May 13, 2025 • 10 mins
Funny thing happens when you go outside.You notice that everything is still moving—still shifting, still becoming—and no matter how much I want it to revolve around me, the earth does its own thing. That’s humbling. That’s sobering. And yes, at times, alittle infuriating. Because I want to believe that if I just dream hard enough, andwork long enough, and sacrifice deep enough, the outcome will be what I want it to be.That’s the narrative, right? Manifest it. Hustle for it. Build it and it will show up.But I’m a novelist. And if there's one thing I’ve learned from writing story after story, it's this: you can do everything right and still be surprised by the ending.I begin my novels with a solid outline. I do deep dives into my characters—their goals, their beliefs, their relationships, and internalized lies. Yes, the lies we carry. The ones that sit rotting in our guts. They’re the lenses through which we interpret everything.You’re smart… Smart for a girl. That builds a complex—not about excelling, just about measuring up.Men don’t cry… So they keep loss inside until it breaks them.You get the picture.For each character, I must know the lies they’ve accepted as truth, the wounds they carry that must be healed by the journey or story arc. These are full psychological profiles that I develop, mind you. I'm thorough. I think I know these imagined or fictionalized versions of real people better than they know themselves.And still—those characters go off and do whatever the heck they want to do. They have free will.These changes—the veering off course—happen in a world I designed. And in some aspects, I’m their creator.If this happens in fiction—fiction—why do I expect real life to follow a given path?This is where we, as creatives, have to hold two truths at once: We have incredible power to imagine and make. And we have almost no control over how the world will respond. That is not a contradiction. That is your calling.This is the battle. Creativity is under assault. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Books are being banned. Funding is being slashed. Whole histories are being erased or whitewashed. And in my case, as I’ve shared openly with you words, I need to use for my stories are being banned. (See podcast episode- Welcome to Censorship)But despite all that—people are still painting. Still writing, publishing, creating. We still feed our families and their spirits with meals inspired by faraway places.I may make more food at home right now, but with lovely spices? Oh, they’re Caribbean, Italian, French, Indian. I’m not limited. We are not limited.And I refuse to give away my power because someone with a louder megaphone thinks yelling is the same as truth.Recently, the world changed again: We have a new pope.A 133 cardinal electors gathered in the Sistine Chapel to choose to choose him. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois, has been elected the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV—the first pope ever from the United States.An American pope. From Chicago. A man of Creole, Haitian, and Black ancestry. And while this isn’t the first Black pope—history records at least three others:Pope Victor I (189–199), Pope Miltiades (311–314), and Pope Gelasius I (492–496).This election still matters. Why? Because no one saw it coming. Because he is from here. Because he chose the name Leo XIV—following Pope Leo XIII, the pope who denounced slavery. In a world trying so hard to erase the past, that choice feels like a restoration. A breath of truth. A puff of white smoke in a sky of dirty smog and denial.This is what hope looks like: a surprise rooted in deep legacy. A story arc no one plotted, but that landed with power.Now, let’s be real about the work ahead Shake off the shackles. Listen to hard truths.For authors and creators out there—especially us Black folks:* No one owes you anything.Not an award, not a list spot, not a book sale, not a post about your personal life—not even a selfie.* As an author, you have to earn every bit of support, every accolade, every “yes.”That’s the job.* As a Black author, the grind is steeper.You can’t coast on past wins. You’ve got to win readers over—again and again.* If you're not where you want to be—cry, scream, kick a pillow.But don’t quit. And don’t compare. You don’t know the price someone else paid to get what they got.Be thankful for where you are and who’s standing beside you.* Keep writing. Keep connecting. Keep striving.Earn it. Build it. Own it.* Grow the bucket list. Manifest it all.You deserve every win—because I know you’re putting in the work. I’m rooting for you.The world keeps turning. It’s not waiting for me or you. But that’s not terrible. It means we’re part of something bigger than the moment. It means our stories
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to the Rite of Passage with Vanessa Riley, the
podcast where storytelling meets passion in every page turns into
a new adventure. I'm your host, Vanessa Riley, and together
we'll dive deep into untold histories, reflect on current events
through a historical lands, share behind the scenes writing insights,
(00:29):
and explore the ups and downs of the author's journey
from rich historical novels to unforgettable characters to pop culture's
intrusion on the written word. Hey, we're going to explore
it all. So grab your pen, your notebook, and let's
begin our journey through the written word. Let's start your
(00:54):
Right of passage. The world turns anyway. Funny thing happens
when you go outside. You notice that everything is still moving,
still shifting, still becoming, And no matter how much I
want it to revolve around me, the earth does its
(01:16):
own thing. That's humbling, that's sobery. Then, yes, at times
a little infuriating.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Because I want to believe that if I dream hard
enough and work hard enough and sacrifice deep enough, the
outcome will be what I want it to be.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
That's the narrative.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Right, manifest it, hustle for it, build it, and it
will show up. But I'm a novelist, and if there's
one thing I've learned from writing story after story, it's this,
you can do everything right and still be surprised by
(02:04):
the ending. I begin my novels with a solid outline.
