“When I tell my own stories I always think about what I would want to hear. As Dr. Patricia Bell-Scott wisely asked in Flat-Footed Truths: Telling Black Women’s Lives, how much do Black women tell of their own lives? So, I tell enough to make the point, revealing some, concealing more. Sometimes in the reveal I also do what folklorist and mentor Dr. Gladys-Marie Fry told us in class...a little embellishment to heighten the point is okay. Know when to stop and when it makes the story untrue or sensational.

When telling other folks’ stories I take a lot of care to listen. I have learned over time when it’s okay to ask questions and when it is necessary to just sit and listen. The lesson is often in the tone—the joy, the pain, the triumph, the travail, the wonder, the disgust; it’s all in the tone. I always try to listen not to respond but to hear with my heart so when I retell their story I put it in the right place. This, and a token of thanks, is part of the gift exchange, for me, of storytelling.”

“When I first started writing, I was reading about food a lot. From food writing, word books, cookbooks, you name it—that was my source of inspiration. I genuinely felt that reading what others were saying would make me a better storyteller. But the truth is, telling stories I cared about always made the difference. My advice is to always focus on the stories that move you; your pen will follow. I also know that sometimes we get stories we aren’t crazy about but need to make ends meet—so to that I say find the parts of the story that interests you the most and focus there. It’s the only way to make it your own.

I also enjoy writing the stories I can’t stop talking about and I think your work should lend itself to that. When it comes to telling stories on video, I also find it important to watch the storytellers that I think are doing it well and see what parts of their process I could emulate to become better. What makes a good storyteller? I have to ask this constantly before I put myself out there to help someone else tell their story. How can I relate without overpowering the message or driving the point home?”

“Be clear about who you are accountable to. Equally true is that what is specific and true for you may be the same for an entire group. Don’t be afraid to make for y’all and not “us” and certainly not for everyone. ”

“Read. Read a lot. For projects I take on, no matter the subject matter or cultural basis of them, I feel like I’m getting an advanced degree in the subject. I’d think you would want that knowledge as a writer, a storyteller. It’s a privilege to tell someone’s stories, even one’s own. Treat that platform with respect, and know that while you’re there taking up space, somebody else got a “no.” Use your “yes” well.

We don’t exist in siloes. We are constantly in conversation with the work that’s already out there, whether we acknowledge it or not. So you might as well know who you’re talking to. I want to know what my peers and predecessors have done, what they said, how their work has evolved, who is responding to whom. So much of Black culture has been erased or undervalued, but we have always — always — told our own stories. The more I read, the more I find myself challenging whatever I thought I knew about us.

I’ve heard some say they don’t want to read what’s out there because they don’t want another person’s work to influence them. But my response to that, besides shock and amusement, is “Why not?” Why wouldn’t you want to be influenced or inspired by somebody like Hurston or Baldwin, or Maurice Carlos Ruffin or Brittney Cooper? Is your inner voice going to disappear because you sat down and read somebody? Toni Morrison was an editor for half her career working with other writers and artists to refine their voices before she published her first novel, The Bluest Eye, and she still manages to be untouched in her singular writing style.

It’s totally OK to not know something. But recognizing that you don’t know, or that your context is fuzzy, is where you must start. It’s an opening to discovery. Don’t be afraid to interrogate your assumptions. You lose nothing of value in the process. So read essays, blogs, novels, memoirs, comics, magazines, liner notes, lyrics, academic papers, whatever you can. The more context you have for a subject, the more unimpeachable you will be as your skill and talent develops, especially while navigating an industry that has marginalized Black voices by design. The space we create for ourselves and one another is supported, in part, by the knowledge we have and share. Pass it on! ”

“The best, most gratifying work happens when you stay true to yourself and tell your most authentic stories—the ones that you wake up thinking about, find yourself talking to strangers about, research for fun in your free time, the stories only you can tell. And when you stick to telling those stories, your audience will find you. Of course, that last part can take a while, and in the meantime, most of us need to make money.

For that part, there’s no one right way to do things. Maybe you do work that’s completely unrelated, maybe you do similar personal, storytelling work that’s just not writing (in our world, that means catering, selling plates, selling sauces and spice mixes on Etsy, or it can be branding/marketing/influencing), or maybe you find work writing and/or editing in a way that’s just a little bit less personal. I’ve taken that last option and am wildly lucky to have made a career of it. But I would warn anyone pursuing a similar path that you’ll often write things other than those authentic, deeply you stories. Recognize those for what they are. Don’t try to compromise on the work you care most about by trying to fit it to a brand that has different goals.

