Author Spotlight: Nathaniel Terrell

 

Poet Nathaniel Terrell 

Is There Not a Cause? by Nathaniel Terrell 

Available at Atmosphere Press, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

About the Poet

Nathaniel Terrell is an author, poet, writer and artist. He is currently promoting a collection of poems titled,  Is there not a cause, published by Atmosphere Press.  Other of his work has been in publications and online platforms including New Plains Review, Maudlin House, Nine Cloud Journal, Havik, Finding The Birds, Connecting Perspectives, Lifewriting.com, The Inside Interviews, Open Mic Night Poetry Podcast and more. He resides in Western, NY.

Poet Nathaniel Terrell is the author of Is There Not a Cause? Check out my interview with this poet!

Congratulations on your new book! Tell me about your latest work? What inspired it? 

NT: Thank you. Is there not a cause is a collection of poems that speak from time and experience, pain, loss, hope, calls for change, reflection and a creative voice within. This powerful manuscript was written over a span of six years. I incorporated much of what I was going through during that period. My imagination along with the social and political climates in this country and around the world were big inspirations as well

How did you get started as an author/ poet? 

NT: Putting lyrics together and writing songs and stories are things I could do as far back as my teens. But I didn't get serious and commit to becoming an author and poet until the end 2008.

Who are your favorite authors? Poets?

NT: Gil Scott Heron, Tupac Shakur, Edgar Allen Poe, King David, Erica LaShei

What has your writing life been like during the pandemic? Do you have a writing schedule? If yes, please explain. 

NT: It seems like during the pandemic I've noticed more opportunities for writers to be published. I really don't have a schedule, most of my time lately has been promoting, entering and competing for various book awards. And I am putting together drafts for my next collection.

What themes are most present in your work and why?

NT: Growth, dealing with pain, regret, faith, love, injustice and scenes of life.

These themes are most present in my work because at some point in many of our lives these are the things we endure. Many times the weight of these occurrences can make life difficult. My goal as a writer is to encourage anyone who reads my book to not give up and that oftentimes life can be unpleasant but you are not alone.

How do you connect with readers and your overall audience/ fan base? 

NT: I think it's a combination of passion, creativity and that I bare my soul through words, songs and stories. Also I feel like people connect because I ask questions and try to present my words in a way that causes the reader/listener to think and feel.

What are a few tips you have for new poets or authors?

NT: Sign up or use Submittable. This platform has connected me with the majority of the presses/publications/journals and online platforms that have published my work. Don't allow the rejections to break your spirit or discourage you. Understand rejection is part of the process!

Believe in yourself and your abilities. Maintain the commitment to perfect your craft

Where else has your writing been featured?

NT: Maudlin House, New Plain Review, Finding The Birds, Connecting Perspectives, Havik, Nine Cloud Journal, Open Mic Night Poetry Podcast, Lifewriting.com, UHyped Radio and more.

What’s next for you?

NT: I plan to continue to promote and sell my book. Also create more content for my social media pages. I have more interviews lined up and several book reviews that will be published soon.

Where can we find your work? Where can we follow or “fan” you?

NT: Follow me on Instagram @life.mid. Also follow me on Facebook, YouTube, and Reverbnation. You can find my book at Atmosphere Press, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

10/19 RADIO INTERVIEW: Author, Quanie Miller on Rhymes, Views & News Talk Radio

Author, Quanie Miller

Rhymes, Views & News Talk Radio is ALL NEW on Saturday, October 19, 2013 featuring novelist, Quanie Miller!  Listen live to the show @ 1pm EST and hear Quanie Miller discuss her new novel It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy!  Call in at (646) 716-9474 to join the discussion.  Listen to past and archived shows hosted by DuEwa Frazier. 

10/20 RADIO INTERVIEW: Poet, Tamara Madison on Rhymes, Views & News Talk Radio

 

Poet, Tamara J. Madison

 

 

Kentucky Curdled by Tamara J. Madison

Rhymes, Views & News Talk Radio is ALL NEW this month with your host DuEwa Frazier!  Listen live on October 20, 2013 @ 5:30pm EST with featured guest poet and author TAMARA J. MADISON!  Tamara will discuss her new book Kentucky Curdled and share her poems.   Call in to the show, at (646) 716-9474 to join the discussion! 

Art + balance: Creativity and the graduate student

I've been in graduate school, since 2004.  Yes.  I'm on my fourth degree.  Some might say that I'm "over-educated."  I don't care.  People have asked me, "When do you find time to write?"  How about when do I find time to LIVE!?  Well I happen to believe that each degree program I've pursued, has been very useful for my work and career.  And of course my MFA degree was in writing, which I am still finding to be worthwhile as I work to strengthen my craft.  I love learning.  I'm proud to be from a family of educators who instilled a love of education in me.  The arts became a passion of mine early on, and so writing + education has been at the center of my life work.

