This morning's #5amwritersclub is brought to you courtesy of my writing desk in Jamaica. Come join me! #5amwritersclub #amwriting #writingcommunity #caribbeanwriter

After a difficult semester, I'm very _very_ slowly making my way back to #5amwriters club. Some of my muscles have really gone soft. How's tricks? I've missed you all, be I hope you're getting good writing done. #5amwritersclub #amwriting

For the past few days, my #5amwritersclub has taken place in the Caribbean. It has done wonders for my writing. Come hang out; I've saved you a seat! #5amwritersclub #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity

What am I doing for #5amwritersclub today? If you said prepping a lecture for a workshop I'm doing with @bocaslitfest.bsky.social, then you're correct! 😊 It's titled 'The Fictional Antagonist: Your Main Character's Best Friend.' Can't wait! #bocaslitfest #alltogethernow #writesky #writercommunity

Pausing this morning's #5amwritersclub to celebrate the LA Times awarding me their Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction this past weekend. I'm gobsmacked and grateful. #5amwritersclub #debutauthor

As excitement builds in the lead up to the announcement of this year’s recipient of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, we are treated in today’s Trinidad and Tobago Express to an excerpt from the winner of the Fiction category: Ibis, by @justinhayneswriter.com #bocas2026 #OCMBocasPrize

This morning, #5amwritersclub, but this Saturday, I'll be on a panel at the LA Times Festival of Books. Stop on by if you have the inclination. #LATimesfob #debutauthor #Caribbeanwriter #blackauthor #writingcommunity #ReadCaribbean #diasporafiction #writingcommunity

Saw this written on a communal board of a friend's apt. building. Who is Felipe? No clue, but I have my prompt for today's #5amwritersclub #5amwritersclub #Amwriting #writingcommunity #writesky

✍️Registration is open for ‘The Fictional Antagonist: Your Main Character’s Best Friend’, with @justinhayneswriter.com, winner of the 2026 OCM Bocas Prize for Fiction! 🗓Sat 2 May🕙10 am–12 pm 📍1st Flr Seminar Rm, NALIS POS 🎟 TT$100 🔗 bocaslitfest.com/the-fictional-antagonist #bocas2026 #alltogethernow

Getting back to #5amwritersclub in a familiar space. Been traveling this week, but I'm back at my own place celebrating. On Wed evening, I was a recipient of the PEN Open Book Award! Phew. I'm gobsmacked &grateful to @penamerica.bsky.social #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #PENAmerica

Hey, friends, spent #5amwritersclub at the airport yesterday. Got there so early that I saw my B19 gate service 3 other flights before mine. 😑 How's your writing morning? #5amwritersclub #ATL #Hartsfieldjackson #amwriting #writersky #writingcommunity

Me and my newest writing partner out in the wild. #5amwritersclub #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity

Howdy. Here's my new emotional support writing buddy. A friend sent it to me to help me beat the blues. Phew. Maybe the symbolism is a little too on the nose, but I'll take it. Happy #5amwritersclub Friday, eveyone! Keep punching! #Amwriting #5amwritersclub #writesky #writingcommunity

Taking a break from #5amwritersclub to celebrate my novel Ibis being shortlisted by @bocaslitfest.bsky.social for their annual prize in fiction. 🥳 I am grateful to them and their judges for the recognition. ❤️🤍🖤 #debutnovel #Caribbeanwriter #ReadCaribbean #bocaslitfest #Blackwriter #bocasprize

My first writing achievement of 2026--having written enough during #5amwritersclub to move out the old doghouse of one Snoopy stickered notebook...and into the doghouse of another. Boosh! Hope you're writing! #Amwriting #debutauthor #writersky #writingcommunity #moleskine

Celebrating being shortlisted for the LA Times' First Fiction Award.during today's #5amwritersclub. Last year's LA Times Festival of Books was a blast, &I'm excited to return! Truly humbled &honored by the recognition! 🥳💚 #LATimesfestivalofbooks #debutfiction #Caribbeanauthor #ReadCaribbean

Good start to #5amwriters club this morning, but had an even better writing session this past Sunday at a local indie coffee shop. Rain outside and warmth, tears, and writing inside with a cup of chai? Yes please! #5amwritersclub #writersky #writingcommunity #amwriting

