Date:         Fri, 29 Jan 1999 17:49:03 EST
From: "Talibah L. Chikwendu" <Mghtygood@AOL.COM>
Subject:      [WRITERS] Filler: Intro/Bio

Greetings:

My name is Talibah Chikwendu. Talibah (pronounced Ta-lee-ba), means "seeker of
knowledge." I rejoined writers about three days ago after being away from the
group for at least three years.
I am 35 years old divorced mother with a daughter, 13 months old. I work from
my home - I am the special publications editor for a weekly newspaper, host of
a bi-monthly radio talk show and handle the marketing of workplace training
programs for a non-profit organization. This way I get to raise my daughter,
earn a living and lose my mind at the same time.
Prior to coming home to work, I was the editor of a weekly newspaper. I have
also been an a library technicial, technical manager for a computer store,
programmer/analyst insurance analyst, a banker, a temp, a reporter and an
assistant editor for a daily.
Prior to becoming a "journalist," I wrote fiction and poetry. I have entered
the 3-day novel contest three times (some of the most grueling and intense fun
I have ever had) and self-published a volume of poetry. I also edited and
published a newsletter called the "Conscious Observer," wrote a column titled
"The Final Word" and another called "View from the Cheap Seats."
I have learned that writing and editing use two very different skill sets - as
soon as I became responsible for the editing of the work of others, my ability
to write suffered terribly. That is part of the reason I stopped participating
in writers - I had stopped writing.
I am back because I miss it and because it is all that I do. I need an outlet
for the more creative things I write and I need the support of people who do
it. "Journalism" - how I earn my living - very often does not feel like
writing or storytelling or poetry and definitely not like art, even though I
know it can be and occassionally I have managed to get there. I am hoping that
when I have an outlet for the more creative and fun stuff I write, the easier
and more creative the "money" stuff will be,
Also, it will be nice to have contact with people on a very regular basis on a
level way less intrusive to my routine than the telephone. Nothing can break
concentration and/or wake the baby easier than a phone call.
Phew, I have probably said more than any of you wanted to know. I apologize
for being wordy. My bio usually consists of the following:

Talibah L. Chikwendu is a mommy, journalist, author and poetess. Her greatest
challenge and joy is her daughter Zakiya. She is establishing herself in the
field of not being noticed and prefers to let her writing speak for her. She
does not put her words in the mouths of others and refuses to be defined by
anyone but herself. She sought to know the nature of God and found that she
was within her all along.

I'm sure you wished I had used it. :)
I am looking forward to reading the work that comes across and hearing the
comments you provide for mine.

Peace and blessings,
Talibah

At the end of the day, there are only the things you have done. Those things
serve to define you, in the hearts and minds of the people you've touched, and
identify your spirit to the world.             Talibah Chikwendu