I do deep dives into my characters, their golds, their beliefs, relationships,
and internalized lies. Yes, the lies we carry, the ones
that sit rotting in our guts. They're the lens through
(02:25):
which we interpret everything. You're smart, smart for a girl
that builds a complex, not about excelling, just about measuring up.
Men don't cry, so they keep loss inside until it
breaks them.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
You get the picture.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
For each character, I must know the lies they've accepted
as truth, the wounds that they carry that must be
healed by the journey or story arc. These are full
psychological profiles that I develop my I'm thorough. I think
I know these imagined or fictionalized versions of real people
(03:08):
better than they know themselves. And still those characters go
off and do whatever the heck they want to do.
They have free will. These changes, the veering off course,
happen in a world I designed, and in some aspect
(03:29):
I'm their creator. And if this happens in fiction fiction,
why do I expect real life to follow a given path.
This is where we ask creatives have to hold two
truths at once. We have incredible power to imagine and make,
(03:50):
and we have almost no control over how the world
will respond. That is not a contradiction. That is your calling.
This is the battle. Creativity is under assault. Let's not
pretend otherwise. Books are being banned, funding is being slashed,
(04:12):
Whole histories are being erased or whitewashed, and in my case,
as I've shared openly with you, words I need to
use for my stories are being banned. But despite all that,
people are still painting, still writing, publishing, creating. We still
(04:36):
feed our families and their spirit with meals inspired by
far away places. These days, I make more food at home,
but with lovely spices. Oh they're Caribbean, Italian, French, Indian.
I'm not limited. We are not limited, and I refuse
(04:58):
to give away my power because because someone with a
louder megaphone thinks yelling is the same as truth. Recently,
the world changed again.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
We have a new pope.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
One hundred and thirty three cardinal electors gathered in the
sixteenth Chapel to choose him. Cardinal Robert Francis Privos of Chicago,
Illinois has been elected the two hundred and sixty seventh
Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He will now be
(05:32):
known as Pope Leo the fourteenth, the first pope ever
from the United States, an American pope from Chicago, a
man of Creole, Haitian and Black ancestry. And while this
isn't the first black pope, history records at least three others,
Pope Victor in one eighty nine, Pope Matthias in three eleven,
(05:57):
and Pope Gallias in four ninety two. This election still matters.
Why because no one saw it coming, because he is
from here, because he chose the name Leo the fourteenth,
following Leo the thirteenth, the pope who denounced slavery. In
(06:17):
a world trying so hard to erase the past, that
choice feels like a restoration, a breath of truth, a
puff of white smoke in a sky of dirty smog
and denial. This is what hope looks like, a surprise
(06:39):
rooted in deep legacy, a story arc no one plotted,
but that landed with power. Now let's be real about
the work ahead. Shake off the shackles, listen to hard
truths for authors and creatives out there, especially as black folks.