But there is a drawback I've found to being an artist + graduate student.  The time and mental energy it takes to focus on classwork for graduate school, over time, can take away, from creative pursuits.  And that is if you do not structure your time, learn to say "No" to unnecessary activities or commit to what you say you really want for your art.  I've also found that over the years my eyes have become strained through repeated close reading and constant computer usage.  It could also be that with age, comes weaker eyes.  If you're an artist in an arts program that informs your work, it may be easier because you are constantly surrounded by people who are immersed in their art as well.  And perhaps they are giving you critique and helping you grow. 

So, how do you balance creativity with work + school?  Writers I know who are enrolled in MFA programs, find that their writing falls in line with their graduate studies.  But what if your grad program is not really aligned with your art?  One could refer to The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron, a daily, self help practice workbook for artists who need a an inspirational boost.  Cameron encourages artists of all genres to commit to solitude and writing "morning pages" in order to bring ones self back to creative balance.  I used the book years ago, during a summer when my mind wandered more than my pen did onto the page.  I also repeatedly read Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain to inspire my creative vision as a writer. 

Listening to music while working or resting is a great way to inspire the artist within, especially if you have neglected your art for awhile.  I love the relaxing Cafe del Mar chillout and Buddha Bar hour-long playlists.  As a full-time educator and graduate student, I find that it's important to build in those joyous breaks between working and studying.  Academic life can be very non-creative and can feel like, "when will this be over" but it's necessary for certain career progress.  I have to build in time to write.  Early mornings.  Late evenings.  Sometimes only once per week.  I jot down ideas on my iPhone until I get to my computer or notebook.  When I sit down to really write and revise, I do it for three or more hours.  Water, herbal tea and a snack is close by.  And in this space I try not to think about the paper I have due in a few weeks or some other to do list.  Because I know that I will get it done and it will be thorough.

Self care for artists, whether you work full time in addition to graduate studies, or not.  How you take care of your mind and body is important.  Sleep is not overrated.  Our fast paced culture promotes the idea of "grind now, sleep later."  But you won't have a grind now or later if you don't sleep.  Lack of sleep can cause digestive problems, anxiety, depression and an overall bad mood.

Your mind, body and spirit need rest and intervals of quiet to rejuvenate and sustain.  That's the truth.  Studies have shown that lack of sleep can affect your heart, your mental stamina, and can accelerate aging.  Sleep, proper nutrition, hydration, even being around positive vs. negative energy all has an affect on your creative output, your mental outlook and overall productivity.  The next time you think you have some type of block, like writers block - ask if you are getting enough self care in the above areas.

There's light at the end of the tunnel.  Sometimes I feel my pursuit of "book knowledge" in higher education will never end, yet it is necessary for certain goals I may have.  There is always a gnawing inside of me, a reminder and a whisper telling me to "don't forget to write..." no matter how tired I am.  Eye strain.  Bad attitude.  Phone calls.  Assignment deadlines.  Hunger.  Need to be social.  Nothing should keep you from your art.  Otherwise, you'll search for something outside of yourself, to feed your soul. 

How do you fit your creative practice into your busy work + school schedule?

Tips for Teaching the Novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, is my favorite book.  Why?  Hurston's mastery of poetic language, vernacular, metaphor and "telling a story, within a story" makes Their Eyes a delectable read.  I am teaching the novel to one of my English classes.  I have heard from several friends and relatives that Their Eyes was a difficult read for them because of the vernacular throughout the story.  The dialect, they cited, makes is hard to "get into" the story.  If you are not familiar with reading or teaching different dialects in literature, read on.

I have tips for educators interested in teaching Their Eyes Were Watching God so that it can be enjoyable for students to read again and again.  You cannot teach this novel without helping students understand the author's background and what inspired her to write.  Here are my suggestions.

1.  Share the cultural background of the author.  Zora Neale Hurston was an African American woman novelist, playwright and anthropologist. Students should read and study the author's background, including her childhood, cultural and artistic influences and background as an African American who sought to explore the lives of Blacks in the south. What makes Zora Neale Hurston so fascinating is that she lived her life, to create art and make herself happy, not to fit into society's mode of what a woman or African American woman should be.

2.  Include multi-media.  Students have varying learning styles.  Straight lecturing and discussion from reading does not engage students - whether they are in high school or college.  Show videos and images connect to Zora Neale Hurston's life, the lives of the artists and scholars she surrouned herself with and the people of Eatonville, FL - the setting for Their Eyes Were Watching God.

