I am so excited to share the news that I will be doing my very first freakin' writing residency in 2019 at the Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
I have been sitting on this news for a few months now. And a writing residency is something that I have always wanted to do but felt too scared to project far enough into the future, afraid to get rejected, afraid to have my work and career compared to others who have published more than I have. I've applied for other writing residencies and not get in. I also saw that there are literally a dizzying number of writing residencies that exist worldwide, in the far reaches of the globe for months, perched on the side of mountains, smack in the middle of an ancient ruin, and arctic tundra, up to a year at a time. It seemed a little too reclusive and hermit-ish which made it a bit intimidating for my tastes. What if I "lose it" while writing alone without human contact? And as ridiculous as this may sound, I need to remind myself that a writing residency or retreat mind you is not an isolation chamber. There are often opportunities to interact with other writers and communities. Some writing residencies very little, having me wonder if the potential income could cover my expenses and debts and others nothing, and others had me scratching my head. Complicated by the fact that I am a full-time teacher during the school year, it is challenging to take off six months or eight months at a time for a huge income cut. It's one of the dilemmas that I experience when I have to choose between my writing career and my teaching career. Nevertheless, I decided to apply to the Joy Kogawa House Writing Residency. Partly because I have had an interest in trying out life in Vancouver (for a few years now) and the fact that a shorter residency of three months was offered, I thought I would give it the "old college try".
Well, it worked!
I am proud to have been selected to be a writer in residence at the childhood home of one of Canada's well-loved children's book authors, Joy Kogawa.
I have been sitting on this news for a few months now. And a writing residency is something that I have always wanted to do but felt too scared to project far enough into the future, afraid to get rejected, afraid to have my work and career compared to others who have published more than I have. I've applied for other writing residencies and not get in. I also saw that there are literally a dizzying number of writing residencies that exist worldwide, in the far reaches of the globe for months, perched on the side of mountains, smack in the middle of an ancient ruin, and arctic tundra, up to a year at a time. It seemed a little too reclusive and hermit-ish which made it a bit intimidating for my tastes. What if I "lose it" while writing alone without human contact? And as ridiculous as this may sound, I need to remind myself that a writing residency or retreat mind you is not an isolation chamber. There are often opportunities to interact with other writers and communities. Some writing residencies very little, having me wonder if the potential income could cover my expenses and debts and others nothing, and others had me scratching my head. Complicated by the fact that I am a full-time teacher during the school year, it is challenging to take off six months or eight months at a time for a huge income cut. It's one of the dilemmas that I experience when I have to choose between my writing career and my teaching career. Nevertheless, I decided to apply to the Joy Kogawa House Writing Residency. Partly because I have had an interest in trying out life in Vancouver (for a few years now) and the fact that a shorter residency of three months was offered, I thought I would give it the "old college try".
Well, it worked!
I am proud to have been selected to be a writer in residence at the childhood home of one of Canada's well-loved children's book authors, Joy Kogawa.
Author Joy Kogawa receiving the Order of BC
The Joy Kogawa team did me one better and offered me a two-month residency over what would have been my summer holidays from teaching in 2019. Plus, I get the change of scenery that I need to work on my writing projects while getting involved with the Vancouver writing community and run events and workshops. It helps that I already have a few contacts on the West Coast which I will surely be hitting up once I am there plus getting some serious writing in.
Just think of it. The salty Pacific air and the damp humid rainforest, long summer days and mountains, and the creak of wooden floors in a cozy cottage. I will be drinking a mug of tea, the warm glow of a lamp, and a circle of writers clutching notepads and laptops. The grey sky and beads of rain on the windowpanes... I close my laptop and ride my bicycle to buy a righteous organic locally-grown and sourced rice bowl with steamed tofu and nori and lots of vegetarian fare (because I'm vegetarian.) Sigh! The west coast. I digress...
Just think of it. The salty Pacific air and the damp humid rainforest, long summer days and mountains, and the creak of wooden floors in a cozy cottage. I will be drinking a mug of tea, the warm glow of a lamp, and a circle of writers clutching notepads and laptops. The grey sky and beads of rain on the windowpanes... I close my laptop and ride my bicycle to buy a righteous organic locally-grown and sourced rice bowl with steamed tofu and nori and lots of vegetarian fare (because I'm vegetarian.) Sigh! The west coast. I digress...
I am especially honoured to be the writer in residence at a site where the values of social justice are ones that are held dear-- by Joy Kogawa, the Joy Kogawa House Selection team, and me. Born in Vancouver, BC in 1935 to first-generation Japanese Canadians, Joy Kogawa was a survivor of the evacuation, persecution, and internment of thousands during World War II. Her award-winning novel, Obasan, tells the story of a young Japanese-Canadian girl who survived this period. And now, I get to connect my own stories of being also a first-generation Black child of Jamaican Canadians, a writer, and an advocate for social justice. (My Master of Education degree started in Social Justice & Cultural Studies which was moved to the department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education which is now since been changed to Social Justice Education, y'all. I have an MEd in SESE, y'all.) I first learned about Obasan because of my younger sister having to read it in her gifted program. Although I have not yet read this book, I know that is a book that has been adapted to theatre. I am trying to adapt my book Malaika's Costume to theatre as well. I also write diverse stories in which social justice is an underlying theme.
I am looking forward to this exciting opportunity.
It's predestined y'all!
Stay tuned!!!
It's predestined y'all!
Stay tuned!!!
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