#JayLitSpotlightSeries: Theresa Sylvester

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Two common but uncommon things co-exist with perfect harmony in Theresa’s stories: dysfunctional families and philandering men. When asked why this is so, the Lusaka-born, Australia-based writer answers, “A family is a world unto itself. One we inhabit before venturing outwards.”

Before turning to writing, Theresa’s life was the textbook standard for success as defined by the typical African parent: finish primary school, join the Science or Commercial department in Secondary school — because Art isn’t a career — go to Uni, study Accounting or Business Administration (if you can’t become a Doctor or Engineer), land a corporate job once you graduate, and voila tout!

But for Theresa, fulfillment did not come from having a white-collar job. To put it in her own words, “My upbringing both at home and at school instilled in me the belief that a white-collar job was a measure of success so I continued on the path.”

Marriage and then motherhood, followed by a relocation to Australia, would form the triad of forces that would take Theresa off this ‘path’ and set her on a new one.

In adjusting to life away from Lusaka, the place she once called home, she needed new friends, and she found them in unlikely places.

The year 2015 would be marked by a re-awakening of Theresa’s love for stories, a world that first enchanted her as a child on the streets of Lusaka. A world where “children made dolls from damp soil and balls from plastic bags. We played in groups and walked to school, and because of this togetherness, I was never alone. I was always in the company of friends and cousins. Looking back, I realize each day we spent role-playing was a form of storytelling, filled with unpredictable plot twists.”

Fast forward to 2019, when she encountered Ayobami Adebayo’s Stay with Me and Noviolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names. Inspired by their vivid characters, detailed settings, and how lived-in their worlds felt, Theresa made the decision to take her writing seriously. To grow her writing muscles, she joined a local writing club and began seeking publication opportunities.

Today, when asked why she writes, she affirms without a shadow of a doubt that it’s her destiny. She hopes her stories inspire young Zambians to see beyond typical office jobs and ignite in them a hunger to dream new dreams as she has.

But dreaming new dreams can be a double-edged sword. In her case, one edge holds the rewards and recognition and the other is sharp with rejections. And even though she came into the business expecting rejections, she confesses that some rejections sting more than others.

She goes on to admit, “But the more I submit, the easier it is to manage my emotions.” In coping with rejections, she believes that what’s hers will come to her.

Theresa’s participation in the Stuyvesant Writing Workshop served as a crucial source of support and connection during the isolation period of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during those online classes with Nicole Dennis-Benn that she first experienced a formal writing workshop, and learned how to give and receive criticism with grace. The lessons on the craft were like no other. 

About reward and recognition, some of her short stories have found home in some prestigious literary magazines online and in print journals to rave reviews.

In 2021, her short story, “Rootless”, which concerns two Zambian sisters living in Perth, was one among three published stories in the print issue of Black Warrior Review.

Closely followed by the above was another win in the Quarterly West 2022 Prose Contest for “Fracas Street”, a beautifully woven story with a tinge of mysticism set on a sleepy street.

Also in 2022, “Blank Speech Bubbles” — a story about a married woman’s reconnection with the Ex who won’t let go — won the Black Fox Writing Contest and was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

The year 2023 saw her earn a Faber Writing Academy scholarship that enabled her to develop the first five thousand (5,000) words of her upcoming novel.

In 2024, another short story, “How to Move in the Dark” — about a girl who must confess her part in the series of events leading to the death of her baby sister — earned a notable mention in Ubwali Magazine.

Also in 2024, her work, “Atsikana”, following a family’s survival after the sudden disappearance of their only breadwinner, appeared in The Chestnut Review.

Theresa Sylvester’s career so far can best be described as a collection of small victories culminating in big wins. One of such big wins is getting a Tin House Scholarship. In relaying her excitement, she states, “When I read the email saying I was getting the Tin House Scholarship, my heart soared. It gave me the fuel to keep going.”

 While grateful for every single opportunity, Theresa isn’t resting on her oars. She divides her time between editing, submitting, writing, and, most importantly, reading. In her words, “There’s just something about reading a really good book that makes you want to do better as a writer.” For her top ten favourite books, she picks:

  • Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn
  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
  • The Mourning Bird by Mubanga Kalimamukwento
  • The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
  • The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
  • My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
  • These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card
  • Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi
  • Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
  • With The Fire On by High Elizabeth Acevedo

It’s no news that now more than ever, the publishing industry is a challenging space, especially for Black writers, and to survive, the writer has to keep at the craft with bullheaded determination. Theresa’s career has benefitted from her grit. Despite all the red tape, she continues to show up. 

To hear her tell it, “The road to publication is long and meandering. And putting yourself out there is the only road to publishing, you cannot be shy about it. You must remember that if your ambition is to become a successful storyteller, your story must be shared with others. It cannot remain in a folder in your computer or in your thoughts forever.”

In praise of Sylvester’s work, which won the Quarterly West Prose Contest, the judge Amina Cain, who selected the story for the prize, asserted, “I chose this story for its aura of unreality, its sense of fullness… the sisters of “Fracas Street” are ghostly and intriguing as is the world they conjure between them.”

This testimonial lends credence to the amount of effort Theresa puts into her work. On the question of tips and tricks that have helped her craft such compelling worlds, she answers that while she strives to, like every writer worth their salt, find time to write every day, she must contend with real-life commitments that pull her away from the computer screen. 

To make up for the time spent on these commitments, she relies on the feedback she gets from workshops. She offers an extra tip, “The real magic lies in having a writing community to share the journey and stay on track with goals.”

Presently, Theresa is hard at work on her first short story collection which will contain all her aforementioned short stories and a few more. By the year 2026, she’ll be nearer to publication. 

She’s also working on a transgenerational novel set in Lusaka and Australia, and inspired by female friendships. This story focuses on two women who take their relationship from friendship to sisterhood.

As a final word, Theresa offers advice to budding writers, “There’s no instant gratification when it comes to writing. Expect countless hours in front of the computer, as well as many hours of reading for pleasure and inspiration.” She also counsels young writers to build community or be part of one, “find other writers with whom you can exchange work and give each other feedback for improvement. Every little thing counts.”

One can’t but be grateful to have African writers like Theresa in the diaspora, telling our stories from our original perspective. Go, Theresa, we’re cheering for you!!!

Hope Tare

Hope Tare

Hope Osatare Matthew is a writer and literary critic based in Lagos. Find her work on Medium @http://medium.com/@lighthousereviewer.