(07:01):
No one owes you anything, not an award, not a
list spot, not a book sale, not a post about
your personal life, not even a selfie. As an author,
you have to earn every bit of support, every accolade,
every yes, that's the job. As a black author, the
(07:21):
grind is steeper. You can't coast on past wins. You
got to win readers over again and again. If you're
not where you want to be, cry, scream, kick a pillow,
but don't quit, and don't compare. You don't know the
price someone else paid to get what they got. Be
(07:45):
thankful for where you are and who's standing beside you.
Keep writing, keep connecting, keep striving, earn it, build it,
own it, and grow that bucket list. Manifest at all
you deserve everyone. Because I know you're putting in the work.
(08:09):
I'm rooting for you. The world keeps turning. It's not
waiting for me or you. But that's not terrible. It
means we're part of something bigger than the moment. It
means our stories, our voices, our presence matters, because even
when everything feels unpredictable, we still have the power to
(08:30):
show up and create and make something unexpected happen, and
it'll feel good and satisfying, even if you are the
only one clapping. Books to help you on your writing
and creative journey are Awakening the hero Within by Carol Pearson.
(08:51):
This examines archetypes and how they shape not just a story,
but our personal transformations. Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear
by Elizabeth Gilbert encourages writers and creators to keep going,
to trust inspiration and to work without guarantees. In the
(09:15):
Wake On Blackness and Being by Christina Sharp, It's a haunting,
brilliant reflection on black life history and navigating systems built
to erase and pre Orders are up for my next
historical fiction, Fire, Sore and Sea. This is a dangerous
sixteen hundred's pirate saga, unmasking the truth about women, desire
(09:39):
and freedom. Some folks want to ban this story, so
read it first. Show notes include a list of books
mentioned in this broadcast. This week, I'm highlighting forty fourth
and third through their website and bookshop dot org. You
can find my notes on substack or on my website
venessa Com under the podcast link in the about tab.
(10:04):
If you felt seen or inspired today, like and subscribe
to write a passage. There's a place for you here.
Thank you for listening. Hopefully you'll come again. This is
Vanessa Riley
Welcome to the Rite of Passage with Vanessa Riley, the
podcast where storytelling meets passion in every page turns into
a new adventure. I'm your host, Vanessa Riley, and together
we'll dive deep into untold histories, reflect on current events
through a historical lands, share behind the scenes writing insights,
(00:29):
and explore the ups and downs of the author's journey
from rich historical novels to unforgettable characters to pop culture's
intrusion on the written word. Hey, we're going to explore
it all. So grab your pen, your notebook, and let's
begin our journey through the written word. Let's start your
(00:54):
Right of passage. The world turns anyway. Funny thing happens
when you go outside. You notice that everything is still moving,
still shifting, still becoming, And no matter how much I
want it to revolve around me, the earth does its
(01:16):
own thing. That's humbling, that's sobery. Then, yes, at times
a little infuriating.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Because I want to believe that if I dream hard
enough and work hard enough and sacrifice deep enough, the
outcome will be what I want it to be.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
That's the narrative.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Right, manifest it, hustle for it, build it, and it
will show up. But I'm a novelist, and if there's
one thing I've learned from writing story after story, it's this,
you can do everything right and still be surprised by
(02:04):
the ending. I begin my novels with a solid outline.
I do deep dives into my characters, their golds, their beliefs, relationships,
and internalized lies. Yes, the lies we carry, the ones
that sit rotting in our guts. They're the lens through
(02:25):
which we interpret everything. You're smart, smart for a girl
that builds a complex, not about excelling, just about measuring up.
Men don't cry, so they keep loss inside until it
breaks them.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
You get the picture.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
For each character, I must know the lies they've accepted
as truth, the wounds that they carry that must be
healed by the journey or story arc. These are full
psychological profiles that I develop my I'm thorough. I think
I know these imagined or fictionalized versions of real people
(03:08):
better than they know themselves. And still those characters go
off and do whatever the heck they want to do.
They have free will. These changes, the veering off course,
happen in a world I designed, and in some aspect
(03:29):
I'm their creator. And if this happens in fiction fiction,
why do I expect real life to follow a given path.
