Kern Carter's Blog, page 8
February 27, 2023
If My Dog Placed A Personals Ad, This Is What It Would Say
BBW seeking a partner who can appreciate a big-boned girl with a healthy appetite- for food, life, and fun.
February 26, 2023
February 25, 2023
February 24, 2023
You ready for tomorrow’s workshop?
Did you RSVP yet? Because if you’re thinking of writing a book or have already written one and want people to read it, I’m leading a workshop on book marketing. Specifically, the workshop is How To Market Your Book Without Social Media.
Our workshops are always free so RSVP here and come level up with me.
CRY
[image error]You ready for tomorrow’s workshop? was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
February 21, 2023
30 Affirmations To Help You Feel You Are Enough
There are days when you’re low on energy, you get sick, everything comes to a stop, and maybe, it feels like it’s all been for naught…
February 20, 2023
Call For Submissions — The Battle
I wrote my first book at eight years old. Know what the title was? You guessed it; The Battle.
Kind of fitting because I had to battle for so much of my life. It’s like I predicted my future struggle in that book title, a struggle that I’m glad is behind me.
But we all have struggled in some way. For this week’s writing prompt, tell us what your biggest battle is right now, or tell us the biggest battle you’ve overcome.
Same rules as always:You can submit to this or ANY of our past writing prompts. Just scroll through our previous newsletters. They’ll be marked “Call for Submissions.”If you’re already a writer for CRY, go ahead and submit.Be as creative as you want in your submissions. As long as you stick to the topic, we’ll consider it.Just because you submit doesn’t mean we’ll post. If you haven’t heard back from us in three days, consider that a pass.[image error]Call For Submissions — The Battle was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
February 18, 2023
It Started With a Kiss
Artwork by author (Agnes). Find more illustrations on my Instagram!It started with a kiss.
Not with two right swipes and a match notification.
Not with an awkward stop-and-start conversation.
Not with a half hug at the entrance of the bar.
It’s not that those things didn’t happen. It’s just not how it started.
Stories are strange things. Immaterial, but they stick to things. Shapeless but easy to shape. Like a piece of string, you can straighten out and follow from end to end, a linear telling from start to finish. You can knot it and unknot it. You can jumble it up or make it dance. You decide where it starts and where it ends, and this love story starts with a kiss.
They go to the bar like actors playing a rehearsed part. The questions and answers are all echoes of questions and answers they’ve uttered before. It’s not that they aren’t genuine, it’s that they’ve been here: one time, two times, too many to count.
How many “how was your day?” and “do you have any siblings?” and “what are your favorite books, foods, things?” have they exchanged over the years? Sharing the same pieces of themselves with strangers that remain strangers, or become friends, lovers, or regrettable exes, but ultimately don’t save them from being here, again.
They go into the bar like model trains on fixed tracks. They can see the trees by the line, the stoplight ahead, and the faraway fork.
Her hand on his hand, a casual foot graze that is now an echo, a ripple, an unconscious attempt to recreate the first one. The one that had mattered, where a less cynical her noticed every accidental touch and subtle point of contact.
They go into the bar like a moon in orbit: drawn and driven by an unseen force. Dancing a dance they’ve danced many times before.
He signals the bill, and she offers to split it. He shakes his head and insists. She thanks him and stands up to leave. He walks behind, watching the way her dress moves. She looks at him over her shoulder. Their eyes meet for a second. A smile shared like a secret.
And they’re standing outside.
He has one hand in his pocket and the other fidgets with his car keys.
She tugs at the strap of her purse, looks down, looks at the bar, and looks everywhere but at him.
The words trickle out like the last grains of sand in an hourglass. They half-turn away from each other and still. “What if” is a string pulled taut between them. Slowly, they turn to face each other and lean into the kiss. His lips brush hers, and then he pulls back a little. Her hand tugs at his shirt, pulling him back.
Soft and teasing. Unhurried but unyielding. The kiss is a seed, a bud, a thing that blooms between them.
He still has his car keys in his hand, the cold metal a jolt on her neck, her back, her waist. Her hands travel too, climbing his chest, getting lost in his hair.
He thinks she tastes like wine and smells like gardenias.
She thinks he tastes like malbec, and for a moment, she can taste everything the label said: vanilla, blackberry, and plums.
