Let’s talk about March Madness. No, not the March Madness that involves basketball and brackets. I’m talking about March Madness — See Jane Write style.
30 Things I Love Right Now
In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s do a new 30 Things I Love Right Now list!
Why You Should Attend Black Writers Weekend 2018
When Tamika Newhouse started the African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC) in 2008 she had no idea it would eventually lead to her hosting Black Writers Weekend, an annual event that is not to be missed by African American writers and bloggers.
“I stumbled into creating the online community,” Newhouse says. “I wanted to be part of a book club but I was in a new city, I didn’t have any friends, and I thought it would be pretty weird for a grown woman to walk up to other grown women and say ‘Hey, I like to read books. Do you like to read books? Let’s read books together.’”
So she started a MySpace page and created an online book club of her own, one that focused on reading and discussing the work of African American authors. She quickly realized that there were many black writers out there not getting the attention they deserved. So, in 2009 Newhouse launched the AAMBC Literary Awards in San Antonio, Texas to recognize and honor black writers. In the years following awards ceremonies were also held in Chicago and Baltimore. In 2015 the event grew to include a red carpet ceremony and was held in Atlanta. This marked the beginning of Black Writers Weekend.
A Birthday Note to Self
Dear Javacia,
As you turn 37 today I want you to enter this new year with this reminder: You are enough.
You are enough because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your worth is not determined by your blog, your business, your byline or even the work you do in your classroom. You are enough.
Your worth is not determined by the number of miles you run or the number of pounds you lose. You are enough.
Your worth is not determined by the things you have or even the things you have done. Your worth is determined by who you are and you are enough.
So go on and celebrate another year on this crazy, beautiful earth. Go on and make your 37 for 37 list. Go on and go after your goals.
But, as you chase your dreams, do not forget that you are enough.
Member of the Month: Marliceia Chavers
Many people in Birmingham know Marliceia Chavers as the talented makeup artist behind the beauty brand Marliceia Chavers Artistry. Others may know her as the soulful songstress who often shows off her vocal skills at local lounges. But now Marliceia is striving to make her mark in another arena — lifestyle blogging. Or perhaps I should say “lovestyle” blogging, which is what Marliceia calls her brand of blogging. On November 1, 2017, Marliceia launched Love Marliceia, which chronicles her self-love journey and strives to help readers embark on a self-love journey of their own.
Since launching her new blog, Marliceia has not only been posting and promoting consistently but has gotten the attention of other bloggers, too. She was recently featured on the site Girlfriend’s Budget, where she wrote about how self-love affects your money management.
For these and many other reasons, Marliceia is the See Jane Write Member of the Month for February.
Let’s learn more about her and her “lovestyle” blog. (more…)