I’ve dabbled off and on writing since the age of nine. One day, my teacher asked the class to bring fresh notebooks for journaling. I remember being excited to write in the red faux leather ledger with a puffy cover that my mother gave me.
I did not know what the book’s actual purpose was, but I used it to hold many unfinished stories and bits of ephemera collected here and there. Imagine my delight when my teacher singled me out to read an excerpt from my journal for the entire class. Afterward, she congratulated me and handed it back. I was smiling from ear to ear and simultaneously dying a little inside (I’m sure you introverts can relate).
My teacher planted a seed that got me writing daily at home with my Skilcraft, mechanical pencils, and black pens with U.S. Government etched down the barrels. I’m an army brat. We could always find a Skilcraft pen in our house in those days.
After that, I wrote all the time, mostly mimicked stories from books that my mother’s friend brought over in large paper sacks when her older daughter finished tearing through them. Who knew? Fanfic was a thing.
Fast forward to my college days. I took a creative writing class that changed my thinking. I learned something of value: someone thought I had writing talent.
My instructor took me and three others aside to tell us how thrilled she was to read our content. Looking back, the writing wasn’t a big deal to me. In fact, it was an “Aliens” knockoff. While I appreciated the compliments, things were different this time. Instead of buckling down and pursuing a career in writing, I pushed it all aside in favor of wandering through life, undecided and unfulfilled. I needed time to grow.
Fast forward to now. Can you tell me the last time you read about a Black Muslim protagonist in horror/fantasy? What’s the name of the book? I want to read it.
I realized it’s hard to find fiction with Muslim protagonists, let alone science fiction and fantasy.
Why isn’t anyone telling our story? If I’m asking that question and having difficulty finding the answer, it’s time for me to get to work.
If you’re interested in finding out more, join me by subscribing to my newsletter as I go on a journey to explore worlds through underrepresented eyes. See you on the other side.
