Women's History Month: Ceinna

Meet Ceinna. She's a dedicated writer, friendly, and an amazing editor.  

Kaylyn Gabbert: What drew you to Brooklyn Women's Writing Group? 

Ceinna: I have been writing a dystopian new adult novel since I was twelve or thirteen years old. I have made it my New Year's resolution/goal to finally finish drafting it this year so I can start the querying process. In order to keep up the momentum, I have been seeking out writing groups where I could pop in and get some writing done after work or on the weekends. I found Brooklyn's Writing Group through Nook's Eventbrite and decided to RSVP to one of the in-person writing nights. Since then, I have joined the Meet-up app and have started to plan writing nights into my weeks. I have been to three meet-ups so far (Nooks, Online, and Cordelia's) and have thoroughly enjoyed the chill and cozy atmosphere of the group, so I will definitely be a regular going forward.

KG: What are some of your favorite writing inspirations? 

C:  My first writing inspirations were the dystopian-novels-turned-movies of the 2000s/2010s (Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner), and I still do love a good dystopian novel (I am currently reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins), but I also have recently been inspired by the Substack community. I created a Substack at the beginning of the year to keep myself accountable to writing, and since then they have acted as my personal cheerleading squad. I feel called to write because I know they are waiting for an update, and I am desperate to give them one!

KG: Do you like reading anything else?

C: My main interests in reading are sci-fi novels, but my favorite novel from childhood was Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I didn't read much for pleasure after high school (I went straight from undergraduate to graduate school to earn my master's, which involved A LOT of reading on its own), so I am trying to get back into the habit.

KG: What was Fangirl about? Also, I'm glad that you're getting back into reading for pleasure. 

C: It's been a while since I read it, but Fangirl is basically about this girl who is a really huge fan of this book or TV series about a vampire and magician. She ships the two male characters together. She goes off to college and meets a boy, so now she's juggling being a fangirl/writing fanfiction with dating. This is a really bad synopsis so you should definitely look up a better one.

KG: You got me to look up what the book was about, and it seems really cool.

KG: When did you get started as a writer? 

C: I wrote my first novel at the age of thirteen in response to the rise of dystopian novels-turned-movies in the 2010s. I was enamored by the worlds being built and the political messaging being presented in the medium, but there was one problem. I didn’t see myself in them. As a Black American, queer woman, seeing myself in media is rare, but instead of letting that shape how I saw myself, I figured that I could be the writer who changes that. So, during the school year in 2012/13, I would come home and pen thirty (30) chapters of my novel (then titled ‘The Palace,' now titled 'Dead Don't Die'). It is a dystopian new adult novel that included zombies and a dictator who promised people protection in exchange for their loyalty and freedom. Today, I am working on editing this novel not only so it does not read as if a 13-year-old wrote it, but also adding in themes of finding oneself/coming of age after exiting the survival mode that an apocalypse would cause, androcentrism, and compulsory heterosexuality.

KG: I'm really proud that you did that because you can as an author when a lot of authors go for the quick cash grab. And we are so easily molded by what we see or don't see in the media, like I have Cerebral Palsy and I haven't seen that in the media until now unless I'm working with it. Your writing sounds so amazing. 

KG: What hobbies do you have? 

C: Besides creative writing, I like to read, try new experiences, engage in self care, do yoga, and cozy game (think Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley).

KG: What's the craziest newest experience you've tried but absolutely loved?

C: I wouldn't say crazy, but I've been trying to take more hobby classes. I've recently taken classes on watercolor painting and improv, which have been great experiences. This year, my goal is to take 10 new hobby classes.

KG: Have you gotten to do any hobby classes yet this year?

C: This year, I have gone to classes on watercolor painting, improv, and have made dried flower coasters.

KG: I love your art. Would it be okay to add to the post?

C: Sure! And if you ever want to check out classes, they are located in Brooklyn: brooklynbrainery.com

KG: What do you do for work and do you enjoy it? 

C: For my dayjob, I am an urban planner who currently works as a project manager for affordable/supportive housing projects. I recently transitioned to this position in October and am still getting the hang of it, which I have been told could take upwards of a year, but I do enjoy it for the most part. I like being able two physically see the change I am contributing towards, and seeing new housing developments erected in neighborhoods that direly need them is very fulfilling work.

KG: I'm glad you found a job you enjoyed and I hope you keep enjoying it for many years to come. What does the job urban planner entail?

C: As a project manager, my main job is to keep development projects moving. So, it entails a lot of emails, financial underwriting reviews, pulling together organizational documents, and sometimes site visits.