We're Awesome Women Writers From A-Z

 "Where there is a woman there is magic."- Ntozake Shange ( American Playwright and Poet)

Women are awesome, so are women writers. In honor of Women's History Month and each day we women writers toil at our craft, here are some reasons from A-Z why we are so awesome.

A is for authenticity. As writers we stay true to ourselves and our convictions when we put pen to paper. We allow ourselves and our characters to be vulnerable and imperfect, unafraid to reveal what lies beneath our exterior. 

B is for Beauty. We writers find beauty in the most unexpected and sometimes darkest places to intersperse  throughout our stories. We know when we can point to the beauty in something; those glimmers of light even when it involved pain, we give our reader hope to do the same as they process a painful or traumatic season in their life. 

C is for capable. As writers we are capable of taking a mustard seed of an idea and developing it into a full fledged story, novel or podcast.

D is for dreams. We hold fast to the dreams we have for ourselves as writers and never let naysayers, circumstances, or age deter our pursuit of them. 

E is for experts. As writers we seek out other writing experts to help us hone our skills and guide us during our writing journey.

F is for faith. Even though our faith as a writer has wavered  at times, we never let go of it. We hold on to it fervently. No matter how many times our work gets rejected we continue to submit and produce, and that is faith in works.

G is for goals. We writers are goal setters. We set daily goals to write whether it is a page a day or a chapter a day. We know through goal setting we will achieve our end goal. 

H is for healing. Writing mends what is fractured in us and as we share it, it can also heal others. 

I is for inspiring. Our writing inspires other writers and readers. Through our stories we do our best to create the change the world needs to see and lessons others can learn from. 

J is for journey. Our writing journey has been long and winding with lots of hills and steep valleys but we continue on knowing how amazing it feels each time we reach our destination. 

K is for kind. We writers enfold other writers in kindness and compassion. We offer them encouragement to pursue their writing endeavors, compliments about their work, helpful critiques to make their writing better, and a shoulder to cry on and someone to laugh with.  

L is for living. Although our writing space can easily become our self imposed nirvana, we know the importance of living a full life outside of the window seat of a writer. A full life will give us fuller stories about people and places and things.

M is for mental health. As writers we are keenly aware that it is not just our physical health that we must take care of, but also our mental health. We know that its okay to seek help to get emotionally well if we need to.

N is for nurture. Writing takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears so we take steps to nurture ourselves by doing something outside of writing, something soul-healing, that we love.

O is for organization. As writers we know organization is our best friend, whether it is organizing our idea file or our computer desk or office. With organization we clear the space to become more productive.  

P is for persistent. Even when certain writing doors have closed, we are persistent, revising, finding new markets, etc. until another door opens for us.

Q is for quotes. Quotes encourage us writers and provide us with a brighter outlook on life and our muse. There is always a quote we can find to help us write better and more joyfully, and that we can share with other writers.

R is for rhythm. When we write we have a certain tempo and beat that we write in. Our writing is lyrical. It is poetry. 

S is for silence. As writers we know that when we're at an impasse in our writing, to grow silent,  to find a space to sit in quietude, because when we do it creates an aura that brings forth words and new ideas.

T is for teaching. All writers are teachers. We willingly and patiently share our writing expertise or  knowledge with other writers to motivate them. 

U is for unique. As writers we each have a unique way of expressing our thoughts and letting our unique personalities shine through in our work.

V is for voice. Writing gives us a voice. It empowers us to talk about love, loss, injustice, racism, and any other subject of our choosing. 

W is for wealth. As writers we know that even if we make a huge income through writing, true wealth, true success is not about how much money we make. True wealth for most writers is wealth of ideas, wealth of the ability to do what we love, and wealth of readers who we have inspired and who admire our work.

X is for x-ray vision. As writers we use our superpowers to see the positive opportunities that lie ahead for us.  

Y is for yearning. We as writers will never suppress our burning desire to write and create. Writing is a part of our DNA.

Z is for Zoom. During the pandemic, Zoom has been a lifeline for us writers. It allowed us to join in on webinars, and conferences, or have important meetings in regard to publishing. It also helped us stay connected to our writing tribe. Zoom has allowed us to spread our magic when we couldn't be face to face.

                                                                                             ----Jeanine

Jeanine DeHoney has had her writing published in several magazines, anthologies, and online. She is a Semi-finalist for the 2020 Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival Non-Fiction Prize for one of her essays. She hopes that everyone reading this lives and writes each day knowing they are awesome.