How can I support you. Do you want me to put your play on the #Reninaslist Newslettter (http://eepurl.com/qWXrH). I have 70 subscribers, so far and a third of those folks are in dc, the rest are in Philly y BK and Cali.

Re Competition. It is healthy and THERE IS ENOUGH SHINE/WORK FOR BOTH OF US. cc: @Jessie Boomboom. I have been outlining a book about creative process and using the internet to find your tribe and it sounds like you will be one of the first to buy it gina!!!

My best friend is a brown woman who runs in VC circles and we talk all the time about how VC (venture capital circles ) are a.) Hella small b.) Your reputation is everything c.)YOU HAVE TO PATENT EVERYTHING JUST AS A GP MEASURE OF NOT GETTING your shit stolen. d.) VC circles have hella smart people. e.) VC circles know that there is enough bread to go around, IF the projects are good. (Capital is limited,but EVERYONE wants in on the new hot thing). I see myself building the same kind of community for women of color artists both online and offline. I am so glad I ran into you on the street last summer, can’t wait to see your play. <3 R

Here’s how it went down.

March 2011– I take a playwriting class on a whim to do something different and to meet people. I really like the class and the writing structure appeals to me. I’ve always wanted to be a writer.

November 2011– I take an Introduction to Acting class. Acting is harder than I thought it would be and I suck at it.

January 2012 — I decide that the Journalism Experiment that I began in fall 1998 is officially over. Journalism was always a cop out for me. I always wanted to be an artist/writer but I was afraid of being poor because I had grown up that way. Journalism was me being practical and “grown up” but its such a bad fit now. But I’m keeping my job though. I also decide in order to break a long-running creative impasse that I’ll write a full length (one or two act) play this year.

April 2012- I take “Playwriting from the Gut.” From the first day of class, it was obvious someone sprinkled magic fairy dust on this class. The teacher has groupies and is really nice and approachable. There were 4 Black men in the class which is a lot for these types of classes. In fact the class has a lot of diversity which is nice. I’m trying to figure out who I gel with because its nice to make some friends. I also realized that playwriting may be my “thang” because of its structure and the expansiveness of topics and vision (you can be overtly political in theater). I also feel that playwriting is doable, especially if you are ok with performing in a church basement which I am at the beginning. I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker and studied it in college but the money required to make a decent 10 minutes film is terrifying to me but plays seem doable to me. On my last day of class, I pass out my business card to a few people that I think I really vibe with.

June 2012- I bombard the teacher of “Playwriting from the Gut” with questions on how to become a playwright during a follow-up meeting dinner. I’ve secretly decided to become a playwright. I’ve also had a feeling in my body & Spirit that I can do this. I can use this art to express myself. I’m also thinking about eventually starting my own theater company/group since I’ve started meeting actors & playwrights in the DMV and everyone seems to have a theater company/project/group. If they can do- I can too!

July 2012– One of the people I gave my business card to wants to organize a writing group that meets monthly. We have a meeting and only three of us show up and we have a good time. We decided to all attend Capital Fringe Festival’s panel on “Playwriting in the new play sector.” We all walk out of the panel and decide we should produce a theater production for next year’s Fringe Festival. We go to a Chinese restaurant and decided to form our own playwrights’ collective! My life starts making more sense to me because I’ve really struggled with the reason why I’m living in the DMV (I’m a New York City girl) and now I think it may be a good launching pad for my artistic career.

August 2012 – I’m struggling with my play. It’s a great idea even though its not really me. I console myself with the thought that if I can pull this off- then it will be a big deal.

September 2012- My brother has a business trip to Paris, France, and me and my mother join him. This is a big deal for me because my mother and brother (my parents are divorced) were the ones who were in the trenches with me. All of us together, staying at a nice loft apartment, with money to spend is proof we made it. I’ve been to Paris twice (in the early 2000s) but seeing Paris with my mother (this is her 2nd trip abroad) is amazing. At first, my mother, played it off, like Paris ain’t all that, then it wore her down with its beauty, macaroons, ice cream & shopping. I was so overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of it and all the colored people that it shakes my core. I decided that I need to write stories that are important to me. I need to write Black Girl Stories about people who are as complex & original as I am and it is ok to write stories about where I’m from and the people who I claim. I also decide the play I’m currently working on will be put aside and I need to start all over and write a Black Girl Story.

November 2012– The collective applies to the Fringe Festival after a few weeks of getting all the components together. I spend the holiday at home and finish my first draft of my play. This is a miracle (fo’ real)! I’ve never finished the 1st draft of any creative writing project that isn’t a school assignment.

December 2012- Working on 2nd draft of my play. I’m now reading up on the structure of a play, reading plays, seeing plays, listening and watching podcasts about play. I’m in play-land. Dec. 31st comes and I don’t have a finished play but I’m farther along than I’ve ever been. I also decide 2013 is the year of WORK. I’m dedicated to working on all the areas of my life that I’ve been feeling really stuck in– my art & love-life.

2013– The playwrights’ collective got accepted to this summer’s Capital Fringe Festival. The play we’re producing will feature writing from all of us. This means I will be a PRODUCED PLAYWRIGHT!!!! So, I’m officially an artist/playwright now, or I’ve finally allowed myself to claim that title. It feels good to think of myself as an artist, it feels right. I have nothing but work ahead of me until August but I’m so excited, so much to learn and experience. I’m completely new to the theater world. I’ve also been thinking about finding a way to make money off my art in the future or at least work in an art-related environment that will help me build an important body knowledge. I also want to learn more about becoming an entrepreneur or as I call it owning my own labor. I’ve been researching trademarks for a company that I think I’ll eventually need to form. And I’ve been thinking about writing and publishing e-books (if I can write a play, then I can write a book), plus I want to help produce my friend’s verbatim theater or video project which makes me think I want to producing art openings or shows. A new world has opened up for me and I’m swimming and exploring it and its about time. I’m kinda of an older chick.

I do want to say that your website & tumblr and reading about your experiences coding, plans for your books, bags, & tshirts, your domain purchases, getting your copyright stuff together and now the documentaries & videos — I LOVE IT! And I’m not one to take away your shine but watching you do your thang and supporting you kinda makes me feel like I can do my thang too! I’m excited to see what you are rolling out this year. I’ll be working, writing, directing & hustling like a fiend but I’ll also be checking in with you on your platforms. I can’t wait to see the magic you make. Best, Ms. World