Reason I read Style:

I am very fortunate to have found mentors who help me. Recently, I made a friend here at Taft Camp. My new friend’s name is Steve, and I actually met Steve through Justin, another friend of mine who was recently released from Taft Camp. Steve had read some of my writing before he self-surrendered. As we became acquainted, he told me that his wife, Peggy, was Professor of English at a Nevada University. Peggy has since begun editing some of my writing. She sent two small books on writing, one of which was Style. That was the reason I read it.

What I learned from reading Style:

Writing does not come naturally or easily for me. It’s kind of like my running in that way. Those who read of the thousands of miles I run each year may consider me a natural athlete. The truth is that running is work for me, an exercise in will. Writing is the same. I write because I feel a real need to connect with society and feel as if my life has relevance, though writing itself does not come easily. I know that I have a tendency to write choppy sentences, and I do not consider myself gifted in the art of writing gracefully. Through discipline, I can write prolifically, and practice can help me write with clarity.

From reading Style, I learned that many writers struggle with the same challenges of choppy sentences. I hope that I picked up some techniques taht will help me improve as a writer.

How reading Style will contribute to my success upon release:

Regardless of what career I pursue upon release, I know that effective communication skills will help. I need to work on developing more effective ways to connect with my fellow citizens, and learning about writing techniques is a useful way to spend my final months in prison. I’ve been writing for many years, though I always look for guidance that can help me improve. Reading Style has given me new insight that I appreciate.

The post Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace appeared first on Prison News Blog.

Joe does not write the same type of literature as I write. He writes urban fiction and he does so with a panache that captivates his audience. My lovely wife Carole helped Joe bring Street Team, his first novel to market. Carole’s background is much more mainstream than the characters in Joe’s stories, though she enjoyed reading about the human relationships and character lives that Joe developed. He has since written other novels and is writing a screen play. I am convinced that Joe has a brilliant career ahead of him, and I feel privileged to have contributed in some small way to helping him commit to a writing career.

Although Joe’s books describe the challenges of growing up in the inner city, they also show readers the consequences that follow criminal choices. His characters either die or serve long stints in prison for the role they played in drug trafficking and other crimes. That message may keep young people reading, and Joe may inspire some to use a pen rather than a gun to reach higher goals.

Joe and I met while we were confined together in a low-security prison at Fort Dix, New Jersey. We built a friendship and I look forward to seeing him again when release comes. He has been free for nearly one year now, and after 16 years of imprisonment, I’m sure that he appreciates the gift of freedom. I wish him happiness and continuing success.

The post Prison Author Joe “Black” Reddick, My Friend appeared first on Prison News Blog.