Below is a compilation of resources and opportunities, produced by Aya Collective Publishing authors, partners, and community members.
We Did Not Come Empty-Handed: Black Women, Knowledge, and Liberation in Higher Education (article)
In 2024, Aya Collective Publishing issued a call for submissions focused on Black women’s experiences in higher education. Drawing from our research, as well as the high-profile deaths of Black women academic administrators in 2023 and 2024, we sought to create a literary volume that would allow us to tell our stories—in our own ways, on our own terms—about how we have navigated higher education, in order to inspire those coming after us.
Our initial call for submissions yielded only a handful of stories. The political climate surrounding the 2024 presidential election, coupled with challenges in our own personal and professional lives, made it difficult for many of us to chronicle the realities shaping our experiences in higher education. Even as we continued to face the daily challenges of being Black and female in our workplaces and academic programs, it often felt easier to put one’s head down and tunnel through the chaos than to lift one’s head and name it. In response, we reshaped the vision for the project and issued another call earlier this year to meet the need we saw emerging.
As we neared completion of this draft, a few gaps in the writing still remained. Wanting to honor our internal publishing deadline, I issued a last-minute call for submissions earlier this month. Within days, we received 24 responses from Black women interested in contributing to this project.
Writing Challenge 2025
Thursday, November 13; 5.30 – 7 p.m. CST (virtual)
Black women writers of all experience levels are invited to participate in this transformative journey. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this challenge is designed to inspire and support you. Join us for the last session of the year, which will be facilitated by Ife Olatunji, author of short story Deep End of the Pool, in our anthology Let the Black Women Say Ase’. Register for this session here.
Reconsidering Eve: The Experience
Reconsidering Eve: The Experience is an invitation to journey inward—a sacred exploration of self, spirit, and the stories that have shaped us. Rooted in the commitment to liberate the hearts and minds of Black women, this experience asks us to look again at the messages we’ve internalized about who we are, and where those messages came from.
Pre-order your copy of this text today. And for a limited time only get this text + Reconsidering Eve: Towards a Deepened Consciousness for only $30. Order your copies of both texts here. And then sign up for Sacred Saturdays below – where we will be working through both of these texts over the next few months.
Sacred Saturdays, Reconsidering Eve edition
October 25, November 15, December 20; 8 – 9.30 a.m. CST (virtual)
Sacred Saturdays are monthly gatherings where Black women come together early in the morning to connect with spirit, community, and our love of writing. We meet virtually — all you need is your computer, a journal or inspiring book, and your favorite hot drink. ☕✍🏾
In 2025, we’ve centered much of our time on Finding the Voice Within. Our final session in this series will be Saturday, September 20th with Pamela Fletcher Bush.
🌿 Beginning in October, we’ll shift to the Reconsidering Eve experience — exploring liberated sexuality, reclaimed spirituality, and restored purpose.
Here’s how you can join us:
Order your book (Finding the Voice Within or Reconsidering Eve) at ayamediapublishingllc.com and use code AyaJoin for 20% off.
Sign up to be part of Sacred Saturdays.
Become a reviewer — get a free copy of Reconsidering Eve + a complimentary writing coaching session. Click here for more information.
🖤 August Newsletter: Celebrating Our Stories, Building What’s Next
This month we’re focusing on what it really takes to build and cultivate writing communities.
As Black women, we’re often told—by experience and by the world—that we must carry everything on our own. Trust can feel risky, and community can feel out of reach.
At Aya Collective Publishing, we’re rewriting that story. We create writing spaces rooted in belonging, trust, and reciprocity—spaces where you don’t have to walk or write alone.
Check out the newsletter to learn how you can join our writing community—where your process can be supported, nourished, and connected. Also, note the various community events and opportunities highlighted in the newsletter.
She Writes Holy: A Sanctuary for Writing, Ritual, and Sacred Remembering
Welcome to She Writes Holy — a sacred digital space where Black women gather in spirit, intention, and creativity. This is the home of Writing Prompt Wednesdays and Sacred Saturdays — two beloved practices that honor our stories, our healing, and our sacred inner voice.
***New Resource: 5 Ways to Overcome Doubt in Your Writing (Free download)
Sometimes, we get in our own way when we write. We start to doubt our creativity, our capacity, even our intelligence. Sometimes that doubt shows up early, short-circuiting our ability to move from idea to completed work. We start over-editing every sentence, searching for the “perfect” word to replace the one we feel we’ve already used a thousand times. And then — we get stuck. I’m not talking about writer’s block. I’m talking about emotional stuckness — the heavy kind that slows us down and eventually stalls our process. Can you relate? Here are a few ways you can move through the doubt and embrace a deeper truth: that your writing is not just good enough — it’s absolutely necessary. Download this guide for free today!***
May 2025 Newsletter: 3 Reasons to Step Into Your Sacred Calling as a Writer
Inside this edition, you’ll find:
– Encouragement + resources to help you start (or return to) your writing today
– Spotlights on Aya Collective writers like Meelah Crawford & Dr. Shakita Thomas Kpetay
– A brand new publishing opportunity for Black women with corporate experience
– A book launch in collaboration with the Institute for Resilient Practices
…and more!
Click the link above to read the latest issue, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an update.
April 2025 Newsletter: Writing through the Doubt
Inside Writing Through the Doubt, you’ll find:
- An editorial on overcoming emotional writing blocks
- A sneak peek at our public unveiling, Writing as Sacred Practice
- A spotlight on Sister Ayo Yetunde’s brilliant new book, Dearly Beloved
- Special discounts at our online store — just for you!
Article: Spirituality and Ecology: (Re)Membering Black Women’s Legacies
This article sheds light on the ways that Black women have maintained and cultivated our spirituality by connecting with the natural environment. From the article:
“As I look back over the life that I have had with my mother, I believe that it is gardening, and thus the environment, that allowed her to heal the brokenness within herself. It is only within the last 10 years, as her access to land decreased when she sold the home that my sister and I spent our teenage years in and moved into an apartment, that I have seen her mental and physical health deteriorate. Through the reflection, which inevitably prompted me to interview her, I am beginning to (re)member. I am beginning to (re)member her experience, yes, but mine as well. “You used to garden, too,” my mom told me. “
March 2025 Newsletter: Why I/We Write
Our March edition is packed with exciting updates:
- Invitations to publish with the Aya Collective (including PAID opportunities!)
- Featured authors, including contributing writers to this edition
- Upcoming events with Aya Collective and community.
New Writing Prompts: Reconsidering Eve
These writing prompts first appeared on Aya Collective Publishing’s Instagram page for #WritingPromptWednesdays, created to deepen our individual and collective writing practice. This series, inspired by Reconsidering Eve: Towards a Deepened Consciousness, invites writers to explore themes of divinity, love, and power. Work through these prompts at your own pace, allowing space for reflection and discovery.
Book Review: A Collection of Black Women’s Voices
This Insight News article provides a book review of Aya Collective Publishing’s most recent text, Finding the Voice Within. From the article,
“The stories in this anthology speak of the diverse experiences of the women as Black girls who have grown to become Black women, memories of their elders, their ambitions in the present, generational curses, supernatural gifts, good and bad relationships, family secrets, reclamation, growth, resilience. Meditation moments are included at the end of each story to encourage and empower. The common thread of all the narratives is the moment when each finds that inner voice, the one that strengthens and perseveres.”
Aya Collective Publishing 