Halsey Street: A Brooklyn Story about Loss, Gentrification, and Relationships

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By Jennifer Ward

As we approach Thanksgiving and the holidays, I wanted to write about a novel I read that focuses a lot on the intricacies of family relationships. When I pick up a new book and begin reading, a few things I look for are strong characters, a compelling setting, and poignant themes. Three years ago, I stumbled upon a beautifully-written book with all these qualities and more.

As a woman born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I was immediately drawn to Naima Coster’s debut novel, Halsey Street. I had a feeling I would love her book, and I was right. Her contemporary fiction story introduces Penelope Grand, a young woman moving from Philadelphia back to her old neighborhood—Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. It’s an emotional journey with an ending I did not expect.

Coster’s protagonist, Penelope, is a talented, struggling artist looking for success and her place in the world. She finds herself working in a less desirable position as a substitute teacher to make ends meet. Like other aspects of her life, her temporary job is not what she envisioned for herself upon graduating college. Her relationships with both of her parents are strained, one living in Brooklyn, the other abroad. Perhaps it is the pain of her distanced relationship with her mother that I related to most.

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Penelope returns to Brooklyn to help her ill father. Upon her arrival, the neighborhood of her youth is almost unrecognizable due to gentrification. The setting serves as a metaphor for the belonging the native residents once had and now long for. Penelope rents a room in the attic of the Harper’s brownstone, a few blocks from her father. When she first moved into their house, she walked down a long hallway of closed doors, further suggesting the plight of those underprivileged. Even the tiny room she occupies also hints at the marginalization experienced by the area’s long-time residents.

The Brooklyn setting is almost a character itself with its beautiful culture, way of life, and values so deeply ingrained in its residents. As the neighborhood changes, the setting becomes such a crucial part of her story that it could not have the same depth without it. Coster has the ability to connect with audiences who have felt the impact of gentrification in Brooklyn or other large cities across the United States.

Penelope’s entire life seems to float in this constant state of loneliness and limbo, perhaps making this story so nuanced and relatable. As I continued to read, I felt sad throughout a good portion of the novel, but I also felt a range of other emotions. Her struggle to succeed in a world of inequality is unmistakable. She isn’t perfect, and neither is the world she lives in, but she’s a strong woman who doesn’t give up, managing to care for herself and others around her with dignity and respect.

Through the telling of a family saga, Halsey Street reveals an important theme of forgiveness. The past and present moments of Penelope’s relationships with her parents are woven, revealing their complexity, and depth. The act of forgiveness might be one of the most challenging things for us to understand and embrace. To have it is truly a gift. Through her difficult journey, I saw a realistic and honest depiction of life, and the pain that comes with family conflict.

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Another theme I found in Halsey Street is the human need to belong. You don’t have to be a Brooklyn-born resident to know what that feels like—it’s something that is part of all of us. Whether it is belonging to a small group of friends, a church, a team, or something bigger, the need to connect with others and feel important is a universal desire. For the native residents of Penelope’s neighborhood, gentrification not only took their homes and businesses but also their sense of pride and belonging. As a reader, I felt it too. Halsey Street sheds light on the importance of having people stay rooted in their communities and its bearing on Penelope, the people of Brooklyn, and her readers.

Hey there! Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please let me know by sending a like or comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can read future articles by subscribing to my blog here. Connect with me on Twitter: @jennwardwrites.

Thank you again for your support.

Three Incredible Programs That Fund Emerging Writers

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

by Jennifer Ward 

“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and write, but he must by no means live and write for the purpose of making money.”

Karl Marx

Making a living as a writer isn’t easy, and neither is funding creative writing projects. We write because we love it, not to get rich. But how do we survive as writers? It is one of the few professions an individual can earn less money than teaching. As a writer and a teacher, I can attest to that. If you are a writer as well, the information here may interest you.

I’ve been doing some digging to unearth some of the best residencies and fellowships for writers. I’m a New Yorker who loves the outdoors, so I searched for programs in and outside the city with reasonable fees and requirements. If you’re trying to get your work published and find ways to network, these programs can help. Here are a few options I found during my Google searches that seem very appealing.