This is where we ask creatives have to hold two
truths at once. We have incredible power to imagine and make,
(03:50):
and we have almost no control over how the world
will respond. That is not a contradiction. That is your calling.
This is the battle. Creativity is under assault. Let's not
pretend otherwise. Books are being banned, funding is being slashed,
(04:12):
Whole histories are being erased or whitewashed, and in my case,
as I've shared openly with you, words I need to
use for my stories are being banned. But despite all that,
people are still painting, still writing, publishing, creating. We still
(04:36):
feed our families and their spirit with meals inspired by
far away places. These days, I make more food at home,
but with lovely spices. Oh they're Caribbean, Italian, French, Indian.
I'm not limited. We are not limited, and I refuse
(04:58):
to give away my power because because someone with a
louder megaphone thinks yelling is the same as truth. Recently,
the world changed again.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
We have a new pope.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
One hundred and thirty three cardinal electors gathered in the
sixteenth Chapel to choose him. Cardinal Robert Francis Privos of Chicago,
Illinois has been elected the two hundred and sixty seventh
Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He will now be
(05:32):
known as Pope Leo the fourteenth, the first pope ever
from the United States, an American pope from Chicago, a
man of Creole, Haitian and Black ancestry. And while this
isn't the first black pope, history records at least three others,
Pope Victor in one eighty nine, Pope Matthias in three eleven,
(05:57):
and Pope Gallias in four ninety two. This election still matters.
Why because no one saw it coming, because he is
from here, because he chose the name Leo the fourteenth,
following Leo the thirteenth, the pope who denounced slavery. In
(06:17):
a world trying so hard to erase the past, that
choice feels like a restoration, a breath of truth, a
puff of white smoke in a sky of dirty smog
and denial. This is what hope looks like, a surprise
(06:39):
rooted in deep legacy, a story arc no one plotted,
but that landed with power. Now let's be real about
the work ahead. Shake off the shackles, listen to hard
truths for authors and creatives out there, especially as black folks.
(07:01):
No one owes you anything, not an award, not a
list spot, not a book sale, not a post about
your personal life, not even a selfie. As an author,
you have to earn every bit of support, every accolade,
every yes, that's the job. As a black author, the
(07:21):
grind is steeper. You can't coast on past wins. You
got to win readers over again and again. If you're
not where you want to be, cry, scream, kick a pillow,
but don't quit, and don't compare. You don't know the
price someone else paid to get what they got. Be
(07:45):
thankful for where you are and who's standing beside you.
Keep writing, keep connecting, keep striving, earn it, build it,
own it, and grow that bucket list. Manifest at all
you deserve everyone. Because I know you're putting in the work.
(08:09):
I'm rooting for you. The world keeps turning. It's not
waiting for me or you. But that's not terrible. It
means we're part of something bigger than the moment. It
means our stories, our voices, our presence matters, because even
when everything feels unpredictable, we still have the power to
(08:30):
show up and create and make something unexpected happen, and
it'll feel good and satisfying, even if you are the
only one clapping. Books to help you on your writing
and creative journey are Awakening the hero Within by Carol Pearson.
(08:51):
This examines archetypes and how they shape not just a story,
but our personal transformations. Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear
by Elizabeth Gilbert encourages writers and creators to keep going,
to trust inspiration and to work without guarantees. In the
(09:15):
Wake On Blackness and Being by Christina Sharp, It's a haunting,
brilliant reflection on black life history and navigating systems built
to erase and pre Orders are up for my next
historical fiction, Fire, Sore and Sea. This is a dangerous
sixteen hundred's pirate saga, unmasking the truth about women, desire
(09:39):
and freedom. Some folks want to ban this story, so
read it first. Show notes include a list of books
mentioned in this broadcast. This week, I'm highlighting forty fourth
and third through their website and bookshop dot org. You
can find my notes on substack or on my website
venessa Com under the podcast link in the about tab.
(10:04):
If you felt seen or inspired today, like and subscribe
to write a passage. There's a place for you here.
Thank you for listening. Hopefully you'll come again. This is
Vanessa Riley
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