MJV temporary closure notice – 12 November 2018 – 13 January 2019.
Hello,
How’s it going?
I have news to share.
I am closing My Jamaican Vignettes by Chantel DaCosta until the new year.
I’ve blogged inconsistently throughout 2018, and there are no excuses. The truth is I’ve chosen to not prioritise this blog and yet I’m not ready to let go.
What I Choose To Focus On Now
Instead, I’ve prioritised my career at Yello Media Group, and that’s going great. I love my job, and I am very happy and grateful to lead a team of talented writers. As Senior Writer, I get to guide four women writers who consistently create high quality editorial content for 23 countries across the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Channel Island of Guernsey.
To help you understand what I do, Monday through Friday, here’s a quick roundup of my top five fav articles from Find Yello since the start of November:
- Destination Guide Barbados: St Nicholas Abbey by Karen Rollins.
- We Millennials: Interview with Ngozi Fancis (Grenada) by Lou-Ann Jordan.
- How To Do Pirates Week Right (Cayman Islands) by Maia Muttoo.
- Wine 101 With Debra Taylor – video interview (Jamaica) by Stephanie Koathes.
- Movember in the Caribbean by Lisa Beauchamp (the director of the YMG editorial department and my boss).
And, in line with my new outlook, here are two Find Yello features from me (shameless self-promotion). I’ve written a series on Caribbean writers — profiles on authors, poets, essayists and playwrights. The November Caribbean writer featured is Marlon James, read more on his career achievements so far.
And, if you are young professional like me, navigating the ins and outs of corporate life and seeking to be and maintain success, then this is for you. Read my feature, Seven People Skills You Need In Order To Be Successful Today.
Outside of my day job, I’ve also chosen to build a sustainable fiction writing practice. This is my primary objective and I’m getting there and it is so exciting. This is beyond thrilling and I am so engaged by own creative projects that I haven’t managed to complete reading a book this month.
Gasp.
Yes. You can double check my Goodreads profile if you don’t believe me. No new books added to my Goodreads read shelf in November 2018.
Moreover, my relationship with my partner and our mental, physical and emotional wellbeings are also core focus areas.
What This Break Really Means
So, I’m pausing for a while to rethink my blogging journey. In the next few weeks, I want to:
- Redesign the blog (new colour schemes and theme).
- Clean up the MJV archives.
- Zero in on the exact type of content I want to share here.
- Establish a manageable and sustainable blogging calendar for the first six months of 2019.
- Engage new blog collaborators and seek out partnerships.
If you want to write for MJV in 2019, please email me, myjamaicanvignettes@gmail.com.
Seeking to work with other Caribbean content creators to share personal essays on passion projects, creative entrepreneurship, Caribbean women own voices fiction, personal finances, mindful living and wellness.
Let’s Stay Connected
In the interim, please come join the MJV community on Facebook.
Follow the random and fun journeys of this in between on IG and Twitter.
And, of course if you want to keep up with my reading process (slow and steady wins the race), then let’s be friends on Goodreads too.
Thanks so much for stopping by, we’re on hiatus, see you on Sunday 13 January 2019.
Peace and joy to you.
Chantel
Chantel DaCosta
Chantel DaCosta is a storyteller, editor and lifestyle blogger. She is passionate about mental health awareness and Jamaican women's own-voices stories.
