Since this is your thing, I'm releasing a short story Monday that I'm curious about your thoughts on. open.substack.com/pub/hannibal...

I let myself enjoy the beauty of imperfection in learning this relationship I'm in. Of seeing the world post my illness. I breathe life into my lines, not hope to capture what is left of my life in them. I'm just a face among the billions, so if you stayed to read this thank you. #BookSky
10/The End

And the same went for my writing. I thought I could only write certain things. Now though? Will you see how varied the projects I've shared with you on #SubStack are. I spend hours when I'm not working heading my characters in my head. Figuring out the next part to their stories.

#BlackAuthor
9/

I've been the secret lover, the other guy, the barely friend they enjoy feeling special with, and doesn't almost a decade refusing romantic connections to instead be multiple submissives' dominant while they kept their boyfriend or husband. Because I thought that was all I was worth.
#BlackWriter
8/

Valuing myself brought other things along with it. My pen turned into a greater version of itself. And I've met this wonderful woman that reciprocates my connection with her. She isn't "afraid of how she feels about me." She doesn't hide me from her life. I'd been so diminished I accepted it.
7/

In my freedom I found out how much was a lie I told myself. A lie I convinced myself of. I didn't need to be in pain to write good things. That was a burden I was placing on myself. I wasn't at my best when I was in my terrible relationships. That was me believing I wasn't worth being loved.
6/

If I'm honest the remnants of that fear is most of why I write currently under this name and not my actual one. The other part is my profession, but that's boring to talk about. But my protective nature for the vulnerable parts of my psyche had and has a purpose. Freedom to truly be creative.

5/

It was my secret shame for decades. What was at the heart of my fear to not release the collections of poetry I have. What got me away from going on stages. And what delayed or cancelled every writing project I had until I finally fought through one. Fear that people would see the real me.
4/

My best #poetry, the ones to this day people remind me about, were all when I was on the knife's edge. When I hoped for the release and silence of death. It was a cruel joke I thought, to only have access to my best creativity when my mind was at its most terrifying antagonist zenith towards me.
3/

I could only soar when I was in the depths of my darkness. I began to love my darkness back the way it loved me. Began to trust only how I felt when my #depression was in control of things.

#WriterLife #BlackBookSky
#BlackSky
#BlackSkyOver40
#BlackAuthor
#BlackFantasyAuthor
2/