I Just Be Writing
There are many sides to all of us. For me, creating is a large part of my life and ties into what I believe is my purpose. I’m a simple southern chic known as A S D. These are my stories. (Dun Dun).
ASD The Writer
We all have a story. Some of us have more than one.
My first piece of creative writing, that I can remember, was a rap to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s Parents Just Don’t Understand. The instrumental was perfect for the syncopated chop style of thinking my mind gravitated towards. I wish I could say from that point I never stopped. But, I did. Several times, in fact. I would use writing as a measure of release, not always constructively, throughout my teens. I would win a contest or two, but never felt a desire to really take it all seriously.
Fast forward into my twenties. Writing would become the lifeline I used to hang on in tough times. Slowly, it began to evolve into a practice which helped me understand myself and my motives. As I was able to gain clarity into who I was, I would notice I was able to see characters clearer. I could hear dialogue, envision scenes, and my pen hand, coupled with my syncopated style of thinking, could capture these moments in a way that lulled others along for the ride.
The stories I choose to tell don’t fit in one single category or speak on any one singular experience. I create what moves me. As Toni Morrison instructs us, I write the stories I want to read. I work to create characters that ring true and stand deep in authenticity while navigating circumstances, some exceptional and some deplorable in nature, of their own making. How they rise or fall to those circumstances is where I believe a story really has the potential to touch us all.
My first full-length novel, Running with Scars, follows Arica Hatchins, an only child, to Senator Miranda Hatchins and Thatcher Hatchins, PhD. D. She is juggling school, a new job, and a fairly new relationship while trying to understand how to stay focused on what’s right and not what’s easy. Her ex, Laurin Edwards, is forced back into her life, either as her current relationship is tested or as the test. She has to fight between common distractions, her mother’s seemingly inexhaustible demands, and her heart. All she has to help guide her along the way is her best friend, Sol; her memories of her most peaceful trip; and, her scars.
I hope you choose to join me along these journeys of oxford commas and run-on emotions. I hope you find something worth connecting to as we visit these spaces, some unfamiliar, some all to. We all have a story. Some of us have more than one.
“Indeed, great fiction shows us not how to conduct our behavior but how to feel. Eventually, it may show us how to face our feelings and face our actions and to have new inklings about what they mean. A good novel of any year can initiate us into our own new experience.”
RANDOM*ISH
so hopefully no one asks this boring shit during interviews.
What inspired you to start writing?
Honestly, I started out as a rapper. Writing stories came much later in life for me once I really started to journal. The more I journaled, the more I gained clarity. With a clearer mind, I was able to tune in to the stories and characters swirling around in my brain.
How do you come up with your titles?
They may go through a few edits. One or two have kept their name from its inception. Mostly, though, I usually consider the meat of the story and pull from there. On another note, some stories are/have only titles and nothing more. So…there’s that.
Where can readers purchase your books?
My books are currently available at Amazon.com and bn.com. They can also be purchased through this site.
What are the most important elements of good writing?
In my opinion, authenticity. We’re talking just straight this happened, this is what the character did, stories. Those must be told in an authentic fashion. If not, just like music, you know it’s not real. Yea, the drama may be great, but that’s just a dopemine hit. It’s fine for a quick rush, but hopefully at some point we choose to graduate to something more substantive.
What are the tools of the trade?
I play for the team I own. I own a pen and paper shop (www.morrisonjamesshop.com) where I make hand-bound journals, notebooks, and the like. I love heavy text weight paper, usually without lines. The pens I use are the smallest tips I can find. Usually, .28, .38. and in a clutch, 0.5. Uni-ball RT1, Pilot Slim Knock, Pilot G2, and Uni-ball StyleFit.
How many ideas are waiting to be let out?
Lots. And lots. And lots.
Who is your favorite author and why?
James Baldwin. His mental prowess is beyond reproach. It’s probably the only thing that sparks my jealousy.
How many bookshelves are in your house?
Hold please. *counts* 15. One happens to be 6 1/2 feet. I need about 4 more of those.
What is the most difficult part about writing for you?
Actually sitting down to write. Other than that it would be getting people to understand that every story isn’t about me. I am amazing but I promise, I’m not that all over the place.
Who is your favorite artist?
Favorite is so tough. It implies a hierarchy that doesn’t fit in with my randomness. I can tell you that Jay Z is among my “favorites.” Which for me just means I’m always going to support his music because he always gives me something of depth to chew on. Andre Benjamin and Big Boi, Killer Mike, Alabama Shakes, assuming they’re still a thing, Beth Hart, Adele, Emeli Sande… Again, it really depends.
What is your favorite song?
Depends on the mood. I love hip-hop, soul, country, alt-rock, show tunes, Queen (category unto themselves, of course), whatever moves me basically. And because I am driven by the characters in my head, what moves me can be completely random in the moment.
What is your favorite movie?
About Time.
What is your favorite show?
I’m obsessed with shows about friends. Golden Girls has to be my favorite. Designing Women, Friends, Living Single, Grey’s Anatomy, etc.
What does success mean to you?
Success is being able to create opportunities for others. Having access which creates a new job, new understanding, new lesson, or a new journey for someone else.
What's something random readers should know about your work?
I’ve heard visual artists speak on how they never finish a painting, they just stop working on it. I feel the same about my stories. They are never finished, just ready to be seen through new eyes.
“No, I don’t consider myself to be outside the box. I don’t write gay stories or straight stories, black stories or white stories, love stories or mysteries. I write. Words are what I do, and I do them with the intent, that something you read makes you acknowledge something you feel. When that acknowledgment happens, the potential to grow has manifest. That’s my job. So, whatever moves my pen is the story I’m going to write. I don’t see a box to consider it in the first place.” – A S D
“I believe everyone in the world is born with genius-level talent. Apply yourself to whatever you’re genius at, and you can do anything in the world.”