I RECENTLY had the honour of producing a programme for International Women’s Day that partnered with local influencers to use their platform to speak out on violence against women in Guyana. The aim was to utilise the large platforms of these influencers to reach more people than may otherwise have been achieved through a more technical approach.

This project opened my eyes to the need for persons with access to certain platforms to reach out to others who may be unable to access the same information or opportunities, and lend them a helping hand.

When I first started The Write Mind, it was intended to serve only as a short series of articles to advise writers on the ins and outs of the industry and to help them to navigate how to develop a lucrative writing career, even in the absence of traditional resources.

That series covered everything from finding a mentor, finding your niche as a writer in Guyana, how to make money as a local writer, traditional and self-publishing and several other topics from my own experience that I thought other writers could benefit from.

Months later, I am still receiving emails from writers requesting additional information or “picking my brain” on getting published and other related topics. Another surprising result were some requests to have their own creative work published in the newspaper. This has led to the realisation that a mere series is insufficient in this landscape, where there is already a lack of resources. So I have committed to resuming this column to continue to provide guidance (to the best of my ability), while reserving space for a creative outlet for Guyanese writers.

So, before resuming my own writing, I wish to put out a call to local writers who wish to have their poems or short fiction published in the Pepperpot Magazine. As stated above, I believe that when we are presented with opportunities and given certain responsibilities and powers, we must not only use those things for our own benefit; there is always someone in need of a helping hand.

On that note, I look forward to reviving this column and, even more, I look forward to receiving beautiful works of art from our creative writers who seek to tell the stories of our people and our heritage through words.