Caribbean Book Blogs: Shining a Light on the Region's Literary Gems

Caribbean literature is a mosaic of stories, histories, and voices that often struggle to gain global recognition. In this challenging landscape, Caribbean book blogs play a crucial role, serving a vital function in bridging the gap between talented authors and potential readers. These blogs go beyond simple book reviews; they create connections, encourage discoveries, and support the growth of both readers and writers, making them essential to the Caribbean's literary ecosystem.

Connecting Readers and Writers

Book blogs in the digital space serve as bridges, connecting Caribbean authors with global audiences. Blogs like Jhohadli (https://jhohadli.wordpress.com/) provide a platform for underrepresented Caribbean writers. One notable example of Jhohadli's commitment to showcasing underrepresented Caribbean voices is its feature of emerging Antiguan and Barbudan poets. Through dedicated poetry showcases, Jhohadli has introduced readers to talents like Brenda Lee Browne, whose poems explore themes of identity, history, and resilience in the Caribbean context. By spotlighting poets like Brenda Lee Browne, Jhohadli provides exposure to individual writers and contributes to the broader representation of Caribbean literary traditions. By fostering a supportive online community around their work, Jhohadli encourages dialogue and engagement, amplifying these voices' impact beyond traditional publishing channels' confines. In doing so, Jhohadli and similar blogs are vital hubs for celebrating and promoting underrepresented Caribbean literature, ensuring its continued vitality and relevance in the global literary conversation.

Discovering New Literary Treasures

For readers exploring Caribbean literature, blogs act as guides, leading them through the diverse range of narratives and styles that characterize the region. The Peepal Tree Press Blog (https://www.peepaltreepress.com/blog) is a notable example of curating an eclectic selection of works across various genres and themes within Caribbean literature. One specific example of the blog's commitment to introducing readers to new authors is its spotlight on emerging Caribbean playwrights. For instance, recent posts have featured playwrights like Natalia Ramanaden, whose provocative dramas challenge conventional narratives and explore pressing social issues in the Caribbean context. By showcasing Ramanaden's work alongside that of established playwrights, the blog provides a platform for emerging talents to gain visibility and recognition.

Supporting Literary Growth

Preelit stands out for its commitment to providing critical analyses, commentaries, and discussions that challenge established perspectives in Caribbean literature. One specific example of this is its series of in-depth book reviews, where contributors offer nuanced insights into works by both established and emerging Caribbean authors. For instance, recent reviews have explored novels like Kei Miller's "Augustown" and Marlon James's "A Brief History of Seven Killings," exploring themes such as colonial legacies, identity, and resistance. Through these reviews, Preelit evaluates individual works and situates them within broader literary, historical, and socio-political contexts, encouraging readers to engage critically with Caribbean literature. Preelit fosters a culture of intellectual inquiry and dialogue within the Caribbean literary community by offering critical analyses, commentaries, and discussions. Also, by creating a platform for dialogue and exchange, Preelit fosters a sense of community among writers, readers, scholars, and critics, facilitating the sharing of ideas and promoting collaboration.

Uniting the Caribbean Literary Community

The combined efforts of these blogs create a network of literary exploration, with each blog representing an island connected by the shared heritage of Caribbean storytelling. Feedspot's curation of top Caribbean book blogs (https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_book_blogs/)  is significant in bringing these diverse platforms together, providing readers and writers with a central hub to access the wealth of Caribbean literary content online. This amplifies the reach of Caribbean literature and strengthens the sense of community among those who create and appreciate these stories.

Looking to the Future

Caribbean book blogs are essential in narrating the ongoing story of the region's literary identity. By showcasing the diverse voices of the Caribbean, these blogs ensure that the region's literature thrives in the digital age. As we move forward, the importance of these platforms and the support from aggregators like Feedspot will continue to grow, guaranteeing that the Caribbean's literary heritage will enrich the cultural landscape. Through their collective efforts, we are reminded of the power of stories to connect us, broaden our horizons, and nurture personal and communal growth.

Shoot the Sheriff: How to Overcome Writer’s Block

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ~ Sylvia Plath.

So, there I was in front of the students at Zelda Glazer Middle when an aspiring writer asked the dreaded question: "How do you overcome writer's block?" 

Ah, youth! She probably didn't know that her innocent query was the equivalent of asking an actor about the Scottish play in a theatre. It is verboten. 

 

Still, I was kind and answered from my own experience. 

Whenever I have suffered from writer's block, it's because I have smalled-up myself. Usually it's a reaction to post-publication depression, anemic royalties, and/or unfair/devastating reviews. If all three happen at the same time, watch out! 

But even in the midst of disaster, I've noticed a pattern of expectations versus results. It takes an enormous amount of energy to conceive and finish a poem or short story. Imagine what it takes to complete a book of poems, short stories or a novel and then, to encounter critical and/or commercial failure? 

