on travel, writing, & post grad plans
I've been thinking recently of why it takes me so long to do things—by “things” I mean this newsletter. The last time I sent one out was back in September which doesn’t feel that long, but was actually…half a year ago?! What. The. F—Where is the time? Where is it going? Can someone run after it and wrangle it back to me?
But anyways, I don't know what it is about this newsletter—and really, certain writing projects—that has me putting it off forever. If it’s because I expect high quality and so I think I might as well not do it all if I’m not going to do it perfectly. If it’s because I feel like I’ve already said it to some extent on Twitter or Instagram or to friends so I think it won’t be any news for people. If it’s de-prioritization or laziness, or if it’s because I think whatever I have to say isn’t worth saying.
But today I decided, okay. It doesn't matter if what I send out is not perfect, if it’s not giving exciting news. I'm going to send out some updates to y'all anyways. We’re doing it.
First, hello to all the newcomers here! Most of you have likely found me from this TikTok video or this one, and I'm so glad you made it here before the app gets banned (jk…I think?)
Before I jump in, I have one question for y’all on what future topics you would prefer I cover:
on fellowship news
Last newsletter, I told y’all how I was applying for a fellowship that would fund my studies at the University of Cambridge—in my case, a master’s in Creative Writing.
I’ve talked a little about the process on Twitter already, but wow was it intense. First was the actual application, which required 3 letters of recommendations along with some other materials. From the pool of applicants, 20 were chosen as semifinalists to interview for 15 minutes. A week later, we were notified if we were one of the 12 finalists, and those interviews…yeah, they were a lot—in the worst, best ways. They lasted 3 hours, and in total, we talked to 18 interviewers. At the end, they told us to fill out where we would be later that evening. This was about 12pm.
Then at 5pm, people started getting calls.
I didn’t.
By 5:30, I thought: okay. okay. okay, I’m just gonna grab dinner. Okay, it’s not the worst thing if I don’t get it. I didn’t tell my parents I was applying for that reason alone. It was a reach. The reach-ests of reaches.
Then as I’m moving around the dinner on my plate—the adrenaline from the morning made it so I could not eat anything until the following day—I see this mass of people enter the dining hall and my heart. God. It’s beating fast now just writing about it.
All the interviewers were there, and they cheered, and people in the dining hall cheered, and my roommate cried, and the interviewers hugged me, and said a bunch of things I nodded to but didn’t catch because my ears were roaring.
It was the most brilliant day. And what made it so emotional was that everything about my application, and every conversation I had during that process was so honest, and earnest. I talked about my dedication to only writing Black main characters, my Ethiopian fantasy works in progress, my admiration for R.F Kuang, and fantasies like Lauren Blackwood’s WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS, and my siblings, and my Sunday school kids, and my complicated relationship with family and faith, and my love of community, and why these are all themes in my writing.
I tweeted this in February and I’m still feeling so blessed now.
So crossing fingers all the visa and logistics work out, you’re gonna catch your girl in Cambridge, England next year getting her masters in Creative Writing and traveling Europe—all funds covered!!
on traveling
Growing up, my family never traveled. We couldn't afford to, and it also just wasn’t on the priority list of a poor, immigrant family trying to get their footing in a new country. First time I went to a beach and movie theatre was in high school. First time I went out of state was for college visits.
So when I came into college, I promised myself I would take advantage of every opportunity I could to get to get out and explore the ~world~. And even though COVID took away a year from me, I've gotten chances to go to some wonderful places to do some wonderful things with some wonderful people.
Here are some things I've been up to this past year:
Jan 2023 — This winter break, I went to Tanzania with my roommate for a project. I got to stay with her family, eat really good food, and drink really good mango juice. I love TZ, and I love the people, and I'm definitely going back one day.
March 2023 — This spring break, I went to New Orleans, Louisiana with some of my roommates. Two of us were doing lent fasting (no meat or dairy), so we found great vegan spots around French Quarter and had the best food—Thaihey NOLA is so, so good. If y’all need recommendations of places to visit and places to eat in/around French Quarter, let me know!
Summer 2023 — This post grad summer, I'll be in China teaching a high school seminar on Creative Nonfiction! And I'll be going with one of my really good friends, which makes it even more exciting. Eee!
on revision & works in progresses
Back in the fall of 2022, I decided to leave my agents, and jump back into the query trenches. I did it eyes closed, breath held, and holding my new novel TOO PRETTY TO LIE close to my chest. That faith paid off, and some time later, I got a brilliant, new agent—I am now represented by Jennifer March Soloway in Andrea Brown Lit Agency!
A few weeks after we signed, she sent me the edit letter for the novel, and for the past few months, I’ve been working on revising the manuscript based on her notes. Revisions have been...difficult. I decided to change a big plot point in the middle of the book, which had rippling effects for the last half. It's been a lot of drafting new scenes, which is frustrating on the nights I feel like I've forgotten how to write, and overall kind of hellish. I'm currently like 60% of the way through, and I'm so excited for the day I can finally say "done!", shove it back to Jennifer, and make it her problem again lol.
reading & roaring with praise
Friend Book Of The Month:
STUDY BREAK, an anthology edited by Aashna Avachat: It’s a collection of interconnected stories all set in a university, exploring the various parts of the college experience. What’s not to love?
Finished:
NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney; NORMAL PEOPLE show, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald. I read the book and watched the show. I read it, and watched it, and thought: okay. okay, it makes sense why so many people loved it. The novel is set in Ireland, and follows two characters as they fall in and out of each other’s lives over the years. That is such an insufficient summary for such a gorgeous novel, but I feel to try to make it more convoluted might be even worse. Just pick it up, read the first chapter, and see if you like it.
Current reading:
ON ROTATION by Shirlene Obuobi. First, the author is the sweetest human ever. When I was trying to make a decision about leaving my agents, she was one of the people I DMed and just…she made feel so cared for. The book is described to be for fans of Grey’s Anatomy and Seven Days in June which…eee! It follows a Ghanaian-American character as she tackles medical school, family, and love. Even though pre-med track has kind of traumatized me, I’m looking forward to getting into it.
A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanagihara. Oh, yes, this book still. Can I even say I’m “currently reading” it if it’s half a year later? *hides face* I’m ashamed I haven’t finished it yet. Unlike NORMAL PEOPLE (which is an easy read by the way), this one is too heavy (topics-wise) and dense (page-wise) to just flip through. Okay, but soon!
That’s all for now! I hope you have a lovely March, and a lovely beginning of spring.
Until next time and with all my love,
Birukti