Today is the 1 year anniversary of my debut novel Ibis's publication. 🥳 No #5amwritersclub for me this morning. Just going to contemplate what a journey it has been! 💚 #5amwritersclub #writersky #debutauthor #Blackauthor #writingcommunity

Am late late late for #5amwritersclub! But lookit! Yesterday I stumbled upon a clearance sale for my fave Pilot v5 pen down to $1.63 from $4.09 a pack! 10 pens secured! That's got to count for something right? Right?! #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #writersky #anwriting #Pilotpen #pilotV5

Have been fumbling around for a new story topic. Went to my local Jeni's ice cream place last night and saw this sign. National penny shortage? Well then. Sometimes, the universe just provides. Let's get to work #5amwritwesclub! #5amwritersclub #amwriting #writingcommunity #writersky

Took a bow and took a break for my PEN Open book Finalist nod, but time to get back to #5amwritersclub. Now if only I knew what to write. 😬 What are you hep cats working on this morning? Any spare ideas to pass along to the kid? 🫣 #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #writersky #amwriting

Taking a break from #5amwriterslcub today for a small celebration! 🥳 Many thanks to @penamerica and its judges for shortlisting Ibis for the PEN Open Book Award! Both honored and grateful! ☺️💚 Happy Friday, all! #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #writesky #Debutnovelist #OpenBookAward

Who is your emotional support #5amwritersclub writing buddy? Mine, of course, is Funko pop Biggie. Duh. And if you don't know, now you know. #5amwritersclub #writersky #writingcommunity #amwriting #debutauthor #Funkopop

Went for a walk post- #5amwritersclub. Very very foggy. There's a skyline out there somewhere, I promise you.... I've provided the same view from 2 weeks ago for comparison. 😶‍🌫️🫣 #5amwritersclub #writersky #writingcommunity #debutauthor #bookworm

Guess what I did on Jan 1? If you said 'Jay went to the store to get two packs of his go-to pen to get some writing done during #5amwritersclub,' you, my friend, win the grand prize! #Amwriting #writersky #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity

January 1 means I'm using my December 25 gifts--a miniature Moleskine and some Japanese green tea. What more could a writer desire for #5amwritersclub? Happy New Year, writers! #5amwritersclub #writersky #amwriting #writingcommunity #HappyNewYear#greentea #2026

A little Christmas Eve escape to do a little reading, and a little writing (but no arithmetic!) Feels peaceful to be scratching out a few words. #5amwritersclub #Amwriting #writingcommunity #writersky #bookworm

Both honored and humbled for my debut novel IBIS to be longlisted by @penamerica.bsky.social for the PEN America Open Book Award. ☺️💚 Now back to writing! #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #amwriting #debutauthor #writersky #PENAmerica #longlisted #writingaward #debutnovel

Yesterday: a run featuring Atlanta's hazy skyline. I need a good run when trying to clear my head for a new story. Helps create ideas! This morning--trying to make sense of all the ideas I had on the run in #5amwritersclub 😖 #amwriting #writingcommunity #Atlantawriter #debutauthor #writersky

Why are my feet off the ground? Because last week was a great gala by the Center for Fiction in NYC for their First Novel Award & I was shortlisted! Truly a blast, & though I didn't win, I'm grateful! Now back to #5amwritersclub Hope you're writing! #5amwritersclub #writersky #writingcommunity

It's been a while but, as the year winds down, I've been taking stock. I wrote this much this year in miniature journals, often in #5amwritersclub. Mostly noodling and scraps of sentences, but more in 2026! Hope you're getting all the words! #amwriting #writersky #writingcommunity #debutauthor

Was recently given an 'every day carry' pouch as a gag gift. The person knew I wouldn't carry knives or a multi-tool. Joke's on them. I carry pens and a small moleskine and take it to a coffee shop for my #5amwritersclub Bc we all know the truth about the pen vs the sword. #amwriting #writersky

Taking a break from #5amwritersclub today. Yesterday my little debut, Ibis, was shortlisted for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize. Still in my feels & can't get much work done. Tomorrow, I promise! 🥺 Get some words in for me? #centerforfiction #debutnovel #writesky #writingcommunity.