Don't get me wrong, I love writing. It's the most fun you can have without taking your clothes off. And writing, like making love, which requires tenderness and attention, should be approached with anticipation and joy. If it feels like a chore, then you're in the wrong business. 

Whenever I've gone through a period of writer's block, it feels as if I've dried up. It's no longer pleasurable. Then, insidious questions begin to flood my mind:  What makes you think that your writing is any good? Is this rejection and public humiliation worth the effort?

 

Writers from every culture face these kinds of questions and life is hard enough just being human. But when you add racism and historical/cultural influences--some people are entitled to speech and some are not--then, the questions take on an added dimension. We doubt our right to speak or to promote our own work. We lack confidence in our own voice.

And given the reticence in Jamaican/Caribbean culture, which is a direct result of 400 years of colonial propaganda designed for convince us that our lives are inferior to those in the "mother country," other questions bubble up: Who the hell do you think you are?

 

I've heard it in my head whenever I picked up a pen. I've felt it when I've read in front of an audience, especially in Jamaica. We are notoriously hard on each other and it's a symptom of tendency nurtured by either fear or envy, "Sammy plant piece a corn down a gully," that fears success and will kill anyone who does not conform or dares to let her light shine. 

On the Plantation, we have proverbs that caution against success, "The higher monkey climb," and names for the ones that drag others down, "Crabs in a barrel." Or the really nasty one, "Neyga cyaan see neyga prosper." But more, anon. 

To make the choice "to stay eager," I've had to figure out ways to bring myself back to writing without the thought of publishing because writing and publishing are two different processes. 

Whenever I am writing verse, I am only thinking about finding the right word, metaphor, and rhythm that best express the ideas and emotions in the poem. I like to think that I am writing from the Spirit. 

Publishing is another matter. Publishing plunges me into the world of samara where measuring, competition, and ego rule. Any writer who says she is not competitive is a boldfaced liar. We all have bills to pay and would sell our mothers for a lucrative publishing contract. 

So, as with everything else in life, it's a balance between the Spirit and Ego--your life's passion and material desires. Both should be acknowledged. We drive ourselves crazy when we step over into the chaos of ego/samsara and forget to create out of who we are. Writer's block is an affliction not only of the mind, but also of the spirit. 

In those dark moments when envy and anger cloud my mind and I feel as if I am drowning in self-pity, the self-defeating voices creep in: "Look at X, she is getting all of that fame, attention, and money, and all I have is my cat. And on some days, not even he likes my company." 

We crave validation from others because writing is a form of communication, which implies exchange/ transfer with at least one other person. Sometimes it's hard to find that ONE person. Your mother doesn't count. 

How do I climb out of the hellhole of thoughts that I've created in my own mind? How do I big-up myself, even when the world seems so huge and I am so small? 

Here are some starters: 

Breathe deeply and reorient myself. Just as there is a time to reap, there is a time to sow. Seventy-five percent of the living, reading, and researching never makes it into a finished piece of writing, so every now and then, it's necessary to step back from the writing, change my routine, and dig deeper into listening, reading, resting, and living. In those times, I remind myself with the wisdom of my mother who would say to me with her Rock of Ages voice, “This, too, shall pass, my son. This, too, shall pass. Be kind to yourself.” 

Spend time with my friends and family. Writing is a solitary vocation that takes up much of my daily life. There have been occasions when I've viewed writer's block as a blessing. It gave me time to reconnect with my friends and family who reassured me that I was not alone--even if the cat wouldn't come near me. 

I count my blessings. I am grateful for all the opportunities I've had over many years of writing and publishing. I am proud of every book that I've published. I've never published a book merely to say that I'm a published author. 

Remember my heroes. In particular, I think about what Bob Marley said at the "Smile Jamaica" concert: "The people, who were trying to make this world worse... are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness." Occasionally, this increases my anxiety about writing, but it has proven, at least on one occasion, to be an inspiration with Bob Marley and Bradford's iPod.

 

Shoot the Sheriff.

 

Sheriff John Brown always hated me

For what I don't know.

Every time I try to plant a seed.

He say 'Kill it before it grow'

Fear is a natural part of human life. It has kept the species alive for millennia. But, then, there's irrational fear that paralyzes healthy living. "We're all weird." But some of us are still stuck in the zeitgeist of the Plantation. We fear if one cog goes loose, the culture will fall apart. It won't.

Enter the Deputy or anyone from your past/present who says you are not good enough or you'll never make it. I don't have to go on. You know your own daemon better than I do. It's not their fault. They merely provide the triggering event. You can take it from there. 

Freedom came my way one day

And I started out of town, yeah!

