Black history month kicked off February 1st. This year I’m using the month to seek out the history of African Americans unknown to me. I’ve been researching African Americans in the 1700s and I can tell you there is quite a lot to learn. I’ll share a story, photo, quote, or other interesting tidbits.
First up is Science fiction writer Octavia Estelle Butler was the author of a dozen novels and many short stories. She also remains the only science fiction writer to ever receive a MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius’ Grant.
Quote from Ms. Butler:
“And I have this little litany of things they can do. And the first one, of course, is to write – every day, no excuses. It’s so easy to make excuses. Even professional writers have days when they’d rather clean the toilet than do the writing.”
I was tickled when I read this quote. I can’t tell you how clean my bathrooms are when I’m trying to get a story on paper. I’m getting a bit more consistent with daily writing time. I’ve varied what I’m working on so that makes me more excited to stare at the blank page. At least it’s a different blank page for a different project. Sounds like an excuse, but its been working for me so far.
Pam Jones-Nill - Children's Author 