WRITING WITH TENDERNESS

Words have always been a way of making sense of the world, for Ark Ramsay; a form of self-expression that grew from a private ritual into a public calling. Known today for their vivid storytelling and emotional honesty, Ark’s journey as a writer truly began when they decided to share their work beyond the solitude of their notebook, through the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).

“I started writing when I was very young,” they recalled, “but I first meddled at NIFCA when I was probably around 20 or 21.” Their first submission, a short story titled The Generation with the World in Our Mouths, explored the haunting fragility of life through the lens of a car crash gone wrong. “It was a very intimate and melancholy story that I thought was the greatest thing that I or anyone had ever written,” they admitted with a laugh.

Yet, beneath that youthful confidence was a mix of excitement and vulnerability: the thrill of putting something personal into the world and the fear of how it might be received. “Once that hubris settled and it was replaced with the terror of having put my work out there,” they said, “I was very relieved and honoured to have received a silver medal for it.”

That recognition meant more than a medal. It marked the moment Ark realised that writing did not have to be an isolated act; it could be part of a wider cultural dialogue. “For the first time, not only was my work something that was created in a silo in the dark,” they reflected, “but it was now part of the greater Barbadian and Caribbean conversation. Through that story, I was able to read for the first time on stage at Frank Collymore Hall. It was an extremely transformative experience.”

Ark Ramsey

tanding before an audience and sharing their words aloud, Ark discovered the true power of community and affirmation. “As somebody who was not very good at gratitude or celebrating myself when I needed that celebration, it was a turning point,” they said. “Here was a community that had come together to uplift especially young writers, those of us who were just beginning the process of telling stories, moving beyond the privacy of our journals to let our work see the light of day.”

That early encouragement set the tone for everything that followed. NIFCA became the foundation upon which Ark built a broader career, moving from local recognition to regional and international literary platforms. “I used that experience as a learning opportunity to move on to wider writing competitions and awards,” they explained. “And every time I place something in a journal or send my writing into the world, I remember that first interaction and how much love there was behind the community that made it possible.”

Even as they now navigate the global literary landscape, which can often feel competitive and unkind, Ark carries that initial sense of support as a moral compass. “Sometimes there is less tenderness in the writing world,” they admitted. “So any advice I would give to others is to treat yourself with that tenderness, and to look for it when it is available. Then, look back over your shoulder and offer it to others in your community.”

For them, writing is an act of vulnerability, one that demands courage and compassion in equal measure. “At the end of the day, what is writing but taking all your clothes off and standing in front of a room?” they said. “It takes your breath away, and it takes other people’s breath away too. So let that tenderness guide you, in your writing and in how you exist as part of this creative community.”

As they reflect on how far they have come, Ark’s gratitude circles back to where it all began. “Without NIFCA,” they said, “I would have had a poor foundation block in place. I would not have been able to treat my writing with as much grace as I do now.”

Through their words and wisdom, Ark reminds us that writing, like life itself, thrives best when rooted in connection, courage and tenderness. (PR)