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Norton Island Residency Program

This writing residency, established over 20 years ago, is off the beautiful coast of Maine on Norton Island. The program allows writers to experience writing in one of seven cabins in a creative, natural space. I don’t know about you, but I would love to be on an island and hear nothing but the rhythmic sound of waves.

I stayed in a bed and breakfast in Acadia National Park a few summers ago, and I can imagine what this would be like—no phone, no television, and no distractions. Sounds like a dream. Getting my firewood? I’m on board with that, too, as long as I don’t have to use an ax. I’ve been camping before, and this seems like roughing it a bit more than what I’ve experienced. However, at the same time, it is very appealing since it is offered in the summer, and I love Maine.

Pros: Meet other writers, enjoy the fresh air, be at one with nature, and live in peace and quiet.

Cons: No running water for 10 days (in the cabins), daily cooking and cleaning responsibilities (if you don’t like chores), nights can be chilly, and there is no connection to the internet on the island.

Duration: This residency lasts for 10 days during the summer.

Fees: Playwright Phil Atlakon offers this residency for a flat fee of $150. Yes—you read that right. It is $150. There is a small application fee as well, which is very reasonable.

Requirements: This program requires fiction writers to submit 15-30 pages of work, but the program welcomes all kinds of artists and writers.

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The New York City Emerging Writer’s Fellowship

This program, created by The Center for Fiction, is open to writers living within the five boroughs of New York City. The area is beautiful but very busy. I have lived in Brooklyn most of my life, and I work about 30 minutes away. It’s not exactly a place where you can take your time driving around. It’s more of a place to walk or take a cab. If you are a fan of the late author Frank McCourt, you might find it interesting that it’s blocks away from where he once lived on Atlantic Avenue.

This fellowship is open to all ages and supports emerging fiction writers. Their definition of “emerging writers” does not consist of someone an independent or major publisher has already published. Last year, they accepted nine fellows. Their application window closed in May 2022 but should reopen soon.

Pros: Meet other writers, group dinners with agents and other important people in the publishing industry, studio space, $5,000 grant, mentorship with an editor, lots of bars and restaurants in the area, anthology publication, no application fee (0_0).

Cons: It’s highly competitive, and the area is a bit congested with traffic.

Duration: This fellowship lasts one full year.

Fees: No application fee.

Requirements: This program requires a fiction writing sample that is less than 7,500 words unless you are submitting a piece of flash fiction. The writing sample may be either a novel excerpt or one complete short story.

Photo by Yuval Zukerman on Unsplash

The Edith Wharton-Straw Dog Writers Guild Writers-in-Residence Program

Don’t let the extra-long name deter you. This program, in Lenox, Massachusetts, is located at the former home of American novelist Edith Wharton. Although Wharton died about 85 years ago, her legacy and work remain quite influential in the writing world.

In partnership with Straw Dog Writers Guild, they offer a residency during March for a handful of talented writers. From that group, they select three writers to stay for one of three weeks in March. The program is open to emerging writers of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and plays. The program provides living space nearby if you decide to stay for three weeks. This seems like an ideal choice for a writer living in or near Massachusetts and working part-time. The application window typically opens in September and closes in October. The window just closed, but it’s something to consider for next year.

Pros: Meet other writers, $500 stipend, workspace at The Mount (pictured above), and they also welcome writers of various genres.

Cons: The residency doesn’t last long; it’s in March and hard to do if you work full-time like me.

Duration: This residency lasts one week.

Fees: $25 application fee (waived if you are a member of the Straw Dog Writers Guild).

Requirements: This program requires a fiction writing sample that consists of 1,500 words, a curriculum vitae, and a statement of purpose.

If I wasn’t teaching full-time, I would apply to these programs in a heartbeat. However, the residency on Norton Island is a possibility for me since a summer commitment is one that I can do. Are there any programs that you would apply for?

Hey there! Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please let me know by sending a like or comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can also subscribe to future blog posts at the top of the sidebar to your right. Connect with me on Twitter: @jennwardwrites.

Thank you again for your support!

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