All of a sudden I saw Sheriff John Brown

Aiming to shoot me down,

So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say:

If I am guilty I will pay. 

The problem is the Sheriff and for your survival, you have to shoot the Sheriff or the inner critic--whatever you want to name her. Or 

Trick the Sheriff. Sooner or later, if you are passionate about writing (as opposed to the idea of being a writer), you will feel the urge to write again, but your heart won't be in it. You'll have to fall in love with the process of creating to regain your confidence.

If the part of my mind that generates creative work through poetry by using rhythm and metaphor has shut down, I turn to non-fiction by writing articles and blogging. It gets the juices flowing because I'm going through the creative process of researching, distilling, and combining information about something that I am passionate about while at the same time being of service.

Then, follow the advice of Mary Heaton Vorse: "The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair."

 

If you don't believe me, how do you think I've continued writing for so many years?

Here are a few other sites that may help you to overcome writer's block: 

Writers on Writing: Overcoming Writer's Block

Writers Block? Try this Quick Tip

Hack your way out of writer's block

How to Overcome Writer's Block

Creativity Blocked? Here’s the Solution…

Twelve Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative Thinking

3 Simple Steps for Staring Down Writer’s Block

Writing Tips: Overcoming Writer’s Block

5 Timeless Books of Insight on Fear and the Creative Process

Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block

How to Get Over Writer's Block

 

I mean, who wants to end up living here?

Writer's Block

We've Got An App For That!

I've just created an Android App for this blog. You can download it here:

 http://www.freeblogapps.com/d/a5ca25/geoffrey-philps-blog

Alternative Downloads

USB Computer Download (Advanced)

Step 1: Prepare your Android phone to download your app by opening Settings > Applications and check the checkbox for Unknown Sources.

Step 2: Download the Geoffrey Philp's Blog application APK file.

Step 3: Connect your computer to your phone and transfer the file over USB.

Barcode Download

Step 1: Prepare your Android phone to download your app by opening Settings > Applications and check the checkbox for Unknown Sources.

Step 2: Using your Android phone, get your barcode reader app and scan the QR Code on the left. Don't have a bar code reader app? Download this one.

Step 3: Open the url and download the APK app file. Then click the downloaded app file to install. If you've done step 1 correctly it should install successfully.

Having Trouble?

How do I prepare my phone to download?

Please view this Youtube video for a demonstration of how to prepare your phone to download an app. It's quite straightforward and can take less than a minute.

My phone doesn't have the Unknown Sources option?

Some phone providers such as AT&T do not allow you to install third party applications which would include apps like the one you have just made. To see if there are any alternatives methods, try a google search for ways to install third party apps on your specific phone model.

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What Can Bob Marley Teach Bloggers?

An artist’s life is a gift to his community. Appreciation of the gift is another matter. For many years while he toiled in obscurity, Bob was denied the recognition that he deserved in Jamaica. Bob’s rise to international fame in a country governed by what Colin Grant, author of InI: the Natural Mystics, has called the “brown and white elite,” did not happen overnight. Marley’s ascension was a combination of hard work, perseverance, and livication to his craft—admirable traits that would serve any writer/blogger well. But there are other characteristics, which if they were applied to blogging, would increase authority and online presence—the Holy Grail of blogging.

“Take my soul and suss me out/ Check my life if I’m in doubt.” (“Rebel Music”)

One of the most striking aspects of Marley’s songwriting is his authenticity. When Bob wrote “One good thing about music/ When it hits you, you feel no pain,” (“Trench Town Rock,”) or “Yes, me friend, me good friend/ Them set we free again,” (“Duppy Conqueror), you know immediately that he had experienced the downpression of Babylon in its most brutal forms. Yet he turned these events into stories that entertained and made his listeners think about the plight of the sufferahs. Bob wrote out of a conviction borne from his experiences. As Rita Marley explains, “He was on a mission.”

A blog should have a mission. Bloggers need to write with the same level of intensity about subjects that will sustain not only their interest, but also the attention of readers over the long haul. Bob was passionate about freedom and justice. You can see it in Bob’s face in one of the earliest exposures of the Wailers when they played “Concrete Jungle” on BBC`s Old Grey Whistle Test 1973. Colin Grant borrows a term from Garcia Lorca to describe Marley’s passion: duende.  Passion is contagious. Write with passion and readers will follow.

“We come from Trench Town/ Most of them come from Trench Town” (“Trench Town”).

Bob was committed to the people of TrenchTown and celebrated them not only in song, but also with material assistance. According to Herbie Miller: “He helped many not only through financial assistance, but also in setting up small businesses and paying school fees and health costs.” His life and work were in service to his community.

Seth Godin calls this the creation of a tribe. And the size of the tribe doesn’t matter. What matters is consistent shipping (another Godinism) of unique and valuable content that will change a reader’s perspective.

