What themes do you find yourself frequently writing about?
I write quite a bit about women and the lives of women of color in urban communities. My world is filled with black women being exceptional. Starting businesses. Earning degrees. Uplifting communities. Caring for families. Traveling. My writing captures these experiences so that 500 years from now people will know we were here and doing all kinds of things the history books may not record.
What can make or break a flash story?
Conciseness. Like poetry, a single word or phrase could spell the end for a piece.
What kind of story would you love to find in your queue?
A story about a kick-ass woman doing something I’ve never imagined doing.
A story that can successfully use the image of a rainbow without being…corny, I guess. Or, even if the piece can use the word rainbow without triggering a negative response.
Can you tell us about your work with Flint City Riveters in Flint, Michigan?
The Riveters are a semi-professional women’s football team. I’ve worked as their Community Outreach Manager for a few years and it primarily consists of finding volunteer opportunities for players and staff. I’d joined the team at one time, but my community and life commitments kept me away from practices. I loved the idea of working with the team so much that I asked the owner to give me a job. She did and I’ve been supporting the team ever since.
The core workshop of SmokeLong Fitness is all in writing, so you can take part from anywhere at anytime. We are excited about creating a supportive, consistent and structured environment for flash writers to work on their craft in a community. We are thrilled and proud to say that our workshop participants have won, placed, or been listed in every major flash competition. Community works.