Guest Post by Vicki Ward
“I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.”— Maya Angelou
No one knows better than writers, the power of words.
How the right ones at the right time can blanket us with warmth like a good winter quilt.
How they can transform us, pull at our heartstrings, make us laugh, make us cry.
How a good read enables us to escape to different worlds and broadens our horizons.
How the experience enriches us.
But being a good writer requires more than an extensive vocabulary, a gift to gab, and observance of some grammatical rules. Contrary to the hype, it’s not that simple.
Good writers must possess one other important trait: the courage to be transparent.
Being transparent means “going public” with the warts of our lives. Like sharing stories of the stupid things we did for the men we loved before they left us, or lessons we learned from being fired, or dealing with demons of insecurity, or even fears of growing old.
Story lines that are written in all of our life’s “script.”
And this takes courage.
Putting our work before hundreds or thousands of readers means we must face the risk of rejection. Over and over again. Whether it’s the rejection of editors for articles we‘ve penned, sending out book proposals to agents to secure a book deal, or a blog post that may potentially bomb like the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
But we do it because our transparency not only allows others to see more of us, but to see more about themselves–and the human potential. It enables them to know that they can overcome some of the same obstacles, doubts, and disappointments we have. That regardless of race, sex, or religion, there is more that unites us than makes us different.
In the spirit of transparency (and celebrating the wisdom of women), my new anthology, More of Life’s Spices: Seasoned sistah’s keeping it real showcases the courage of dozens of women from all walks of life and stages, who reveal their personal journeys and invite you to come along.
Here’s a poem that’s an excerpt from the book:
Lo Gig
his game
a lo gig
sleeps with me
behind closed doors
walks
deliberate steps
ahead in public
once a brick house beauty
I suck back tears
remember tender youth
pour my brittle heart
into his arms frigid insincere
he
gives me bad sex quick painful
cops a crude dime and whine
for rent and cash
dines and wines another
thinks me
dumb and desperate
I feel
dumb and desperate
bite my tongue as he
bites in his talk
until need rises
then
sweet in his beg
a gigolo
who belittles
and strikes
deathing blows
to my generous
but
closing hand
Vicki Ward’s essays and poetry appeared in several anthologies and collections. A former entertainment writer, covering live concerts, and stage plays, her literary focus shifted to writing books about women’s needs and concerns. She edited Life’s Spices from Seasoned Sistahs, an award winning anthology from the voices of mature women of color. She followed that releasing Savvy, Sassy and Bold after 50, a handbook for maturing women packed with financial, health, and retirement strategies for women reaching midlife. Ward has also presented empowerment workshops at women’s conferences and universities. Now retired, she writes full time focused on strategies to empower maturing women to navigate a new phase of their lives.
For more info visit her site at: Nubianimagespublishing.com
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