My friend Maureen sent me this link below to a talk by the writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about the danger of a single story (you'll get it when you watch it).  We are all guilty of making judgments about people and places based on a single story. Our stories tell our history, so we should be telling all the stories, good or bad or indifferent, and not just those that suit our purposes.

I have read Adichie's books (see my reading page) and have seen her interviewed, and the more I listen to this woman, the more I like her. She makes some thought provoking points. As do  number of speakers that I have listened to previously on the TED site.  If you get the chance, it is well worth a browse.

http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html
 
I am an African 07/27/2009
 
I found this poem via Facebook. Says it all really. For more from this author, click on his name to link to his website.

I AM AN AFRICAN

By Wayne Visser

I am an African
Not because I was born there
But because my heart beats with Africa’s
I am an African
Not because my skin is black
But because my mind is engaged by Africa
I am an African
Not because I live on its soil
But because my soul is at home in Africa

When Africa weeps for her children
My cheeks are stained with tears
When Africa honours her elders
My head is bowed in respect
When Africa mourns for her victims
My hands are joined in prayer
When Africa celebrates her triumphs
My feet are alive with dancing

I am an African
For her blue skies take my breath away
And my hope for the future is bright
I am an African
For her people greet me as family
And teach me the meaning of community
I am an African
For her wildness quenches my spirit
And brings me closer to the source of life

When the music of Africa beats in the wind
My blood pulses to its rhythm
And I become the essence of sound
When the colours of Africa dazzle in the sun
My senses drink in its rainbow
And I become the palette of nature
When the stories of Africa echo round the fire
My feet walk in its pathways
And I become the footprints of history

I am an African
Because she is the cradle of our birth
And nurtures an ancient wisdom
I am an African
Because she lives in the world’s shadow
And bursts with a radiant luminosity
I am an African
Because she is the land of tomorrow
And I recognise her gifts as sacred

Copyright 2005

 
My novels 07/24/2009
 

I can't believe that 6 months have already gone by! Many a self-imposed deadline has come and gone. I am still writing, if not as prolifically as I would like. I am determined to finish my first NaNo novel - 73,000 words and counting. I feel another deadline coming on!

 
NaNoWriMo 01/05/2009
 

It has been a while since my last post. NaNoWriMo is over for another year. I managed just over 15,000 words - more than I expected. I really like my new novel and I was hoping to get some more written in December. For various reason this did not happen. However, I am hoping to finish my previous NaNo novel now. I have given myself a deadline of end of February 2009.:-) We will see how that goes!

 
NaNoWriMo 2008 11/01/2008
 

Let the games begin! Yes, it has begun. I managed only 322 words today, but it is a start. Hope to do much better tomorrow - I am meeting up with other NaNos at a local pub tomorrow afternoon for a writathon. Onwards and upwards!

 
 

I just received notification today of the CWA Debut Dagger competition. It seems to have come around so quickly! It runs from 01 November 2008 to 07 February 2009. I entered in 2007/08 (wasn't short-listed) with my NaNoWriMo novel. I think I will do the same for 2008/09, so hopefully I will keep motivated to write beyond the end of November.

 
NaNoWriMo 2008 10/24/2008
 


I have (foolishly) signed up for NaNoWriMo again this year. I dithered a bit because last year it was tough writing so many words each day and because I am still working on finishing the first draft of last year's novel. But I had the inspired idea to write a sequel/spin off of last year's novel, so I feel that at least I am keeping in touch with my story. My word counter to the right will keep track of my efforts. I don't think I will get anywhere near the 30,000 words I managed last year, but it can't hurt to have three novels on the go for when I get that publishing deal and they want a 3-book deal! :-)

 
 

Excellent workshop with Martyn Waites at the Guildford Book Festival. He gave some great tips on how to drive a crime story forward. He also outlined a writing exercise which he called 'A crime story in five paragraphs' to help you work through some key elements of a crime story. He was really pleasant and very willing to answer any questions about all aspects of writing and getting published and his own journey into crime writing. Most illuminating! I am not sure whether it was encouraging or discouraging to find out that his first novel took five years to get published.

 
 

This year I have finally managed to get organised enough to attend the Guildford Book Festival this month. I have booked myself on the crime writing workshop in an effort to gain some insight to help me move my crime novel along. I may even attend other workshops as well. We'll see what happens. I am really looking forward to it.

 
 

I am starting a thread on Zamglish or Zambian English. My Zambian-themed novel has characters who speak this vibrant and unique brand of English. The idea of a collection of Zamglish phrases is borrowed from the now defunct Zambian online magazine Chrysalis.

I hope Zambians (and non-Zambians who have a clue what I am talking about) out there will contribute their favourite phrases and help me build a comprehensive collection of Zamglish phrases. It is my sincere hope that together we will contribute to improving communications between those of us who share a common language (she says tongue in cheek!).

To start the collection here are some Zamglish phrases that spring to mind:

What do you make it?                      
What time is it?

How are you keeping up?             
How is life?/How are you?  

Where are you keeping up?         
Where are you staying?

I can’t get you/ I don't get you.     
I don’t understand what you are saying.

As more phrases come back to me, I will add them to the list (see my Zamglish page).

Over to you!

Cherry B