3.  Analytical writing tasks.  As students read chapters of the book, give them areas to focus on and analyze:  Hyperbole and characterization, Janie's identity and relationships, Mule talk and Signifyin' in the novel and feminism. You can also have students rewrite chapters from the perspective of a different character, instead of Janie.  How does the novel change then?  The Common Core State Standards call for students to study information text and write in a variety of genres.  The articles you find on Hurston's life and the town of Eatonville, FL can provide students with the opportunity to fully characterize the author and analyze her intent for Their Eyes Were Watching God.

4.  Critical thinking.  Have students create and pose their own questions for each other about the novel.  Have them debate amongst themselves about the choices Zora Neale Hurston made as an author.  Questions which can serve as the foundation for a debate include: Why did the author choose to make Janie a mulatto person? Why do you think Hurston did not allow Janie's mother to make an appearance and have a greater presence in the novel?  Students can give their perspective as to whether the questions point to a significant enough factor in the final outcome for Janie, the protagonist.

5.  Lastly, secondary students love to craft projects.  Have them create their own multi-media presentation, using video, audio, text and images to report on characterization and various literary elements in the novel.  Require the students to reveal the "Big Learning" they received from reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, and how what they learned from the novel may impact how they study future novels. 

To learn more about how to teach the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, including suggested resources, Contact English Educator, DuEwa Frazier, M.Ed., M.F.A. at duewa (dot) frazier (at) gmail (dot) com.  DuEwa will be a featured workshop facilitator at the 2012 Mosaic Literary Conference at Hostos Community College on Saturday, November 10th at 2pm. 

NEW BOOK: The Kid by Sapphire

Award-winning poet and novelist Sapphire has a new book - The Kid (Penguin Press HC, The July 5, 2011) I ran into Sapphire in Manhattan several months ago at the subway.  This was right after the release of the film "Precious."  Sapphire is the first person and writer I sought advice from regarding MFA programs when I first moved to NYC.  She earned her MFA degree from Brooklyn College and has been a terrific example of what it means to be a woman artist who is fearless.  Sapphire is one of the few writers whose work affects me in such a way that her words compel me to want to go deeper in my own writing.

When we talked last fall, I congratulated her on the success of her works and the film adaptation of Push.  I was interested to know what she would turn her attention to next.  A new volume of poetry? Another novel? Teaching on the college level?  Just from talking with her I could tell she had alot of new opportunities before her.  I read both Black Wings & Blind Angels and Push and have been eagerly awaiting her new work. The Kid is the sequel to Push.

About The Kid

Fifteen years after the publication of Push, one year after the Academy Award-winning film adaptation, Sapphire gives voice to Precious's son, Abdul.

In The Kid bestselling author Sapphire tells the electrifying story of Abdul Jones, the son of Push's unforgettable heroine, Precious.

A story of body and spirit, rooted in the hungers of flesh and of the soul, The Kid brings us deep into the interior life of Abdul Jones. We meet him at age nine, on the day of his mother's funeral. Left alone to navigate a world in which love and hate sometimes hideously masquerade, forced to confront unspeakable violence, his history, and the dark corners of his own heart, Abdul claws his way toward adulthood and toward an identity he can stand behind.

WRITING: Children's Book Insider

The Children's Book Insider has valuable information for writers of children's books.

It Pays to Workshop Your Writing

Last Saturday, I took my first “real” writing workshop in a year. When I say this was a “real” workshop, meaning it wasn’t a talkfest where people just exchanged abstract ideas on writing or talked about their publishing credentials for the full class time, like some workshops I’ve taken in the past. For four hours, myself and ten other writers workshopped samples of projects we’re working on with a Senior Editor at a major publishing house. The experience was both exciting and scary, as I let go of “my baby”, a project I’ve been working on for some months now, and shared an excerpt of it with complete strangers.

This workshop was filled with women writers of all ages, mostly professional women, from New York, Georgia, Texas and other areas. We all read our work, gave copies of our work to the other participants and braced ourselves for the critique. Our instructor gave us some insider tips to the publishing industry and what it takes for an editor to acquire your work. I found the process extremely helpful. Even though I am a published writer, I very much consider myself a newbie in the world of writing and publishing and I am always open to learning as much as I can. Halfway through the class I realized I knew one of the women there, as she previously worked for a literary organization in New York City (now she’s raising a family in the suburbs) that I used to frequent. This woman and I exchanged contact information after the class and the rest of us swapped email addys to keep in touch and provide support for one another during our writing process.

When I returned home that evening, I immediately turned on my computer and began making necessary revisions to my work, based on the critique I received. Our instructor, a veteran editor, was open to all of us keeping in contact with her, which is absolutely awesome. She gave me some really valuable feedback which motivated me even further to enhance my writing. And even if nothing comes of my project right away, at least I had the experience of gaining greater knowledge in something I have true passion for.

