Roots. Wounds. Words. Inc.: A Literary Arts Revolution for Us.  

Roots. Wounds. Words. is for Us Black. Us Latinx. Us Indigenous. Us Brown. Us POC. Us felons. Us formerly incarcerated. Us currently incarcerated. Us living under Community Supervision and Control. It’s for Us queer. Us trans. Us gender nonconforming. Us LGBTQIA+. Us poverty-born. Us trauma survivors. Us marginalized. Us brazen. Us revolutionaries. Us.

Who We Are

 

Roots. Wounds. Words. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers visionary literary arts programming including educational workshops, storyteller performances, publication opportunities, and a writers' retreat for US. Us BIPOC. Especially Us BIPOC who are also Us Queer. Us Trans. Us Gender Nonconforming. Us Justice-Involved. Us poverty-born. Us disabled. Us neuro-divergent. Us made of intersectional identities. Us Brazen. Us.

We ensure that Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Brown and other People of Color have a safe, inclusive space to craft and tell our stories.

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LITERARY ARTS EDUCATION

Community Writing Workshops

Roots. Wounds. Words. offers literary arts workshops that center the nonfiction, fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting of BIPOC storytellers. Our workshops are for storytellers of all generations and writing levels—from those who have never considered writing their own narratives to those who are widely-published.

 
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PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

COUNTERpult Storyteller Showcase

COUNTERpult is the premiere storyteller showcase series dedicated to catapulting the counter-narratives of today’s emerging and established BIPOC storytellers of various intersectional identities.

 

ANNUAL LITERARY ARTS RETREAT

The Writers’ Retreat

The Roots. Wounds. Words. Writers’ Retreat is a sacred space for BIPOC storytellers to gain the tools, support and education necessary to grow their literary arts careers.

 
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PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES

The Anthologies

Roots. Wounds. Words. publishes professional anthologies that contain literary art penned by Our storytellers. Within them, storytellers disrupt dominant narratives, replace the status quo, and provide a container wherein readers see themselves.

 

What Alums are Saying

Testimonials

This workshop was a beautiful healing experience that gave me the opportunity to name my trauma without shame and process it through a creative form. Despite being surrounded by strangers, the community created felt so safe in the first five minutes. I felt nothing but love the whole three hours and I am eternally grateful for this experience.

—Pussy Trauma Workshop Alum

The care that Nicole put into choosing writing exercises related to the topic was impeccable. Not only the content, but Nicole made EVERYONE feel welcome – like each person had a purpose for being there. I appreciated Nicole encouraging us and implementing breath work during the workshop. That small attention to how we were feeling as we were writing and unpacking was everything!

—The Body as Compass Workshop Alum

I would recommend the workshop to any WOC or POC writer who wants to expand the way they engage with writing. These workshops are carefully crafted for and acknowledge the cultural, gender, and non-binary as well as the historical, social and economic impact upon us as writers.

—The Body as Compass Workshop Alum

Nicole got me to dig deeper than I ever have on my own. Being in a space for Black & brown folks is what I needed to push my writing to greater heights.

—Creative Nonfiction Workshop Alum

This was an amazing class. I've taken so many other CNF classes and have never gotten such clear instruction about pitches as I did in this class. I can't wait to take another class with Nicole.

—Freelance Writing 101 Workshop Alum

The information received in this workshop is valuable and spot on. There is not a lot of information available regarding pitches, you simply know you have to submit a pitch, but have no clue of how to do it. This workshop teaches you the how and why. I highly recommend.

—Freelance Writing 101 Workshop Alum

All I could think about was sharing this with my daughter. My oldest is a writer. Workshops led by Black women are vital. It gives us the tools to control our narrative and tell the world how they need to deal with and approach us.

—Freelance Writing 101 Workshop Alum

As a new writer I was completely lost on how to submit my work. This workshop not only showed me how to craft my pitch but gave me resources on where to find places to submit my work. I left feeling a lot more confident about submitting my work.

—Freelance Writing 101 Workshop Alum

I would recommend this workshop to any BIPOC looking for a safe community that allows each individual to shine their authentic voice. Nicole is a master storyteller and writing instructor who knows how to guide writers through their journey and help them make it through!

—Penning my Pieces Workshop Alum

I enjoyed the expanse of techniques and ideas learned. I also appreciated how much we created, the bond-building that ensued, and the caliber of the assignments and reading materials. It was organized, interesting, and certainly eye-opening.

—Penning my Pieces Workshop Alum

When I started the workshop in January, I came in knowing that I needed a confidence boost in my writing, but what I was not expecting was my soul being fed. Nicole has a way of unearthing words and emotions that I didn't know were there, and I'm forever changed by the experience.

—Penning my Pieces Workshop Alum

Roots. Wounds. Words. is transformative. It's bigger than a writing class, but a foundation for important soul work. Whether you're trying to get published or just learn about yourself, this is an incredible space and opportunity. Nicole is a FORCE.

—Penning my Pieces Workshop Alum

I learned so much about myself, and felt my writing was extremely enriched. The community that was created was for a lifetime.

—Penning my Pieces Workshop Alum

This workshop challenged me in ways I never thought I would be challenged but pushed my craft to the next level and I generated so much work. I will highly recommended. The community you build in this workshop it is incredibly supportive, like no other.

—Penning my Pieces Workshop Alum

Join the Journey

Be the first to know about new Roots. Wounds. Words. writing workshops, our annual writers’ retreat, COUNTERpult storyteller showcases, and all other offerings.