Featured Writer: Nikki Davenport
On creating space to write and writing advice.
Hello all,
I am so excited to be headed off to Manitoulin Island this week to join my co-host
and a lovely group of women for our second Rekindle Creativity Women’s Writing Retreat at The Inn at Gore Bay. The fall colours in Northern Ontario are amazing right now, and I’m ready to sink into all their stories. There’s a little bit of magic that happens when creative people come together with the purpose of exploring their creativity and supporting one another. I’m also hoping to spend a little time writing fresh words on my work-in-progress because … deadlines.
I hope you are as inspired by this week’s featured author, Nikki Davenport, as I am.
About the author…
Nikki Davenport is the author of the Crown & Heart series and has been crafting stories about falling in love for as long as she can remember. She holds a BA in History and a Master’s in Social Work. Paddling with a dragon boat racing team of fellow breast cancer survivors and working in the education field keep Nikki busy. Nikki is head-over-heels in love with showing Black love in a positive light. Her bestselling debut contemporary romance, International Incident, was selected as a 2023 finalist for the prestigious Audio in Color award. She lives in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, with her husband, two snarky teens, and a pair of spoiled feline overlords. She belongs to a fabulous book club and is almost always listening to an audiobook. Queen of His Heart is Nikki's most recent release. Her fourth book, In the Queen's Service, releases in spring 2025.
“If you write, you are a writer; don't let anyone diminish that with their ‘expert’ opinions about writing/publishing/your genre/whatever.”
On a writing routine …
After years of trial and error, I learned I do my best creative work in the morning, but I hate getting out of bed early. Plus, I need uninterrupted silence to do my best work, which is hard to come by in a house with two teenage boys. I get my creative time as soon as they get on the school bus—two hours carved out every weekday morning before my day job. I split that time between marketing and writing, trying to make as much progress as I can on anything that requires intense concentration.
I maintain a list of easy/medium/hard authorly tasks I can accomplish when I have unexpected free time. I have gotten so much done while waiting for appointments or in a line! Because the inspiration doesn't limit itself to the mornings, I use a voice recording app on my phone to capture stray thoughts or ideas or overheard bits of conversation. I always have a notepad and pencil with me—I have a little pouch attached to the top of my laptop to hold them. My personal laptop goes everywhere with me—it weighs just two pounds and goes from cold start to me furiously typing in 10 seconds. When I find myself with a longer stretch of time, like a meeting ending early or the person I'm meeting running late, my nose is buried in my laptop. I check in with my accountability partner daily through Facebook and my writing coach in Australia via email every week.
No writing gets done on the weekends or evenings due to chaotic family life, but I do schedule regular solo writing retreats for myself during school breaks. Most of the time I'll spend a long weekend at a nearby hotel or Airbnb where I can plow through things. I can get more drafting done in a single day of uninterrupted time than in a week where my attention is divided. I keep a running list of items to focus on during retreats.
My newsletter goes out on Mondays, so I usually spend most of Monday's dedicated time on that.
Self-care is important to me, as I suffer from depression and anxiety. I spend one weekend day doing nothing writing-related to give myself time to recover and woolgather. And maybe binge-watch awful sci-fi movies.
On writing spaces …
I have a small office at home, carved out of a tiny sunroom. In a house full of guys, it is the only place that is mine alone and I keep it neat and uncluttered. The cats are the only ones who don't need permission to come in. I have a self-heating cat bed taking up valuable real estate on my desk, but the felines are such good company, I don't mind. In my writing space, I have two extra large monitors. I get visually distracted easily, so the doors stay closed. I can't edit on a screen, so I take a hardcopy of the work in progress to other places—a park, a coffee shop, a library quiet room. If the kids are off from school on a weekday, I abandon ship and head for a library with my portable monitor so I have two screens on the go. Behind me in my writing space, I keep my dragon boating medals and mugs loved ones gave me when I was in cancer treatment. If I'm on deadline and can't avoid writing at home when everyone is there, I crank up a white noise loop on YouTube. I use the 20-20-20 method with a visual timer to make sure I give my eyeballs a break from the screen and take a stretch break. Otherwise, the entire day would slip by while I'm in the zone.
On writing communities …
I belong to an amazing online writing community called Fictionary. I haven't found the right fit with a writing group, yet, but that's on the back burner, since it was stressing me out. Being a part of a community is crucial because the only folks who will really get the creative struggle are fellow creatives. Well-meaning loved ones just won't fully understand and I need that kinship. I can be vulnerable and talk about any difficulties I'm having, ask for advice, bounce ideas, attend workshops and classes, connect with fellow authors in my subgenre, and perhaps most importantly, I get to offer support to other writers.