And then they don’t think anything else, they kiss, and kiss, and kiss.
A kiss that floods the carbon copy with color.
It scraps/ scrubs the movie script.
It stops the train at a new station.
It launches the moon in a new direction.
It Started With a Kiss was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
February 16, 2023
This is your WRITE to be heard
MY FIRST COURSE IS HERE!
This is it. This is the moment I’ve been building towards for the past year and a half and now that it’s here, I’m actually a bit nervous.
The reason I’m feeling some anxiety is because I’ve never sold anything except my books. The thought of selling a course literally makes me nauseous, but I’m not going to let my fear stop me from helping writers like you reach your goals.
And you shouldn’t let fear stop you from doing all that you can to fulfill your desire of turning your passion for writing into a career. This course is the blueprint.
I’ve called this video course WRITE TO BE HEARD. In true CRY fashion, the first half teaches you how to navigate your emotions while building your confidence and consistency to become a better writer.
Step-by-step, I’ll walk you through:
How to overcome the fear and writer’s block that’s preventing you from reaching your greatnessHow to deal with rejectionHow to build the confidence you need to share your writingThe second half of the course teaches you the tactical skills you need to make a living as a writer. You’ll learn:
How to brand yourselfHow to build a readership and nurture a communityHow to make money as a writerListen, you know me. You know I’ve self-published books and sold thousands of copies independently. You know more recently I’ve earned traditional publishing deals with the biggest publishers in the world. And you know that I’ve made a bunch of money as a freelancer doing ghostwriting and copywriting. Writing is my life and I’ve acquired a wealth of experiences.
I’m going to share all of it with you in this course.
Trust me, I’ve been exactly where you are right now. I know the struggle. If I had a course like this when I was trying to grow as a writer and turn my passion into a career, it would’ve made my journey so much easier and I would’ve gotten where I am today much faster.
If you’ve found value in this community and trust that I can help you quiet that voice in your head questioning if this writing thing is going to work, then click here and order WRITE TO BE HEARD right now! This is your time to level up.
Thank you again for making this community what it is. It’s such a special space and that’s only because of you.
CRY
[image error]This is your WRITE to be heard was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
February 15, 2023
Valentine’s Day Blues
Photo by jasmin chew: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-alluring-woman-sitting-on-bed-with-flowers-and-retro-photo-camera-5478819/I spent Valentine's Day alone this year because my hubby was in Abuja for work. We spoke to each other on the phone, and yes, we miss each other.
As I scrolled through social media, Instagram to be precise, I came across some posts from single bitter folks. One even threatened to block anyone that dares to post any loved-up Valentine's posts.
I was like, “Girl, you need to chill!!” I used to be one of those bitter singles who would bitch and moan whenever I saw those loved-up posts. I used to be one of those miserable, toxic people that would point the finger and blame others and not take accountability for my own actions.
Every time I see people like this online, I am reminded of my old toxic self— the old Dami that was trying to understand herself as she was going through a lot of trauma without knowing it.
I see many people, particularly women, in deep emotional pain. Some women even buy Valentine’s Day packages for themselves and then post them online as if some lover sent them. The men drown their sorrows at a bar somewhere.
There are a lot of lonely people, some with deep demons that transfer all that negative energy onto others who are happy. Relationships can be difficult. But it all starts with you.
How long are you going to hold on to that pain and trauma? How long are you going to lock yourself in that room and not do some activity to stimulate your brain? How long are you going to let jealousy and envy get the better of you? Ask and reflect upon these questions. I have been asking these questions after someone close to me confronted me about some aspects of my past that I did not want to confront because I did something wrong.
I will give you an example. Some singles who complain about Valentine’s Day came out of toxic relationships. If you ask them what type of people they are attracted to, you realize it is the same type of person in different clothing and looks.
Stop dwelling on the past. You are better than that. You deserve better. Like the Bible says, “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Whatever you think, it becomes your reality. Whatever you speak into your life manifests itself in your relationships, career choices, and other things.
I learned this the hard way. I am now learning how to control my thoughts and change my mindset to become a better person. It is not an overnight thing. It is a slow step-by-step process. One step at a time.
[image error]Valentine’s Day Blues was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
