Jamaican-born writer Shara McCallum has received a poetry fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, an award from the Library of Congress, and more.

In this episode, we discuss her writing process, and

• Being a parent and waking up early to write
• Learning the language of poetry as a child in Jamaica
• Writing poetry in spurts rather than marathons
• And more!

If you’re a new listener to Fierce Womxn Writing, I would love to hear from you. Please visit my Contact Page and tell me about your writing challenges.

Follow this Writer

• Read Shara McCallum’s books Madwoman, The Face of Water, This Strange Land, Song of Thieves, The Water Between Us
• Hear Shara read “Oh Abuse” in the Kenyon Review

Follow the Podcast

• Visit the Website for more info on the podcast

Follow the Host

• Slide into Sara Gallagher’s DM’s on Instagram

Follow our Partners

• Learn more about We Need Diverse Books, whose mission is to put more diverse books into the hands of all children
• Visit Terra Preta Review (unearthing phenomenal writing) to read the latest issue and submit work

This Week’s Writing Prompt

I suggest setting a timer for 6 or 8 minutes, putting the writing prompt at the top of your page, and free writing whatever comes to mind. Remember, the important part is keeping your pen moving. You can always edit later. Right now we just want to write something new and see what happens.

This week’s writing prompt is: Choose an abstract concept that you are particularly vexed by, and allow that concept to talk to you.

Explore these Womxn Authors

The author recommended these womxn writers:

• Shivanee Ramlochan, Author of Everyone Knows I am a Haunting
• Chet’la Sebree, Author of Mistress
• Lucille Clifton, Author of Blessing the Boats
• Emily Dickinson, Author of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

Ensure the Podcast Continues

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Check Out More Shows

• Episode 5: Courtney Maum - Author of Before and After the Book Deal
• Episode 4: Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach - Author of The Many Names for Mother