Hi! I’m Javacia Harris Bowser, a Birmingham-based blogger and freelance writer. If you’re an editor and you would like me to write for your publication I’d love to chat.
First, let me tell you a story.
In October 2008, I was struck by a car while crossing a busy street in downtown Louisville. I was leaving The Courier-Journal, the newspaper for which I worked as a reporter and columnist. When my body slammed into the cool, damp asphalt on this rainy night my first thought was, “This is going to make a great column.”
This moment is a perfect illustration of how much I love writing and how much I love stories.
I’m particularly passionate about women’s stories. That’s why I love writing profiles of women for digital publications like StyleBlueprint and magazines like Good Grit.
That’s also why I partnered with Reckon South to curate the Reckon Women Voices column, which shares personal essays by women with ties to the South.
That’s also why I founded See Jane Write, an award-winning website and community for women who write and blog.
But keep in mind that when I was in college I worked for a trucking magazine. So it’s safe to say I can write about anything. You can credit the journalism programs of the University of Alabama and the University of California at Berkeley for that.
I enjoyed school so much that from 2009-2019 I was an English teacher at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where I taught English and created an elective called Women and the Media to train students how to write for the web and how to examine representations of women in the media.
I left ASFA in 2019 to pursue freelance writing full time.
Please email me at javacia@seejanewritebham.com to discuss writing opportunities at your publication. You can find select writing samples below.
Samples of My Work
Black Teachers Matters, June 2022
Giving Birth to Hope, July/August 2022
HerMoney.com
The Morning Routines of Five Successful Female CEOS, January 2022
Black Women Speak Out on Gaslighting in the Workplace and a Path Forward, January 2022
How Executives Hold Women Back at Work, January 2022
The Truth About Salary Negotiation for Black Women, August 2021
Are You Falling Victim to Revenge Spending, June 2021
How to Negotiate a Flexible Work Schedule Without Looking Like a Diva, June 2021
How to Build a Sustainable Wardrobe Without Growing Broke, May 2021
Why Women Should Consider a Career in Financial Planning, April 2021
Why 1 and 3 of All Women of Color Plan to Quit Their Jobs By Next Year, April 2021
The Hill We Climb: Black Women and the Battle to Build Wealth, February 2021
How Dasha Kennedy is disrupting the racial and gender wealth gap one social media post at a time, November 2020
Ally, Advocate, Mentor, Sponsor — How to Be One, How to Get One, and Why You Should, August 2020
Read more of my articles fo HerMoney.com here.
As a Breast Cancer Survivor, Questions About Remission Are Complicated, October 2021
A financial planner shared 3 pieces of money advice clients never want to hear, July 2021
The Revolution Will Be Veganized, September 2021
Building Generational Health, June 2021
Heart of Glass, April 2021
Discovering the Macon Music Trail, July 2020
Lady Justice, January/February 2020
WISHful Thinking, July/August 2019
The Negro Southern League Museum, May/June 2019
Heidi Elnora: The Innovative Bridal B.A.B.E., March/April 2019
Lecrae’s Great Escape, January/February 2019
Read more of my articles for Good Grit magazine here.
Q&A with Author Tomi Obaro of Dele Weds Destiny, July 2022
The Sexy Side of Self-Care You Might Be Neglecting, June 2022
I Journaled My Way Through the Toughest Year of My Life, June 2022
Ditch Your Diet and Try This Instead, May 2022
Black Women and the #BodyPositivity Movement, November 2021
40 Experiences Every Queen Over 40 Should Have, November 2021
Is Body Mass Index racist?, September 2021
Can You Be Fat and Fit?, July 2021
Your Sex Appeal Has No Expiration Date, Sis, February 2021
Black Women Matter, Black Women Vote, Here’s How We’re Mobilizing, September 2020
Read more of my articles for SistersLetter.com here.
Cake Boss: How one local business owner went from creating milkshakes to wedding cakes, February 2020
Why representation matters on Halloween and beyond, October 2019
Birmingham: You don’t get to hate it unless you love it, September 2019
How my father unknowingly made me a feminist, June 2019
Embracing the Beauty of Aging: The art of aging gracefully, January 2019
Setting the Pace: Local running groups lead by example and encourage fitness in African-American communities, February 2015
StyleBlueprint
She’s Representing USA and Alabama in The World Games 2022
Your Guide to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
3 Stories on Women to Brighten Your Day
Go Beyond the Sidelines with Lauren Sisler
She’s Setting the Stage for the 2022 World Games
Meet Country Music’s Newest Rising Star
The Podcast You Should Be Listening to and the Woman Behind It
Reviving Fourth Avenue: Past, Present & Future
The Rebranding of Historic Ensley
Sharing Laughter & Light in the Face of Cancer: Meet Carla Youngblood
Sandi Eubank Gregory: FACES of Birmingham
Sally Bird of Dot Fox: FACES of Louisville
Delta Vintage Founder Claire Brandon: FACES of Nashville
Have you tried Fat Girl Yoga? It’s for all sizes!
How to Dress Like a Fashion Blogger
Do You Really Need Those Vitamins and Supplements?
Read more of my articles for StyleBlueprint here.
Babypalooza
What It Really Means to Be a #GirlDad
Coping with Mother’s Day When You’re Grieving the Loss of a Child
Maternity Fashion Tips from Style Coach Megan LaRussa Chenoweth
How Babyscripts is fighting to reduce maternal death rates
Former news anchor Eunice Elliott launches children’s books series
6 mental health tips to help you and your children during COVID-19
Read more of my articles for Babypalooza here.
A Tourist in My Own Town: Reflections on The World Games 2022, July 20, 2022
Meet the Dream Team Behind the World Games 2022, March 2, 2022
How Ashley M. Jones Became the Most Influential Poet in Alabama, September 23, 2021
Reggie and Michelle Torbor: Former Auburn star and wife shine as cafe owners, July 23, 2021
Jacob Lawrence The American Struggle Exhibit Opens at Birmingham Museum of Art, November 19, 2020
How Pastor Mike McClure Jr’s ‘Big’ hit brings even bigger blessings, July 23, 2020
BMA’s Barbie Exhibit: How Society Views Beauty and Women of Color, August 22, 2019
Randi Pink’s 31 days of ‘rage writing’ produced latest novel, ‘Girls Like Us’, November 9, 2019
Tori Wolfe-Sissons ‘Melanin-Centered’ yoga class relieves stress, August 29, 2019
Magic City Fashion Week: A new tradition of Birmingham city style, published October 2018
Nina Garcia: Keeping Fashion In Fashion from the Oct/Nov/Dec 2012 Issue