Share your Creole story: Sweettntmagazine.com invites submissions.

Creole writers: Share your Trinidadian story in the language you love

Trinidadian Creole: it’s more than just a way of speaking, it’s the rhythm of our streets, the soul of our calypso, and the laughter that fills our homes. For Trinidadian writers, it’s the language that dances on their fingertips, begging to be transformed into stories. Here at sweettntmagazine.com, we understand that love for Creole, and we want to help you share your voice with our global audience.

Born from a rich tapestry of cultures – African, European, Amerindian, and Asian – Trinidadian Creole is a vibrant language unlike any other. It’s an English-based creole, as documented by The University of the West Indies, but its true beauty lies in the way it weaves together influences from Spanish, French, and even indigenous tongues. It’s a testament to Trinidad’s unique history, a living language that reflects the multicultural heart of our island.

For many Trinidadian writers, Creole is the language they dream in, the language that allows them to express their most profound emotions with unparalleled authenticity. But capturing that fire on paper can be a challenge. Unlike Standard English, written Creole hasn’t been formally standardised. Local writers have developed creative ways to capture the sounds of Creole on paper, a system that’s intuitive for Trinidadians but might seem like a secret code to outsiders.

This lack of standardisation, however, shouldn’t be a barrier. It’s an opportunity! Universities across the Caribbean are actively studying written Creole, recognising its significance as a cornerstone of Caribbean culture.

Creole on paper: A challenge and an opportunity

Spoken Creole is a vibrant language, a symphony of sounds that dances on our tongues. It fills our homes, our streets, and our calypso tunes with its rhythmic lilt. But capturing that vibrant language on paper can be a challenge. Trinidadians have developed creative ways to spell words phonetically, making Creole writing easily understood by locals but potentially confusing for outsiders.

Imagine trying to capture the sound of a bird’s song with just letters. It’s a daunting task, but Trinidadians have risen to the challenge. They’ve developed a system of writing that reflects the unique sounds of Creole, a system that’s as fluid and expressive as the language itself.

While this lack of standardisation might seem like a barrier, it’s actually an opportunity. It’s a chance for Trinidadian writers to express themselves in a way that’s authentically theirs, a way that reflects the unique rhythm and cadence of their language. It’s a chance to create a written Creole that’s as vibrant and alive as the spoken language.

Universities across the region are exploring the ways in which Creole can be written and read while still preserving its unique character. This research is paving the way for a more standardised approach to written Creole, one that doesn’t sacrifice the language’s individuality.

So, if you’re a Trinidadian writer, don’t be afraid to embrace the challenges of written Creole. It’s a language that’s rich with history and culture, and it’s a language that deserves to be celebrated.

Sweet TnT Short Stories

Life in Trinidad and Tobago comes alive in the exciting, entertaining, comical, dramatic, thrilling, mysterious and suspenseful tales in Sweet TnT Short Stories. The novella consists of 34 fictional pieces written by authors from around the twin islands who share narratives with you under the sections Lifestyle, Superstition and Fauna. Created by Culturama Publishing Company, producer of Sweet TnT Magazine from San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, this book is one of the publications that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the publisher from 2009-2019.

Kindle edition US$4.99

Paperback edition US$9.99

Fire up your keyboard: Share your Creole story with sweettntmagazine.com

Calling all storytellers of Trinidad! Don’t let your most heartfelt narratives languish in the silent corners of your mind. Here’s your chance to unleash the vibrant symphony of Creole onto the page. Whether it’s a side-splitting comedy that’ll have readers rolling in the rum shop, a poignant poem that captures the bittersweet essence of island life, or a captivating novel that weaves a spell with every word, embrace the rich tapestry of Creole.

Look across the Caribbean Sea, to the reggae rhythms of Jamaica and the laid-back lilt of St Lucia. There, writers have championed their local creoles, crafting stories that resonate with the soul and now reside in libraries worldwide, cherished treasures of Caribbean culture. This is your moment to join them!

Sweettntmagazine.com is your platform to ignite the flames of your creativity. Showcase your talent, your unique perspective, and the love that burns bright for the language that binds us all. Let’s preserve this linguistic gem, this sparkling diamond born from the collision of cultures. Share the stories that only Trinidadians can tell, in the language we understand on a deeper level, the language that whispers secrets in the rustling sugarcane fields and roars with laughter in bustling markets.

Trinidadian oral entertainers – the calypsonians with their infectious melodies and comedians with their side-splitting wit – have already conquered the world. Now, it’s the turn of Trinidadian writers to take centre stage.

Published writers are welcomed to share your story behind your creation. Writers with a collection of poems and short stories waiting to be published can use a direct publishing site such as Amazon, IngramSpark, or Barnes & Nobel, and embrace your Creole voice, and stand tall as part of a vibrant literary tradition. Then, contact us with your experience. Sweettntmagazine.com is waiting to hear your story, the story that only you can tell, in the language that sings the true song of Trinidad.

Email us

You can email us at contact@sweettntmagazine.com. Share your poems or make a request to promote your published works on sweettntmagazine.com. Include links to your website, social media pages, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Scribbles and Quills, and any information for readers to find and enjoy your works.

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