D. WATKINS: HE SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF
CHARM’s new Journalism Team sat down with Baltimore author D. Watkins to talk about his journey as a writer and selection as this year’s choice for One Book Baltimore.
By Shantika Bhat, Kristiana Smith, Me’Shiah Bell, Arly Bencosme, Nila Clarke, Rashad Holloway, and Khira Moore
Youth journalists from The CHARM Report interview D. Watkins via Zoom.
Image Credit: CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth
D. Watkins’ latest book, We Speak for Ourselves, was selected for this year’s One Book Baltimore program. However, he was not always the award-winning writer that he is today.
Journey as a writer
Once he was a young man in his twenties, laying in a hospital bed that changed his life. Following a procedure, Watkins repeatedly crossed paths with a nurse who kept her nose in a book. One day, he jokingly asked what she was reading.
She recommended the book to him saying it was about him; he was confused until she clarified it was about thugs. Watkins was stunned that she had labeled him as a thug so quickly and to his surprise, he woke up to find a Sista Soulja novel waiting for him at his bedside.
That book jump-started his love for reading as he discovered more Black authors like Nikki Giovanni, Toni Morrison and Langston Hughes. He had also started reading articles about Baltimore, but grew dissatisfied with the articles he was reading.
“Some of these articles are good, but a lot of them--they’re not that good great...the best form of critique is creation so I’m going to get out there and I’m going to create,” said Watkins.
It was a long journey as he kept reading, writing, and editing. Watkins also had to learn the industry and find an agent and a publisher. It was hard work and dedication that got him to where he is now. D. Watkins is the person he is now because he persevered through the hard times and just kept writing.
Watkins’s book, We Speak for Ourselves, is the 2020-21 selection for One Book Baltimore.
Image Credit: Enoch Pratt Free Library
Ups and downs in the publishing industry
D. Watkins had to deal with a lot of ups and downs during his journey as a writer. From being rejected by agents to being neglected as a team member in projects he thought would be revolutionary.
“If you choose this career you will continue to have good things happen and these things can be switched around and not be what you wanted to be,” said D. Watkins. “This is not an easy career.”
According to a 2014 report from the Digital Book World and Writer’s Digest, only 23% out of 9,000 writers actually succeed in getting published.
The positive nature of Watkins meant that he had a plethora of ideas that he wanted to produce from books to movies. He says, “I’m here to work and add my touch.” He feels a sense of fulfillment when he sees kids from Baltimore enjoy his books and feels represented in widespread media.
The great part about his line of work is that this age of the internet era provides so many opportunities to find literary agents and places that will publish his work. That being said, not everything that Watkins wanted to pursue was able to be accomplished due to roadblocks of not having agents, hundreds of rejections, and being neglected as a team member in projects.
For example, he once was given an opportunity to help be a part of the making of a movie that was depicting Baltimore, and his feedback was not taken; he felt as if he didn’t work for that check.
“I like to earn my money,” said Watkins. “I don't want anyone to give me anything. I want to fight for mine.”
“There are so many ups and downs and you have to understand it just comes with the game,” said Watkins. “Don’t make the ups so happy that you won’t work and don’t let the downs knock you down to the point where you can’t move forward.”
D. Watkins spoke to a group of CHARM students in February 2017, along with local author Sheri J. Booker. Many of the young people pictured are current leaders within CHARM’s editorial board.
Image Credit: CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth
Inspiration behind his writing
D. Watkins has drawn inspiration from many areas of life: sneaker design, other writers, and his own grandmother.
“[My grandmother] was a really strong person who always had a good time, even though she was--living in the middle of poverty,” said D. Watkins
Watkins is inspired to write thanks to the influences of musicians, novelists, and artists he has come to admire throughout his life.
Charles Mingus, who is largely known for his career in jazz and musical composition, has influenced Watkins along with the widely-known rapper and songwriter Nas. He also holds a strong admiration for American novelist Jesmyn Ward. Watkins commends her storytelling, seeing her work as unmatched in this modern era of writers.
“She’s the best living author that we have right now,” said D. Watkins
D. Watkins’ investment in creativity lies beyond writing with his appreciation for design. Sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield among American coach and Nike, Inc. co-founder Bill Bowerman inspire him with their success within their respective industries.
Though he has drawn inspiration from many, Watkin’s writing process is unique
“I used to just write and whatever happened happened,” said D. Watkins
His “just do it” approach allowed him to explore several different avenues for his writing at a time, however, outlining his ideas began to allow him to explore these same avenues while staying focused. He also finds “bulk writing” helpful as it allows him to get all of his ideas down at once and slowly make improvements by chipping away at excess words.
Watkins has also mastered the art of writing anywhere, having some of his most thorough writing in a car full of music and chatter or simply on his phone during a call.
Takeaways from his writing
Young Baltimore writers find themselves in the writing of D Watkins. He encourages them to begin telling their own stories.
It was stories that Watkins read by Black authors Nikki Giovanni, Toni Morrison and Langston Hughes that led to Watkins a love of reading and writing. In Baltimore 15% of eight graders test at or above proficient in reading in 2019 according to the Nation’s Report Card. Books by D.Watkins are incredibly popular among kids in Baltimore, seeing themselves in books they read can foster a love of reading and writing that can trend reading scores upward.
“I want [kids in Baltimore] to understand their story means something, and that their story is important, and that they deserve to tell it.” said Watkins about students that read We Speak for Ourselves. “They should be proud of [their story] regardless of what they've been through, made it through, or are trying to make it through. They should be able to share that journey.”
When Watkins was younger, he didn't read or think a career in writing was possible. With books like The Cook Up, The Beast Side, and We Speak for Ourselves, Watkins wants to inspire other kids in Baltimore to become writers.
“I’ll tell young people don’t wait,” said Watkins about starting their journey as a writer. “You can get on top of these things right now.”