Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

o.</p><h2 id="bd42">The Beginning</h2><p id="b9c4">I am going to be curating some of my mental health pieces and bringing them over here. If you are interested in becoming a mental health writer for Black Bear and would like to do the same, I will welcome already published material (so long as you remove it from the previous publication).</p><h2 id="a570">What I’m Looking For</h2><p id="4e6a">I’m basically seeking two different categories: informational and personal. The topics are broad across the mental health and addiction spectrum. I want to build up an area that has informational pieces…signs and symptoms, what is?, living with such and such…, etc. For the personal, it’s just what it sounds like. Whether a memoir or personal essay or journaling what you’re going through presently.</p><p id="fad5">Informational pieces must be accurate and link to any sources you use. While I won’t over-edit personal pieces, I <i>will be</i> a discerning editor when it comes to informational articles.</p><h2 id="ad41">How to Submit</h2><p id="0a7d">Please go to the <a href="https://readmedium.com/call-for-mental-health-addiction-and-recovery-sobriety-writers-985a2685c7c9">Call For Writers</a> post and leave a comment regarding your interest there.</p><p id="02f8">If you’ve not been added within a couple of days, please DM one of our editors and they should be able to help. <b>This does not guarantee that you will be published. As this is a different kind of publication, upon receipt, your piece will undergo an initial review. You will receive a private note indicatin

Options

g if it will move on to the editing process.</b></p><p id="3d3d">Pieces will be promoted on Twitter and Instagram (by our team). In some instances, I may cross-promote on my other platforms.</p><h2 id="574d">Timing</h2><p id="3740">As I have many publications under my belt, my timing may be a bit tricky now and then. If you find yourself waiting too long, please either DM me personally on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/kikiwalter">@kikiwalter</a>) or leave me a private note on this post.</p><h2 id="84f5">And Finally…</h2><p id="8a02">What <i>is </i>the black bear and why should you care?</p><p id="8844">The black bear came from a term in a memoir I wrote about my grandfather—intertwined with facing my fear and depression. I talked about how he was a big man and protective like a big black bear. We lived in the Adirondacks where it wasn’t unusual for bears to meander through the backyard. From this, <i>fighting the big black bear </i>became my term for combatting depression.</p><p id="b61d">I believe everyone is fighting a black bear of some sort. Whether it’s drinking, other substances, their own mental health issues, family, life…there just always to be some sort of bear to fight. Whatever that may look like to each person out there in our great big world. As writers, sometimes the best way to start in the ring is by pulling out our figurative pens.</p><p id="10bb">I look forward to building this pub as mental health advocacy is a passion of mine. Please let me know if you have any questions.</p><p id="82c5">All my best — Ki</p></article></body>

NEW PUBLICATION

Welcome to Black Bear: What Is It and Why Should I Care?

Created by author in canva after winning the fight with this stupid bear.

Oops, I did it again!

I really couldn’t help myself this time. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been on leave from my job directing content for a mental health and addiction organization for so long or if it’s because I’m currently going through the process of an intensive outpatient program for depression and working through a lot of the things from my past — or if it’s because it’s where my interest is right now and I have a lot to say about it, but here I am opening up yet another publication.

Well, hell’s bells. When you close one door, you open up another.

I’ve been posting my essays relating to mental health in Age of Empathy, and that totally works, but I have a lot more to say, and I don’t want to inundate AoE with all of the recovery pieces I have in mind.

I also know there are other amazing writers out there (looking at you, Rose Butcher!) who have gone through or are going through the recovery process, whether for mental health, addiction, or both — and then some who aren’t even sure of how to begin. I know that’s where I stood, gosh, not even a few months ago.

The Beginning

I am going to be curating some of my mental health pieces and bringing them over here. If you are interested in becoming a mental health writer for Black Bear and would like to do the same, I will welcome already published material (so long as you remove it from the previous publication).

What I’m Looking For

I’m basically seeking two different categories: informational and personal. The topics are broad across the mental health and addiction spectrum. I want to build up an area that has informational pieces…signs and symptoms, what is?, living with such and such…, etc. For the personal, it’s just what it sounds like. Whether a memoir or personal essay or journaling what you’re going through presently.

Informational pieces must be accurate and link to any sources you use. While I won’t over-edit personal pieces, I will be a discerning editor when it comes to informational articles.

How to Submit

Please go to the Call For Writers post and leave a comment regarding your interest there.

If you’ve not been added within a couple of days, please DM one of our editors and they should be able to help. This does not guarantee that you will be published. As this is a different kind of publication, upon receipt, your piece will undergo an initial review. You will receive a private note indicating if it will move on to the editing process.

Pieces will be promoted on Twitter and Instagram (by our team). In some instances, I may cross-promote on my other platforms.

Timing

As I have many publications under my belt, my timing may be a bit tricky now and then. If you find yourself waiting too long, please either DM me personally on Twitter (@kikiwalter) or leave me a private note on this post.

And Finally…

What is the black bear and why should you care?

The black bear came from a term in a memoir I wrote about my grandfather—intertwined with facing my fear and depression. I talked about how he was a big man and protective like a big black bear. We lived in the Adirondacks where it wasn’t unusual for bears to meander through the backyard. From this, fighting the big black bear became my term for combatting depression.

I believe everyone is fighting a black bear of some sort. Whether it’s drinking, other substances, their own mental health issues, family, life…there just always to be some sort of bear to fight. Whatever that may look like to each person out there in our great big world. As writers, sometimes the best way to start in the ring is by pulling out our figurative pens.

I look forward to building this pub as mental health advocacy is a passion of mine. Please let me know if you have any questions.

All my best — Ki