The lesson I learned here: it pays to workshop your writing and have it critiqued. Friends and family can be your #1 fans, and rave about what they think is an absolute masterpiece, but leave it to the professionals to give you to real scoop on language, structure, etc. Sometimes you need a third, fourth, fifth and even more eyes to look at your writing with an objective lens and help you fine tune something that you may have missed.

So, here are some resources which offer affordable writing workshops (and even free), especially if you’re in the New York City area. Writer’s workshops can really help you bust through your writer’s block, stagnant stories, or other troublesome writing snags. And you may end up getting a great network out of it.

Publishing workshops at The Learning Annex

Writing and Publishing workshops at MediaBistro

Poetry workshops with Cave Canem

Writing workshops with Gotham Writers

Fleeing the Office 9-to-5?: Tips for Freelance Writers

I recently interviewed author, freelance writer and editor Michelle Goodman on my radio show, Rhymes, Views & News. Michelle’s latest book The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, is a valuable resource guide for writers and other creatives seeking to leave an office 9-to-5 gig to strike out on their in on. Michelle’s interview with me lasted 30 minutes, but I know the advice she gave will help freelance writers for a long time to come.

Some of the tips Michelle gave during the interview were:

• If you don’t already have writing clips, do a few freelance assignments for free until you get enough samples to lead you into getting paid work.
• Network with others, give out your business card and use the internet to promote your writing. ( Michelle recommends writing a regular blog as well).
• Have some kind of an income coming in, whether through part-time work or temp work, while you are getting started in the freelance market.
• Contact newspapers in your local area.
For more solid tips on freelancing visit Michelle’s website at http://www.anti9to5guide.com/.

What Season Are You In?

Do you ever find yourself in the midst of a time in your life and you're not quite sure what to call it? Maybe you're doing all the same things you've done in the past, things are going well, but you have an itch, a hunger and GREAT want & need for something a little different. Perhaps you're switching things up in your career, personal life, & in mind, body and spirit. You "sound different" they say. You "look different", you are not the same ole' predictable you. Could it be that you're in a NEW SEASON? You're transforming, dreaming, planning, creating, desiring, contemplating, reflecting (and perhaps procrastinating) right before our very eyes!!!!! Could it be you're embracing a NEW SEASON?

These words may not make much sense to you , but they do for me because I just recently came off of a CrAzY whirlwind year: promoting books (Check the Rhyme Anthology), producing/hosting/performing in events (in NYC, Philly, B-more, ATL & CALI), nurturing relationships/friendships & networking, teaching (middle school English, workshops for girls), and really taking a look at the BIG PICTURE that was/is my life & all that I desire my life to be. After this past year I came to the conclusion that: I NEED A CHANGE!!! In life, you have one chance to do what you love, laugh, be with people you feel good about (who also make you feel good), become what you love & serve the world in one way or another (whether you are good, bad, indifferent, beautiful or ugly).

I'm not mad at you if you're not sure what you want to do, however, I have one bit of advice if you are NOT SURE what you want to do: get still/get quiet/& possibly/maybe get lost. Okay that was more than a bit of advice. What I mean is this: many people will tell you who you are, who you need to be, what they want you to do, who they need you to be, what their dreams/goals/desires were when they were your age/living where you are/knowing the type of people you know/ & may want to know/try to live vicariously through you, directing your life subtley, urging you along with their agenda in mind (blah blah blah). Before you know it. You wake up one day to find, you've been quietly, dutifully floating alone & along, on the gigantic wave of O.P.P. (or O.P.E. - other people's expectations).
Do what you need to do, to get where you want to be and when by writing your own script.

Okay, getting back to my original question: What Season Are You In? You'll know that you're in the glorious season of You when you are finally doing what you want to do, on your own terms without fear, without taking in the insecurities and negativity of others, without doubts, and with the blessings of those who you truly need, admire & are inspired by. I'm in a new season and I'M LOVING IT!!! I can't share all the details (because I'm a girl who always likes to leave a little mystery)...but I will say that this blog is a part of it! From time to time I may post excerpts of essays/articles I've written or I may rant on something totally about pop culture, and that's okay, because for this blog I am not following any rules...
I now have an internet radio show titled...(drum roll please) RHYMES, VIEWS & NEWS created for me to talk about books, interview authors, talk about events, talk about my books & events and just really have a ball exploring the topics which interest me! Listen in this Sunday, September 23rd when I talk with author Dyanne Davis about her latest novel, Many Shades of Gray (Genesis Press).

I previously interviewed my friend and fellow author, Gloria Mallette regarding her ninth and latest novel, Living, Breathing Lies (Gemini Press) and Festival Founder and Editor, Malaika Adero of the UpSouth International Book Festival here in New York City.
I'll be updating you on author/creative/inspirational folk who I interview, as well as upcoming events & my creative adventures.

Stay tuned & don't forget to reflect upon my question-
What Season Are You In?

~ Peace, DuEwa