Imagination Publication

  This year’s Black History Month ended weeks ago, but that doesn’t make Black history any less important in the months following. If anything, you should show even more support for the Black community by reading the literature they write and seeing life from their perspective. Here’s why you should be reading Black literature regardless of your skin color. Literature is Literature, No Matter the Color Around June 2020, a noticeable spike was  reported  in the purchase of books by Black authors. This wasn’t a coincidence or a case of the world finally seeing literature beyond color. In fact, this was only a temporary interest the world was taking in Black lives after the  brutal killing of George Floyd  in May of the same year sparked worldwide protests.    The rules of literature should never be written in blood. It shouldn’t take someone’s demise to finally see the light. Without putting too fine a point on it: you should read Black literature becaus...

If you identify as African American, you probably don’t see yourself represented in most books. That changes now! There are so many great books by Black authors coming out this year you don’t want to limit your reading to Black History Month .   From Trevor Noah to Charlie Mon, make 2022 a year about discovering Black literature and its subgenres by adding the following writers to your shelves. 1.   Trevor Noah You might’ve read this name and thought, ‘Doesn’t Trevor Noah host  The Daily Show ?’ He might host a daily show, but he also  comes from a place  of apartheid.  Born a Crime  is a written version of everything he’s joked about in his standup routines. In his book, he shares what it was like to grow up as a biracial kid in a country where Black and White people weren’t allowed to be seen together. From surviving on caterpillars to surviving the dating pitfalls of high school, he depicts life in all its raw glory with a wit that you can only iden...

  Urban fiction, otherwise known as ‘street lit’ and by other names ,  portrays the nitty-gritty details of the harsh realities of inner-city life. It contains the social and economic realities of themes such as poverty, crime, fast romance, and violence. Seasoned writers of this diverse genre mostly write based on their own experiences. That’s why you’ll see many things in it that are so close to the truth even with the moniker of fiction to it. These steps to writing as one can help. Focus on Authentic Ideas and Themes Urban fiction is categorized as such for its authentic ideas and themes, even if it’s fiction. As a seasoned writer, take ideas from actual events for a similar feel to your book. This can be something that happened to you, your friend, or even what you saw on the news. Elements of love, sex, jealousy, and betrayal are universally loved and make for compelling storytelling. But there’s a fine line between storytelling and straight-up making stuff up that’s unr...

You can live under a rock and still be privy to the most popular book genre : romance. This category is so famous it bleeds into other genres, such as mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, and even horror. But what about the underrated genres?   Today’s article will highlight some of the most unrepresented and underappreciated literary genres. 1.   Steampunk Steampunk  offers a contemporary take on traditional fantasy and science fiction. It sounds extremely Victorian due to the latter but feels ultra-modern due to the former. Steam power defines this genre and its eclectic mix of the past and present.    More writers are writing steampunk because it might have rules, but they aren’t as stringent as other genres. Therefore, they can write whatever they want to develop their world. For instance, you might find alternative history and a dystopian future in one steampunk novel.   While this genre has yet to pick up steam, it has all the other genres be...

  Building an audience as a new writer can be quite difficult, even more so if you're self-publishing. While traditional publishing houses invest in book marketing endeavors  in the days leading up to and after the book release, both endorsed and self-endorsed new writers must also pitch in.   With that in mind, here's how you can attract readers as a debut writer à la urban novelist Charlie Mon. 1.   Set Up an Author Website Most authors set up their website before their book goes up for sale because : · They want to give readers something to look forward to via teasers, previews, and trailers. · They want to connect with the readers through the 'About the Book,' blog, and bio sections. · They want to link the book to the online stores selling them.   An author's website might be the first impression readers have of you, or at the very least, your upcoming book. It might motivate them to request ARCs , otherwise known as Advance Review Copies, of your upcoming ...

Polaroid Images Reading ‘Who’, ‘When’, ‘Where’, ‘How’, ‘Why’, and ‘What’ Attached to Wooden Slats Writing might be something you learn as you grow up, but creative writing is a skill set. You may have a knack for weaving worlds through your words, but turning that knack into an art form will take time and a series of trials and errors. Urban novelist Charlie Mon was no different, but he worked to understand his mistakes and adapt his writing accordingly. Here’s how you can do the same. 1.   Starting When the Deadline is Near Creative writing takes time, so not granting yourself any is not the way to hone your craft. You might be tempted to rush through the process because you have a deadline coming up, and that’s where you’d be wrong. A deadline isn’t a call for you to get to work. It’s not a time limit for you but an indication from your publishers of how long they’re willing to wait for your book. Creative writing involves building a world out of nothing, and it consists of a lot...