Polish Your Manuscript!

Molli Nickell, The Query Wizard, invites writers to celebrate spring as they polish their manuscripts and submission documents (query, synopsis, first pages) until they glow in the dark. The quest to become published took some major left and right turns this past year with the advent of email delivered query submission letters that include synopsis … Continue reading Polish Your Manuscript!

Monday Minute: Keeping an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog

Great blogging tip for those who need a little more organization and focus. 🙂

Creative Writing For Me

I don’t usually post about blogging advice on here but since it falls in the realm of creative writing, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about editorial calendars. I’m no expert but I’ve learned that having an editorial calendar is key to keeping your blog organized and on track.

View original post 331 more words

AFRICA SINGS!

BEAUTIFUL, ALSO, ARE THE SOULS OF MY BLACK SISTERS

I have been in love with the beauty, joy, sorrow, and enchantment that is African music.

From the ethereal lyrics of Eneida Marta, the power and upbeat of Angelique Kidjo, to the Afrobeat of Fela Kuti that describes his fusion of West African music with Black American music, to benga, chimuringa, gnawa, the iscathamiya made by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, griot, the mbalax Senegalese (Wolof) percussion music modernized by Youssou N’Dour, marabi, mbaqanga popularized by Johnny Clegg and the Mahatolla Queens, and the wassoulo, to name just a few—–African music, songwriting and singing is as varied as the continent itself.

Instruments played by African singers include instruments indigenous to Africa before European invasion and instruments incorporated into their singing and playing styles after the colonization of Africa. Those instruments are the kalimba or mbira (thumb piano); the balafon (marimba), and the xylophone (considered to have ancient African origins by Roger Blench); the…

View original post 333 more words

March Media Madness: Down and Dirty

M.L. Desir’s Wednesday Down and Dirty Tip: Social Media The days of authors languishing away behind their keyboard, clack-clack-clacking away on their latest story or poem are what one could call the good, old days. Of course, in those good, old days you could end up like Edgar Allan Poe – wandering the streets of … Continue reading March Media Madness: Down and Dirty