the Crimson League:
One of my favorite things to say is that writing fiction is hard, and writing good fiction is that much harder. It takes a LOT out of you, demands a lot from you, and causes you all kinds of trouble.
Still, it’s worth it. I would never tell someone who has doubts about writing, or is wondering whether he or she should write, not to try. That’s because, regardless of what you do with you work, writing will teach you that you have these qualities. If you don’t have them, you’ll develop them.
1. ADVENTUROUSNESS.
That is, an ability to take risks and try new things. Perhaps this isn’t true of all writer, but if I waited to start writing a novel until I had all the kinks worked out and I felt comfortable with the story–if I waited until I felt “ready” to write–I’d never write at all.
A…
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Call for Submissions: JMS Books & Queerteen Press
JMS Books LLC is a small press specializing in LGBT romance ranging from sweet to erotic. We have over 120 authors publishing with us and our YA imprint, Queerteen Press. We release 4 e-books a week and 6 print books a month. We are currently open to submissions, and are particularly interested in stories that fit our specific subs calls listed below.
All submissions must follow our guidelines, listed below. Visit here for general submission guidelines. We pay 50% net royalties on sales through all distribution channels. Our contracts are for an initial period of 2 years. A sample contract is available upon request.
We accept reprints and previously published content (including self-published stories) on a case-by-case basis. If your publisher has recently closed or returned your rights to you, feel free to submit your story to us! We do not consider multiple or simultaneous submissions.
*** GENERAL GUIDELINES:
* We only accept Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender fiction
* Menage stories are fine, but we prefer MMF, MFM, MMM, or FFF.
* Stories must be between 10,000 and 90,000 words
* Stories MUST contain a romance
* Stories may contain any level of erotic content
* Stories may be any subgenre (contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, etc)
*** SPECIFIC SUBS CALLS (JMS BOOKS adult titles only):
* Summer love/vacation romance — Deadline May 31, 2014
* Single LGBT parents finding romance — Deadline July 31, 2014
* Halloween/paranormal — Deadline August 31, 2014
*Christmas/Yule/Hanukkah/winter holiday — Deadline October 31, 2014
* New Year’s — Deadline November 30, 2014
* Valentine’s Day — Deadline December 31, 2014
*** SPECIFIC SUBS CALLS (QUEERTEEN PRESS young adult titles only):
* Back to School — Deadline May 31, 2014
* Christmas/Yule/Hanukkah/winter holiday — Deadline August 31, 2014
* New Year’s — Deadline September 30, 2014
* Valentine’s Day — Deadline October 31, 2014
*** TO SUBMIT: Send the first 2,000 words and a full synopsis to submissions@jms-books.com with “Submission” and the title of your story in the subject line. In your e-mail, mention which submissions call you’re responding to (if any). If you are just sending a general sub, indicate that, too. We will respond to your email in less than 2 business days. If we like the story and request the full manuscript, our turnaround time is less than 1 week.
*** Questions can be directed to submissions@jms-books.com.
For more information about the submissions or the company go to
http://www.jms-books.com/index.php?main_page=page_2
Call for Submissions: Nepantla
About Us
Nepantla is a new poetry e-journal, dedicated to Queer Poets of Color, being curated by Christopher Soto in collaboration with The Lambda Literary Foundation. The mission of Nepantla is to nurture, celebrate, and preserve diversity within the queer poetry community. The journal will be a groundbreaking collection of some the best poetry from the QPOC community.
To Submit Your Work
As a journal, Nepantla is interested in poetry of concise language, high sensory imagery, and syntactic leaps. Nepantla is NOT interested in poetry that puts rhetoric before craft, or exoticizes/fetishizes the lives of Queer People of Color.
Lastly, dearest submitters, please recognize Nepantla as an intentional community space, so please only consider submitting to Nepantla if you self-identify as a queer poet of color. Send your bio and up to five pages of poetry to soto@lambdaliterary.org. No multiple submissions, please. A $25.00 honorarium will be offered to poets published in Nepantla. Submission deadline is August 1, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/writers/subs/05/06/call-for-submissions-nepantla/#more-32318
Call for Submissions: Skin to Skin
Skin to Skin is a coffee table magazine for women of the LGBTQ community. The publication mixes poetry, prose, essays, and fiction/nonfiction with the artistry of the female art form. It is a platform that promotes unity, freedom of expression and the sharing of ideas. Submissions are now open for Issue 06 until August 1, 2014. Poetry: You may send up to 4 pieces in one Word document.
Prose/Essays/Fiction/Non-Fiction: No more than 2 prose / essays; not exceeding 2000 words. Illustrations, Artwork, and Photographs: You may send up to five art pieces in black-and-white and/or color format. Please include captions or brief descriptions. All forms of art welcomed. Visit here for more information on submitting your work. – See more at: http://s2skin.com/
May 7, 2014
Sh*t Upwardly Mobile Black People Say: Part II
This made me smile. Is there any sound to the pics?
Originally posted on When I Feel Compelled:
In 2012, I did a blog called “
Sh*t Upwardly Mobile Black People Say
”… it was around the time of “Sh*t Black Girls Say”, but before “Sh*t Bougie Black Folks Say” (if only I had a camera).
I realized people that I know say all the same stuff and wrote about it. After a full year, I realize that this list is incomplete… and may need to be updated every year. Then I got lazy and realized maybe every two years. “Wrote a blog bout it. Like to hear it, here it goes”
Here is part two:
“I’m so over…”
Nothing makes upwardly mobile Black people happier than telling someone that they have outgrown a situation, a person, a TV show, etc. It’s like saying “This is here…and I am so beyond this”… actually, “I’m beyond” is the cousin of “I’m so over”. If you were really over it…
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