One last book tour trip to Brooklyn last weekend for #BKBF meant a hotel-based #5amwritersclub. Cramped space, fewer words, but I woke &write. Great panel w/ Booker longlisted Claire Adam too! Hey! Ho! Let's go! #5amwritersclub #BKBF #amwriting #writesky #writingcommunity #debutauthor #booktour

#5amwritersclub today, next Sunday I'm at Brooklyn for @bkbookfest! Pleased to be on a panel w/ Claire Adam and Yang Shuang-zi: 'Disruptive Love.' Brooklyn Law School lounge @4PM. Come hang! (&bring a hard pretzel w/ mustard, pls &thank you!) #BKBF #Caribbeanwriter #ReadCaribbean #5amwritersclub

1.5 hours into today's #5amwriters club it's just me and my tools trying to make sense of September and the rapidly disappearing year. 😥 #5amwritersclub #amwriting #writercommunity #writersky #moleskine #amdrafting

Did I commit cookie-cide while I prepared a lesson plan for class? Yes. Yes I did. #5amwritersclub #amreading #writesky #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #debutauthor

I love me a Muji pen. One of my faves to write with. Give me a .50 mm &some scratch paper, &phew, I'm good for the day. Saw that Muji released these new compact 0.50 mm &thought yay! They're ok? Playtime is over! Back to writing! #5amwritersclub #Mujipens #moleskine #Amwriting #amdrafting

Can't believe my little debut is 6 months old today! Look at it sitting up by itself! 🥳 #Debutnovel #debutnovelist #readingcommunity #gratitudepost #Caribbeanwriter #Blackwriter

I know! I know! Late for #5amwritersclub! But I took out the trash! Went to the store! Changed a light bulb! I'm here now! Let's go! #5amwritersclub #writesky #writingcommunity

And so, as July becomes August, I move from my summer P-Town Moleskine to my...winter Moleskine? Too soon, Snoopy! #amwriting #5amwritersclub #writesky #writingcommunity #Moleskine #Provincetown

Yesterday: honored by the Center for Fiction by being longlisted for their first novel prize. This morning: reading and writing #5amwritersclub style. Hope you're getting your words! #5amwritersclub #debutnovelist #amwriting #Centerforfiction #writersky #writingcommunity

Took #5amwritersclub on the road to NYC. So grateful to read at Franklin Park to a full house despite a rainy night. A dream to read alongside the amazing Edwidge Danticat. Many thanks to @peninaroth.bsky.social for being such a gracious host! #5amwritersclub #debutauthor #booktour #amreading

Can't believe I'm going to be in the same space with these talented writers! Come hang out if you're in town! #writersky #writingcommunity #bookworm

Haven't been getting up for #5amwritersclub recently, but I'm still trying to get the words in. Exhibit A, this neat pack of Pilot pens I picked up when I had only meant to buy a pair of shorts. Hope you're getting those words! #writingcommunity #writersky #amwriting #debutauthor #5amwritersclub

Oh hey, will be taking a break from the #5amwritersclub next month to do a reading at Franklin Park in Brooklyn, NY with some ace writers. Stop on by! 💚 #writingcommunity #amwriting #writersky #debutnovel #5amwritersclub

What is my trade? War. War is your trade. Is it not? And it ain't yours? Mine too. Very much so. ............. Is that why war endures? No. It endures because young men love it and old men love it in them. Those that fought, those that did not. --Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian #writercommunity

You say 'holiday,' &I say they sleep I grind! 😂 Late start, so I missed #5amwritersclub but trying to catch up &make the most of it! Reading a little bit of Blood Meridian and then let's get writing! ✍️ Get those words! #5amwritersclub #amwriting #debutauthor #Juneteenth #Bookworm #BloodMeridian

It's 5am, and it's just me, my laptop, and some random thoughts that I'm trying to put into some semblance of a story. Who's with me? 🫣 #5amwritersclub #amwriting #writingcommunity #writersky

How do you know I mean business for this #5amwritersclub? Well, I have a cup of tea in a mug from my local independent bookstore @acappellabooks.bsksy.social, I have my notes, and I brought out the typewriter. Hope the muses are treating you well! #5amwritersclub #writingcommunity #Amwriting