Reed, Write, & Create is the Best Black Literary Podcast!
It’s official. The Reed, Write, & Create podcast won the Best Literary Podcast Award at the Black Podcasting Awards, held late last month. Selected by a panel of professional podcasters, our podcast was one of three finalists, but ultimately we were selected for the award. As an independent podcaster, who launched the Reed, Write, & Create podcast as a passion project, and because I wanted to help BIPOC writers achieve success, winning this award meant a lot to me.
What is the Read, Write, and Create Podcast About?
The Reed, Write, & Create podcast offers bite-sized pep-talks for BIPOC writers at every stage of the writing game. On the show, my goal is to help writers of color tap into their divine right to write. I do this by sharing mindset tips, career strategies, writing tips, and true stories about our literary foremothers and forefathers - think Toni Morrison, Lorraine Hansberry, Phillis Wheatley e.t.c. - that will leave you motivated and ready to write. On the podcast, I also feature inspiring interviews with best-selling, BIPOC authors who share actionable writing tips and techniques to help improve writers improve their craft and better understand the business of writing and the publishing industry.
Why I Created the Reed, Write, & Create Podcast
As the author of seven books, including Hair Story, Kinky Gazpacho, and Substitute Me, I know how hard it is to stay motivated and inspired to write - whether you’re working on that debut novel, a gut-wrenching memoir, or an essay about your trip around the world. Writing can be your passion, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Because I wrote my first book, Hair Story, with my friend, the journalist, Ayana Byrd, I got the wrong idea about how easy writing a book could be. That’s why seven years passed between the release of my first and second books. I lauched the Read, Write, and Create podcast, because I wanted to be that writing coach and cheerleader we all need when staring down the barrel of the blank page. Just because you’re excited to write, doesn’t mean you always have the internal drive to get the work done. The Read, Write and Create podcast was created to keep you motivated and inspired to write, especially when it’s hard.
Finding Inspiration in the Lives of our Literary Ancestors
Toni Morrison is one of the Literary Ancestors whose writing advice we discussed on the podcast.
One of the unique things about the Reed, Write, & Create podcast is the focus on our literary ancestors. Because writing is one of the world’s oldest professions, there is much to be learned from the writers who have come before us. And as BIPOC writers, it is almost a given that our literary ancestors faced far greater challenges in getting their words out into the world, compared to now. From enslavement to being forbidden to read, the reality of our literary ancestors makes our current fights against a biased publishing industry and the impending AI takeover for example, seem basic. By focusing on their journeys to literary success, I like to showcase the strategies that worked for our literary foremothers and forefathers and encourage my listeners to follow their example. Personally, I’ve already picked up some very useful habits from Octavia Butler and Phillis Wheatley.
The Best Black Literary Podcasts
I am still on a high from winning the Best Literary Podcast by the Black Podcasting Awards. Because my podcast was intended to help Black and other POC writers specifically, it feels extra special. It’s an acknowledgement that I am reaching the people I intended to reach. That being said, because the Reed, Write, & Create podcast only comes out every other Monday, while you’re waiting for the next episode to drop, check out some of these other amazing Black literary podcasts. If you like to hear Black authors talk about their writing lives and their journey to publication, you’ll love Black and Published because the host, Nikesha Williams, loves books and writing and she asks really good, thoughtful questions. I am also a fan of the new podcast, Ursa Short Fiction, launched by award-winning authors, Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton. This a show where listeners get to hear short stories read, and then discussed by the author and the two hosts. If you’re looking for an online book club vibe, check out one of the other nominees for the Best Literary Podcast, She Well Read, the two hosts, Alana and Samra are delightful and will become your book besties in no time.
I appreciate this award so much, and will keep working to make sure Read, Write, and Create, lives up to the hype! In the meantime, make sure you listen to our latest episode with the incredible Denene Millner. I promise, our conversation will leave you #Lit.