On a more granular level, when you’ve done your research and reporting and are sitting down to write, sometimes the story can feel just too big, or you can psych yourself out and worry you won’t be able to do the story justice. If you find yourself feeling that, focus on a singular, multisensory moment. Describe with care the smells, the sounds, the tactile sensations. More often than not, that will teach you a great deal about how the story wants to be told.”

“Read widely. Even if your hope is to specialize in a certain type of writing, reporting or editing, make time and space in your mind to absorb fiction and nonfiction, books, short stories, recipes, poetry, lyrics, articles and essays. When you discover an author you admire, follow their work closely, and study it, for inspiration.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not cut out for this work. Go after what you want. Be unapologetic. Be bold.

If you want to be a reporter, and you’re an introvert, get comfortable asking questions. Research is important, but first-person reporting, though harder, is essential, and will make your writing both easier and better. ”

“Use JSTOR for research; your subject is not your friend. Have a group of writers to bounce ideas, exchange contacts, and vent. Network and engage with editors on Twitter. Don’t pay for advice from a freelancer and don’t listen to folks who brag on Twitter. ”

“The best advice I ever received about storytelling is to only tell the story that only you can tell.

The advice I wish I got earlier on in my career was to set up an LLC pronto and to read through every contract closely. Even if you’re not a full-time writer, if you’re writing in exchange for money, you’re running a small business.

The best practical advice I can give is when you’re working on a big project, like a whole cookbook, break it up into small, achievable goals. For example, aim to write 3 head notes in one day, or 500 words of your introduction or whatever. I find that the more attainable my goals, the more I actually end up crossing them off the list (and usually end up getting even more done). When your daily goals are too big to achieve, you end up feeling like you didn’t get anything done and it can feel disempowering. If your goals are manageable, it can change your whole attitude about your work in a really positive and productive way.”

“Whatever rate you get from a publication, always ask for more—the worst thing you can hear is a no, but you’ll often get a yes. It’s hard to negotiate at first, but it gets easier with time. And if you can’t negotiate for more money, ask for a longer deadline or a smaller word count. Your time is money, so use it wisely.”

“Aside from the logistical advice on the business of being a freelance writer (pitch as much as possible, write as much as possible, network as much as possible), the advice I give most often is to create what you wish to see in the world. We often think that if we don’t see someone who looks like us, or has a similar story to ours, that means there isn’t room for us in the landscape. The opposite is true. If you don’t see someone making, writing, cooking, creating something that speaks to you, that means the landscape not only has room for you, but also NEEDS your voice and your perspective.

I’m not saying doors will open easily, or that the road to creating what you want to see will be smooth—it will be incredibly hard work, filled with twists and turns that may lead you somewhere else entirely, but eventually you’ll find your audience because they’ve been waiting for you. And you’ll be creating something that is deeply fulfilling and meaningful that adds texture and color to the zeitgeist. That in turn will show someone else that their perspective is meaningful too.”

“Avoid the common advice to “write what you know.” Envision the writing process as one of surprise and discovery. If you do not surprise yourself (through research, inventive structure or style, or ________), there will be no surprises for the reader, and you’ll be missing a key way that readers engage with writing, rather than just receive it. So be open when writing to all that you don’t know (or even what is unknowable) and question everything!
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“If there is something you want to write, ask yourself, “Why should I be one to write this?” If the answer is because it is your story or relates to your own experience and you are the best person to tell it, then you must write it. Don’t be afraid to believe that your voice matters and deserves to be heard. Other people will want to hear what to have to say, I promise.

Not totally related to writing, but as far as getting the job you want THAT YOU DESERVE, know that even if you question whether your own qualifications line up perfectly, try and focus on the skills that are applicable. This has far less to do with what’s on your resume and everything to do with who you are as a person and what your natural strengths and interests are. Women especially get discouraged by what they lack when looking at job requirements. Challenge yourself to focus on what you DO bring to the table. If that doesn’t work, make your own table!
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“As an editor, I can’t stress enough the importance of quality research and attribution.

Please learn all that you can about your subject before asking for an interview or writing. Consult a variety of sources, look for new angles, and credit sources that you include in the final project. ”