Getting Out of my Own Way: An Update

When I left academia nearly 4 years ago, I was worried that I was making a mistake, Would I ever get the chance to speak to audiences about my passions? Will I ever be able to educate and mentor? Would I be happy?

I’m not a highly religious person. But these past few years Ive come to realize that my steps have been ordered. I’ve never been happier.

The podcast is garnering great attention from the Romance community. Ive had amazing opportunities to network and meet authors and editors. The podcast not only has been fun but seems to be opening doors to other opportunities (Some of which I will be talking about very soon). Never in my wildest dreams did I think that anything would come about from me and Yakini just talking about romance.

I am an active member of the IRP (Inclusive Romance Project) and I am now part of the 2021 cohort of mentees, actively being mentored by a published author to get my current WIP published. It’s been amazing and highly valuable. I realize where I am going wrong and what is stopping me from “getting there”.

After participating in #DVPIT, I garnered a lot of interest in my story of Ari, Porter and two architects who fall in love. But I got a lot of rejections. Only a few resubmits and revision request. I am working actively on doing that now, particularly for those folks who really, really loved my voice and my work. I pray by 2022 that I have some good news to impart.

I am still looking for an agent too. I hope that this r&r garners me an agent. I hit a brick wall with that. I would really love representation from another WOC or Black person, who really understands what I am trying to say and how I write/think.

In order for me to even get to this place of positivity about everything, I had to get out my own way. After months of rejection, I had so much self doubt. But after letting other sets of eyes read my work, listen to thoughtful critique, and really learning the art of developmental editing and voice, I see where I went wrong, dusted myself off, and vowed to fix it. In the words of Princess Tiana, I am “almost there”.

I’m setting goals. I am planning plots. I am knocking out wordcounts. I am doing the damn thing, even when I dont always feel like I am doing it. Progress is just starting and not stopping.

I feel like I am truly contributing to my greater goals. I just have this amazing feeling, deep in my gut, that this is my year. This is my season. This is my time.

This is where I am in my journey. We are “almost there”.