Black Writers Workspace, Author at ScoopCloud

NEW ORLEANS, La. /ScoopCloud/ -- Three times self-published author and entrepreneur Michelle Jackson had no idea starting a private Facebook group would change her life. In March 2020, inspired by COVID's unexpected stay-at-home orders and civil unrest caused by the murder of George Floyd, Jackson took to social media to connect with writers of color and to find resources on how to market a book without leaving the confines of her home. To her surprise, thousands of black authors were facing the same hurdle and looking to collaborate with other like-minded artists. And so, the Black Writers Workspace (BWW) online community was born.

BWW has grown to over 15,000 followers in three years, hosting over 100 author interviews and virtual roundtable discussions, four book fairs, four writing competitions, and a writer's workshop. Also, the community has inspired the launch of a new business venture, Direct2Author.com, an online independent book marketing and writing service platform developed by Jackson to help authors build their fan base with effective and low-cost book marketing tools.

"Over a million books are published each year, making the book marketing journey more competitive and crucial to the success of a publication," said Jackson. "BWW was created to provide a positive space where writers can share resources and get the help they need to publish great works of art."

In a move to expand the BWW brand and help writers of color succeed, the community will host the BLK INK Virtual Writer's Workshop on May 18-20, 2023, via Zoom. This year's theme is 'Straight FIRE! Writing to Inspire a New Generation of Readers.' The event is designed to educate aspiring, new, and experienced writers about practical tools and techniques for navigating the world of book writing and publishing.

The speaker roster includes Alex Jennings, a New Orleans-based award-winning fantasy writer and instructor of popular fiction at the University of Southern Maine; Jane Friedman, author, co-founder of The Hot Sheet and a columnist with Publishers Weekly; Diane Marie Brown, professor at Orange Coast College and author of the debut novel, Black Candle Women, a Read with Jenna Bush Book Club selection that is currently being adapted for television and Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, professor at Dillard University and Louisiana's newest Poet Laureate.

Hour-long sessions will tackle topics like 'Land a Deal in 2023,' 'Put it in an (Audio) Book,' and 'Writing Fantasy & Sci-Fi.' During the event week, writers can also participate in a one-on-one manuscript review session with professional editors with Speak Write Play LLC, a New Jersey-based English Language and Editing Service.

"BWW benefits when experienced writers share their pathway to success with us. Collaboration is key to nurturing a vibrant and diverse literary community,' said Jackson. "We invite everyone to join us for the BLK INK workshop. Our goal is to nurture the next great writer."

The event is open to all writers, regardless of race, religion, sex, and sexuality. It will take place via Zoom over three days, starting Thursday, May 18th, and ending Saturday, May 20th. Attendees can pay one fee for all three days or pay per day. College students can attend for free when they register with a .edu email address.

To register on Eventbrite, go to https://bit.ly/BLKINKWORKSHOP.

For sponsorship opportunities, email Michelle D. Jackson at events@prsolutionsllc.org.

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvLTqx4GsQWed70-zOPDZTQ

Three times self-published author and entrepreneur Michelle Jackson had no idea starting a private Facebook group would change her life. In March 2020, inspired by COVID's unexpected stay-at-home orders, Jackson took to social media to connect with writers of color and to find resources on how to market a book without leaving the confines of her home. And so, the Black Writers Workspace (BWW) online community was born.

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Black writers, bloggers, journalists, poets, songwriters, and screenwriters now have a place to showcase their work, find writing jobs, win cash prizes, and collaborate with peers. The Black Writers Collaborative, a new literary competition designed to empower writers with a flair for crafting culture-infused works of art, is the latest brainchild of The Obsidian WROTE Collection, a Chicago-based content marketing platform designed to connect Black writers to top industry brands looking to amplify African American voices, and the Black Writers Workspace, a New Orleans-based online community of over 13,000 new and independent writers.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/BCCWROTE.

"Black writers are telling the stories of this time in history," said Michelle D. Jackson, author, and founder of the Black Writers Workspace. "Not only are we historians; we are lyrists, playwrights, authors, reporters, and poets committed to sharing our life experiences with the world, our way. The Collaborative gives voice to writers who never felt our stories mattered and now appreciates the growing marketplace for our craft."

Known in many circles as the Black writer's 'LinkedIn,' the Obsidian WROTE hopes to utilize the Collaborative to build a pipeline of qualified writers by inspiring participants to create a free profile and share their work on the platform.

"It's time for Black writers to reclaim our narrative and reshape the Black experience," said Angela Ford, Founder and Executive Director of The Obsidian Collection Archives. "WROTE is a marketplace that connects brands, media outlets, and agencies with Black voices with the hope that they can profit from their stories. That's why our partnership with the Collaborative provides an opportunity for more Black voices to be highlighted and heard."

To participate, writers must create an Obsidian WROTE profile and submit a 5-8-page response to the following writing prompt: What Black leader or literary legend inspired me the most? Or writers can submit 5-8 pages of any culture-infused written work of art. Submissions can be a fictional or non-fictional narrative, screenplay, song, or journalistic article. There is no fee to participate. To register, visit https://bit.ly/BCCWROTE. The deadline is August 15, 2022.

The top winner will receive $500 cash, access to The Obsidian Collection of Black media images, and a Black Writers Workspace promotional package worth over $750. The second and third place winners will receive $250 and $150 cash and a Black Writers Workspace promotional package.

To learn more, visit the website or email Michelle Jackson at events@prsolutionsllc.org.

To join the Black Writers Workspace, follow the group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackwritersworkspace

MEDIA CONTACT: marketing@prsolutionsllc.org.

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.theobsidiancollection.org/

Black writers, bloggers, journalists, poets, songwriters, and screenwriters now have a place to showcase their work, find writing jobs, win cash prizes, and collaborate with peers. The Black Writers Collaborative, a new literary competition designed to empower writers with a flair for crafting culture-infused works of art, is the latest brainchild of The Obsidian WROTE Collection, and the Black Writers Workspace.

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