Some people think that to be strong is to never feel pain. In reality the strongest people are the ones who feel it, understand it, accept and learn from it.

Literary editor Robert Gottlieb, showed that good editing is more than rewriting copy:

“To be an editor, you have to be a reader because you could have all the editorial tools, but if you’re not a responsive reader you won’t sense where the problems lie.”

“I’m not a very good writer… but I’m an excellent rewriter.” — James Michener

Love this Haruki Murakami "see what would happen" approach to life:

“I decided to start running every day because I wanted to see what would happen. I think life is a kind of laboratory where you can try anything.”

People who share new music with me are important. These are the people are reserve my best “thank you” cards for. 🤍

Working on myself is the most revolutionary and rewarding act I will ever do in this lifetime. For me, my lineage, and humanity.

I alone, know my heart, can judge of my present happiness.

James Baldwin said, “I remember writing this story...I sent it to the magazine. And I, I was dissatisfied with the story. So I told the magazine to hold it. I was gonna *cut* the story. And I cut the story from 45 pages to 75 pages (laughs). One of the hazards of being a writer.”

This is my transformation era. I’m getting ready for new energy, new vibes, a new chapter, new blessings, new goals, new dreams, a new mindset, a new me.

"What I don’t tell her—what I can never ever tell her—is that the only home I know, the only home I ever want to know, is her. Not this house or its finery or its wealth. Just her."

Melissa Grey, Valiant Ladies

This is what the designer sent me back. I did not ask for blue, or yellow, or sparkles or these flames. I'll never use Fiverr again. 

First and last time. 😭 I feel doomed. I thought it would be easy to get that W to be replicated to an H. Agony.

Every day is a good day to remember that Toni Morrison said, “But for me, success is not a public thing. It’s a private thing. It’s when you have fewer and fewer regrets.”

Filed under things to remember: Trusting my depths softens my surface.

“If writing is thinking and discovery 
and selection and order and meaning,
     it is also awe and reverence
      and mystery and magic.”

— Toni Morrison

Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest feeling in the world.

I have a heart of gold but I’ll never extend my love to people who don’t deserve it.

An FBI file of James Baldwin said, “Baldwin’s method of working is strange. There are times when he writes continuously for 24 hours without food and drink…he does not even notice if you shout at him or hit him on the shoulder. Afterwards, he lies down and sleeps.”

Lorraine Hansberry said, “I am a writer. I am going to write.” Same.

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore faith in yourself.” —  Lucille Ball

Marshall McLuhan on the essence of communication (1971): Most people never communicate in their entire lives. They think what they say is communication. Communication is the effect of what you say.

I know I can achieve what I’m working towards, as long as I keep trying your best.

“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.” ― Octavia Butler

bell hooks said, “Readers forget that one can critique yet still admire.” A simple sentence with an important point. Critically important.

I'm a writer. I've tried my hand at design and have tried and failed at it more times than I can count. I have such a deep appreciation for designers. I wish more people appreciated you all and all that you do to beautify everything.

If there's a graphic designer that ever wants to barter services -- I'm a writer, hello! 🤍

I'm a former congressional press assistant and social media director of a college. I'm looking to renew my PR & Communications agency's brand. Open to writing whatever you need.

I keep reminding myself that I don’t have to save everybody because no one saved me when I needed them the most.

Asked if given her editing experience she needed an editor, Toni Morrison said, “Oh, yes. Every writer does, although many think they don’t.” Not getting in your own way is a good look.

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision,then it becomes less and less important whether I'm afraid.” — Audre Lorde

Yesterday was Fred Hampton’s 75th birthday. Thinking of him saying “A lot of us read and read and read, but we don’t get any practice” made me recommit to political organizing this year. I want to write for political campaigns again. Impactful and transparent writing.

The intimacy of being understood and considered >>>>

Good-night, sweet mutuals. “You are still on your own; be stoic; don't panic; get through this hell to the generous sweet overflowing giving love of spring.” — Sylvia Plath

“She was stronger alone; and her own good sense so well supported her, that her firmness was as unshaken.” — Jane Austen

Gwendolyn Brooks wrote, “Go ahead and live your life. You might be surprised. The world might continue.”

She also said, “Living is the most important thing to do, and poetry comes after that. That’s how I feel.”

“He knew exactly what she meant: 

to get to a place where you could love anything you chose—not to need permission for desire—well now that was freedom” 

— Toni Morrison, Beloved.

My head hurts. I asked for a designer to create a design like the one below. I asked for the 'W' to be an 'H.' I gave her the pink color code to use on top of a white background. See my next post to see what the designer sent me back. I didn't think it would be difficult.

Mary Oliver advice on writing: "Look for verbs of muscle, adjectives of exactitude." 🤍

“Despite how open, peaceful, and loving you attempt to be, people can only meet you as deeply as they’ve met themselves.” — Matt Kahn

When James Baldwin said, “If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see,” he wasn’t posing himself as smartest dude in the room dropping truth bombs.

Love is “two-way street” and “I will not see without you, and vice versa, you will not see without me.”

“I act and react, and suddenly I wonder “Where is the girl that I was last year? ...Two years ago? ...What would she think of me now?” —  Sylvia Plath

It's so beautiful, how we all are connected in our daily lives with people and things around us.

It's nice when someone remembers small details about me.

Giving myself grace. I'm doing the best I can with what I know. It takes time to unlearn patterns. Taking it a day at a time, things unfold as they should. I won't give up, results won’t come quick, but they will come. I have to keep going, everything is okay.

“…many of us have been taught that confidence comes from external achievements…but in truth the key to confidence lies in our ability to be gentle and friendly with ourselves…” —Tamara Levitt, Confidence meditation

In her journal Octavia E. Butler wrote, “All good things must begin.”

I try to remember that being afraid to begin is a natural part of building a business. I’m nervous, but I’m focusing on the possibility of success, not failure.

Nothing that's for me, will require me to act out of my character to get it.

Absolutely nothing.

"She said: I am a cosmic vessel." Etel Adnan

Embracing the midnight musings, where dreams and reality intertwine under the starlit sky.

Everything’s better when it’s from the heart: writing from the heart, baking from the heart, reciting poetry from the heart, and apologizing from the heart are my favorites.

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