On challenges …
I was diagnosed with breast cancer two months into the pandemic shutdown and my day job position was considered essential services. It was during chemo that I started writing compulsively. It came pouring out of me. Guilt prevented me from fully committing to writing. I didn't tell anyone what I was up to, although my husband knew something was going on. At first, I stayed up late to write, since that was the only time I wouldn't be taking attention away from the day job, my marriage, and household. It was unsustainable. I kept falling asleep on what I was writing, but was also sacrificing quality sleep. When I decided to treat my authorly pursuits as a business instead of a hobby, I had an easier time carving out part of my day. The kids are old enough to not require constant supervision and my husband works nights. I treat my creative time like any other appointment on my calendar and it is essential to my well-being. I have since scaled back on using every available moment to write or market. That, too, was unsustainable. A few months ago, I realized the constant need to market was robbing me of the joy I feel when I write, so I rearranged my schedule to allow for at least one weekend day with no writing and no day job work on the weekends.
This healthier, more balanced schedule has allowed me to be more productive and relaxed. To achieve this, I had to be very honest with myself about what I needed professionally and from my loved ones. Marketing could be a full-time job by itself and hiring a professional to help me create a marketing plan was a gamechanger. My stress level plummeted because I was doing things intentionally instead of the haphazard do-it-all approach.
On the best writing advice …
"Start before you're ready." "The money is in your backlist." I remind myself that authentic engagement with my email list is more fulfilling and profitable than half-hearted social media activity.
On the worst writing advice …
"Post on multiple social media platforms several times a day." I almost gave up writing altogether thinking I'd never make a profit with that requirement. With everything else in my life, I didn't have the emotional or mental bandwidth to fool around with social media like that. For me, it's labor-intensive and a misery most of the time. It's okay to ignore all the experts in favor of doing what is best for me and my family. I don't enjoy the performative aspect of social media to make the algorithm work for you, so I just don't force myself to do it. I putter around on social media when it feels good. I love interacting with and supporting other authors.
On advice from personal experiences …
Get connected with a supportive writing community. Do NOT let people with whom you have an important relationship read/critique/work on your stuff, especially if they are not pros and/or read in your genre. Don't let people in your non-writing life know you are a writer until YOU are emotionally ready to reveal that and can deal with any naysayers or backlash. Be prepared to answer questions about your work—have an elevator speech ready. If you write, you are a writer; don't let anyone diminish that with their "expert" opinions about writing/publishing/your genre/whatever. Writing is something many people dream of and not everyone is brave enough to do. Negative reviews will hurt, especially when they get it wrong, but it is NOT personal (although it feels like it). You are not your book. Write what's in your heart and trust your gut, because someone out there needs your story.
On a recent publication …
Queen of His Heart, released in July 2024, reached number #1 on the Amazon Bestseller's List for African American Women's Fiction. I'm working on books 3 and 4 in the Crown & Heart series, plus a holiday novella. I also just began offering author services.
Nikki’s online spaces …
OFFERINGS
Plan Your Story Package
Are you ready to focus on your story idea? Do you want a solid plan before beginning that first draft? Are you starting a new project and want a sounding board before writing? Do you need professional advice about where to start and how to move forward? If so, this coaching package is for you.
During our three months together, we will explore what story you want to tell and how to tell it. This package includes:
An initial 30-minute video call to discuss your writing goals, and your initial story ideas
Bi-weekly assignment deadlines (6 total)
Six 60-minute video coaching calls after deadlines
Completion of Author Accelerator’s Blueprint for a Book
Support and encouragement to reach your goals
By the end, you will have completed the Author Accelerator's Blueprint for a Book, including an Inside Outline for your story, and be ready to start the drafting phase.
Commitment: 3 months
Investment: $500/month
Contact me for a free discovery call and let’s see if we’re a great fit to work together. I can’t wait to hear about your story!
Special Offer!
Not ready for the Plan Your Story package? I have a special Mini Blueprint offer, including an editorial letter and one-hour Zoom call to discuss your ideas and make a plan to move forward for only $149. Limited spaces available. Contact me for a spot.
Happy writing!
Women Writing is a weekly newsletter featuring women who are doing the difficult work of writing. If you enjoyed reading the newsletter, please share it with a fellow writer. Let’s inspire each other!
Liisa Kovala is an Author Accelerator certified book coach. She is the author of Sisu’s Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) and Surviving Stutthof: My Father’s Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017). Her short stories and creative non-fiction have been published in a variety of anthologies and literary magazines. Liisa is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, Canadian Authors Association, and past-president of Sudbury Writers’ Guild. Visit liisakovala.com.
Love the idea of a list of tasks that need varying degrees of attention and focus! Sometimes I have ten minutes and when I figure out what to do, I have two minutes. Great idea! Thanks!!