“Though I try to find the answer/ to all the questions they ask/ I know it is impossible/ to go living through past” (“Natural Mystic”).

As an adolescent what first attracted me to Bob’s music was the experience of life that Bob delivered by his mindfulness and transformation of the details of his life into a coherent message. I began to see events from a different perspective than the one presented through the media. He explained meaning from a Rastacentric point of view, which has influenced my fiction and poetry. With the release of successive LPs, I also recognized the steady development of three themes:

Downstruction of Babylon and the freedom of InI

JahLove in its many forms

Oneness and inviolability of InI

So, in a song like “Rebel Music,” which can be summarized in a Tweet: “Road block? Rain falling. Gotta throw away ganja,” Bob alters the tone of the incident into an interrogation of Babylon and a yearning for freedom:

Why can't we roam this open country?

Oh, why can't we be what we wanna be

We want to be free.

Depending on the overarching theme of the blog, posts should achieve cumatively what George H.W. Bush called “the vision thing.” Bob’s daily mission was to “chant down Babylon, and he made his listeners feel as if they were a part of the struggle. His listeners could relate to his stories and broadened their moral imagination.We became inhabitants, at least in our imagination, of Trench Town and were willing if necessary, to “fight this little struggle,” in Kingston or anywhere there was a struggle for equal rights and justice (“Zimbabwe”). This, perhaps, is the reason why his music Marley continues to be relevant. As Christopher Winks observes:

The whole of Marley’s work bespeaks an ethic of reciprocity: the “we” he invokes reminds everyone listening that they are immediately and inextricably involved in what he is singing about at that moment. So when we hear him sing “woman hold her head and cry” at the violent death of her son from a stray bullet “just because of the system,” (“Johnny Was,” Rastaman Vibration), how can we not think of the youths not only of Tivoli Gardens, but also of the Gaza Strip, Ciudad Juárez, Cité Soleil?  When Marley defiantly tells “Mister Cop” that he “ain’t got no birth certificate on me now” (“Rebel Music,” Natty Dread), the plight of undocumented immigrants in the United States is not far away. And when he snaps at an officious TV interviewer that “Babylon nah bear no fruit,” the massive oil pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, the Nigeria Delta, and Ecuadorean Amazonia, the coal mining disasters worldwide, and the persistent state of “war in the East / war in the West” (“War,” Rastaman Vibration) tragically and enragingly bear him out.  

At first, devising a comprehensive theme for a blog may seem a grandiose project, but as Justine Musk suggests, writing a manifesta, “organizes all your content into a unifying whole greater than the sum of its parts.” Little by little, the parts will come together. But it begins with the intention of convincing readers that their concerns are also yours.

“Dem a go tired fe see me face/ Cyaan get me out of the race” (“Bad Card”).

Bob Marley’s life as artist was marked by his tireless work ethic. As Chris Blackwell notes, ‘I never saw him leading his band by toughness, I saw him leading them by example. If the bus was going on somewhere, he'd be the first person on the bus. Normally the star turns up at the end, cracks a few jokes and climbs on, but he'd be the first one there.” Or as Bob confessed, “You haffi ask man like Garrick how hard me work. People see me and say, ‘how come yu shoes so wet up?’” (“Talking Blues”). For anyone willing to take the time, there are many lessons that Bob’s life will continue to yield. His life and work will continue to inspire other writers/artists. But most importantly, he will be an example to anyone who wants to share her gifts with her community.

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Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobmarleymusic/5152278444/in/photostream/

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Jamaica Blog Awards: We got badges!

I know what some of you are thinking: "Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!"
So,vote for me & "Shoot the Sheriff...not the deputy."
Or if you prefer Bob Dylan:
"Mama, take this badge off of meI can't use it anymore.It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to seeI feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door."
Either way, here's the link to vote for me:
http://jamaicablogawards.com/geoffrey-philip/
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Vote for Geoffrey Philp's Blog: Jamaica Blog Awards

Geoffrey Philp's Blog has been nominated in the Best Overseas Blog for the Jamaica Blog Awards. Give thanks to Corve DaCosta for organizing the contest and for highlighting the Jamaican talent within the blogosphere.

To vote for my blog, please follow this link to the category: Best Overseas Blog:

http://jamaicablogawards.com/voting-categories/best-overseas-jamaica-blog/

Voting ends @ noon January 3, 2011.

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3Quarks Contest

Robert Pinsky will be the judge of the 3 Quarks Daily’s Arts & Literature Prize.

The winners of the Arts &Literature Prize will be announced on March 20, 2010.

For more, please follow this link: 3Quarks

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• 3 Quarks Daily Prize in Arts & Literature (3quarksdaily.com)