Ask the Author: Ahjamu Umi
Answered Questions (6)
Ahjamu Umi
By training myself to honor the times that I have great ideas by writing them out non-stop. What I mean is don't stop to make corrections, add clarity, or make more polished. Just write until you can't write anymore. Then, go back and do all of those things. If you train yourself this way, you will teach yourself not to restrain and/or cut off your creativity.
Ahjamu Umi
I can create the world I want to live in.
Ahjamu Umi
Approach your work with honesty and integrity. Then, using those principles as your guiding light, write whatever you like. Don't compromise who you are to try and create something you think will be popular. The only way you will enjoy popularity is when it comes due to you being true to yourself and your ideals.
Ahjamu Umi
The next installment of this story which takes the conflict in an entirely different and more complex level.
Ahjamu Umi
By experiencing great trauma that taught me to rely on my imagination for healing and from a desire to use whatever talents I possess to inspire people to act for the betterment of the world we live in.
Ahjamu Umi
Two sources. First, from working with white allies over the years around issues of social justice, I wanted to create a character that would demonstrate to people the healthy and respectful way to support people's self determination. Second, after living in Bend, Oregon, for two years, I was sick of people telling me "I don't see color." They were saying that was there are no people of color in Bend. So, I thought, "what if a large number of people of African descent just showed up here one day?" And the rest evolved into my story.
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