S.H.A.R.E. has been a series of written fragments that are scattered in folders on my drive, and are listed kanban style for me to better organize my thoughts around the overall story.
Whether frantically-noted dreams while half asleep, or notes of eureka moments where I think of a component of the world I'm building, or the full ass introduction to the first chapter of the novel, these fragments have been sitting, accumulating, and waiting. I think it's been over 10 years since I have been writing these. Gathering dreams, knowing one day, the story would come together.
Having no specific training in creative writing, I hadn't had a strategy for actually sitting down and writing whatsoever. The character building was not there, the story arc was vaguely written, the novel itself had no structure either.
I was hoping one day I would find a creative writing class that would help kickstart the process of actually structuring my novel.
By the end of July, my good friend Janos sent me a simple mail saying
"Maybe this is something for you too? letswriteitout.com
I just applied. Donja (One in Two) created this initiative and talked about it in his workshop yesterday."
Write it out! is a program that is now in its 5th edition, started as a response to the exacerbated isolation we experienced during the covid lockdowns, an online workshop, 10 weeks led by Donja R. Love. Donja R. Love is an American playwright. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Love identifies himself as an Afro-Queer, HIV positive playwright and filmmaker. His work has been produced in multiple states around the United States, but he is mainly based in New York City and Philadelphia. The workshop provides a space for people living with HIV and AIDS to tell their stories, share and hold space for each other, and to teach the art of play writing.
I didn't think much of it, but given that I had just experienced a magical moment during our assembly in Kortrijk surrounded by other artists living and working with HIV, I didn't hesitate to write my application and send it in.
A bit over a month after this I received a positive answer, I was shortlisted, got an interview with Donja and eventually got a full welcome email.
All this to say, the novel I was working on became central in my approach to writing about my HIV, this was never the case; I had now a structure to learn, characters and a story to develop! This was what I was waiting for!
Today, we are 9/10 weeks into the adventure. My 10 minute scene is rehearsal ready. They are flying us to New York for a public sharing of our cohort's play, and I am OVER THE MOON.
I was able to develop the protagonist (Harmony) and a secondary character (Indigo) and a keystone moment in the story of the novel. I have learned the acronym S.H.A.R.E. stands for (something I had not yet figured out), and the character arcs for both of these gorgeous characters. The story itself now makes sense to me, the world I have built over the years houses them so well, that their individual experiences just make sense.
The public sharing in New York takes place on December 2nd, 2024. Just about 10 days, I will be doing a cold reading in Brussels at the Kaai Theatre on December 13th!
This has propelled me to move forward with my artwork in a way I didn't expect. From sculptures to conversation starting devices to THEATRE! These are not mutually exclusive, I can still continue working on and with the community with these different devices. WHICH MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM.
My work will always revolve around HIV, I don't think I want to do anything else; this however doesn't mean I'm only talking about a virus. S.H.A.R.E. is a sci-fi story... It's already been tagged as HIV-Futurism by one of my peers. I mean the possibilities are endless with art. CAN YOU TELL I'M EXCITED?
Sign up to my PATREON and get access to the script of the 10 minute play S.H.A.R.E. by yours truly!