In this Season One finale of Write of Passage, Vanessa Riley reflects on what it meant to keep showing up with honesty and heart in a less gentle America. From the discipline of writing historical fiction to the vulnerability of weekly personal essays, Vanessa shares how this past year required restraint, courage, and commitment. She talks about why storytelling matters—especially when reclaiming the complexity of Black women’s lives—what it takes to sustain a creative practice, and why community makes the work possible. As Season Two approaches, this episode is both a thank-you and an invitation: to stay, to think bigger, and to grow together.
Keywords: Vanessa Riley, Write of Passage, personal essay podcast, creative nonfiction, historical fiction author, Black women writers, storytelling, writing life, creative discipline, author reflections, season finale podcast, writing community, Substack writers, vulnerability in writing, American culture, women of color stories, literary podcast, author podcast, creative resilience, Season Two preview
Episode Notes & Extras
Find my full show notes, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and extras on Substack → vanessariley.substack.com
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