CREATOR SPOTLIGHT
The Community Creator
Allison Gaines writes for change — and lifts up other writers as she goes
Every month here at Creators Hub, we’re featuring a creator who is doing something really cool on the platform. So far we’ve profiled management strategist Roger Martin, humor writer Kyrie Gray, and personal development specialist Amardeep Parmar.
This month we spoke to Allison Gaines, who helped found WEOC Editors, is the editor-in-chief of Read Cultured, and a regular writer for Momentum, ZORA, and other publications on Medium. Oh, and somehow she is a PhD student too! She did not tell us how she manages to do 87 different things at once, but she did share some fascinating insights about her Medium journey.
We asked Allison a few questions via email.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Creators Hub: If someone only read one of your Medium posts, which should it be and why?
Allison Gaines: If someone only read one of my Medium posts, they should read my article, “Never Forget Martin Luther King Jr.’s Demands for Justice.” This is one of my favorite essays because it works on two levels. On the surface level, it honors the legacy of one of my heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and on a deeper level, it counters the ways in which some folks cherry-pick his quotes, and misrepresent his demands for justice. In that way, this article contributes to the restorative conversation about his legacy in the context of the civil rights movement that continues.
What made you want to write the stuff you’ve been writing? How do you balance your writing about really serious topics like race and racism, with your other creative writing, like haiku?
For the past few years, I have written many articles about race, women, and history. When I think about myself as a writer, I consider myself “writing for change,” which means that I write, not just to entertain, though that’s always exciting when I accomplish that, but to push back against social injustices. Writing is my way of leaving the world better than I found it, my form of peaceful protest. As a Black woman, dealing with racism is difficult. But, I find peace in the idea that my writing gives voice to traditionally voiceless groups. So, I’m writing for myself, but for others too, who feel their perspective rarely sees the light of day.
Despite the heavy topics I cover through essay format, I started my writing career as a poet, writing mostly sonnets, and haiku. My creative writing helps me to express myself using the restraints of structure. I always tell myself that if I cannot write my idea for an essay in the form of a haiku, then I’m not making clear enough points. Sometimes, I publish my haiku, but I also keep many of them private and considered publishing them in a compilation one day. I’m interested in the natural world, the way flower petals look, the sound of the rain, and the smell of king cake. My poetry allows me to express those senses. Like most writers, I’m complicated and find myself just as passionate about social justice as I am in writing and reading poetry.
What are the last three profiles you’ve followed on Medium?
The last three profiles I followed on Medium are darnell roberts, David Perlmutter, and Joey Pierre.
Is there a specific feature of Medium you really enjoy? Responses, email subscriptions, lists… something you think new Medium creators might not know about or be using but that they should?
On Medium, I really enjoy a few features. For one, the share feature is one of my favorites because I can share a draft before publishing. The rest of the world won’t be able to see it yet, but knowing that the document is shareable is really helpful. Secondly, I enjoy using the list function because you can save stories to read later, and even share your list with someone if you want. This is really helpful for when you find interesting articles but don’t have the time to dig in right then and there. Lastly, I enjoy using the design your profile feature which allows you to change colors, use gradients, use your logo, and change how readers experience your writing.
What (if anything) do you wish you’d known before starting your own publication on Medium? What’s been the best part of the community you’ve established with WEOC?
Before starting my own publication on Medium, I wish I would have come up with editing policies prior to accepting my first story. Every editor has different things that they are looking for. By standardizing the process, you can let writers know what they can expect. Whether you respond in two to three days, or five to seven days, writers prefer to know what type of stories you are looking for, what your policies are regarding follow-up and feedback, and most importantly, what you’re not looking for. If I could do it all over again, I would have fleshed out my guidelines more comprehensively. But, ultimately, having a publication on Medium is exciting, so I’m enjoying the iterative process.
The best part of establishing a community like Writers and Editors of Color (WEOC) is the sense of community. Collaborating together on special projects and supporting one another in achieving writing goals feels really empowering. I think every writer should enjoy the benefits of a writing community, one that moves past read-for-read metrics, and celebrates the craft of writing.
What’s the best piece of writing and/or creativity advice you’ve ever received?
The best writing advice I got was from my former creative writing teacher. This may be controversial amongst writers but he told me, “A piece of writing is never complete.” He made the argument that writers may put down the pen, or pack up their laptop, but that realistically, you can edit a piece of writing forever. To finish a piece of writing, you have to decide to stop writing, to tie off any loose ends, and release it into the world. When I reflect on his words, I often think of the phrase, “perfect is the enemy of good,” because I let go of this sense that my writing had to be perfect, and after the whole sacred-cow phase, I’ve been able to grow as a writer.
If you could write any book, what would it be called?
If I could write a book, which I’m hoping to one day, it would be called Can You Pass the Brown Paper Bag Test? Even though it sounds like a simple “yes” or “no” dichotomous question, the book would explore the American color line, but go deeper than traditional conversations about racism. I wanted to explore the roles that colorism, featurism, and texturism play in the lives of Black people. As a New Orleanian, I have this sense that America doesn’t know enough about our history, and by studying our old “secret societies,” many of which used the Brown Paper Bag test to determine who was admitted. Hopefully, my first book could shed some light on the bayou state, and how our experiences are shaped my a number of factors, many out of our control.
Follow Allison Gaines for more! And be sure to stay tuned to Creators Hub for next month’s Creator Spotlight.
This article has been updated in order to clarify Gaines’s role in the WEOC Editors group.
