Pregnancy is a life-changing event, affecting not only a woman’s body—evidenced by a growing stomach and other physical changes like an increased nose size—but also her mental state and emotional well-being. This is the core of Dear Zimi, the debut novel by Chiziterem Chijioke, the 2023 Quramo Writers’ Prize winner.

Dear Zimi follows Zimife, the youngest child of the Ike-Stevens family, who becomes pregnant after an impulsive Valentine’s Day date with Tobore, a youth corps member. After a failed abortion attempt, Zimi must face the harsh reality of being an unmarried undergraduate who is pregnant. Her once-normal life spirals into an emotional whirlwind, testing friendships, family bonds, and her own sense of self. Zimi must confront her selfishness and prove herself worthy of the love and sacrifices of those closest to her—her best friend, Belema, her family, and the father of her child, Tobore.

This book is a must read for lovers of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Zikora, Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, and An American Marriage by Tayari Jones as it paints the powerful portrait of what it means to be a young, unmarried, pregnant woman in an African society. It delves into the disappointment and stigma families feel and the attitudes others may display, whether openly or behind closed doors. The book emphasizes the importance of a supportive community, like Belema and Zimi’s family, and the transformation that comes with love and acceptance. 

Why You Should Read Dear Zimi by Chiziterem Chijioke

In an interview with Creative Writing News, Chiziterem Chijioke shared that the judges of the Quramo Writers’ Prize praised Dear Zimi for being a “compelling narrative that explores the theme of love, friendship, and self-discovery against the backdrop of Nigerian society.” This is evident in the concise, engaging writing of the novel. Chijioke captures the reality of an average Nigerian girl living under her parents’ roof. Though the novel focuses on a family’s growing acceptance, it also addresses the broader consequences of life-altering mistakes. The pacing is enough to carry us through the stages and changes in Zimi’s life, covering her entire journey in 204 pages.

Zimi starts the book in a state of panic, and this feeling persists throughout as she navigates a future that was never part of her plans. The characters in this story aren’t strictly good or bad, instead, the novel highlights how selfishness can sometimes block us from the life we need, with Zimi constantly trying to reshape the actions of those around her to create the life she expects. 

The novel shows that we can only control our own actions, and Zimi learns this the hard way—a needed experience as she heads into motherhood—by facing the disappointment her father carries in silence, her mother’s loud disapproval, and her brother’s reaction, all while being supported by her sister’s warm love.

Friendship also plays a significant role in the novel, particularly Zimi’s bond with Belema who is the first character we are introduced to, as well as the last to close the book, emphasizing the importance of their relationship throughout Zimi’s journey. Tobore, the baby’s father, is another key figure. In Nigerian society, we often hear stories of men who disappear when faced with unplanned pregnancies, but Tobore is the opposite. He chooses to be there for Zimi, no matter her decision, testing the strength of their relationship and teaching Zimi the value of people who truly care.

Read: How to Identify Themes of Your Story

One of the standout moments in the novel is when a character says, “…when you love someone, you must stop at nothing to show it to them.” This encapsulates the fundamentals of the book—that love requires action and commitment, not just words.

Beyond the theme of friendship, the novel briefly touches on abortion and the taboo that surrounds it while also raising important questions: How different would Zimi’s life have been if her abortion plan had succeeded? Would she have grown as a person or remained the same as she was at the beginning of the book? It also helps us question society’s impact on the decisions most girls who share a similar experience with Zimife make.

Aside from the stigma that follows pregnancy out of wedlock, there is also the issue of putting life on pause to cater to the needs of the child. Chiziterem still weaves a subtle but powerful feminist narrative that encourages young women to chart their own paths in the face of a society that seeks to control women’s choices.

Throughout the book, we can easily forget that Zimi is an undergraduate who was fortunate enough to go through this experience with her school on strike. However, the backdrop of a university strike acts as a significant narrative device. It allows Zimi to experience her pregnancy away from the judging eyes of her peers. It is interesting, though, to imagine how this story might have unfolded if she had been thrust into the academic spotlight with her growing belly and what experiences would shape her character at the end. The author mentioned getting the story inspiration during one of the long federal university strikes, thus inspiring the setting of the novel.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Dear Zimi is a soft story that invites readers to reflect on the power of love in guiding us through our darkest moments. Zimi teaches us about vulnerability, responsibility, and replacing fear with hope for the future. Her growth is remarkable, offering a story that resonates with readers of all backgrounds. The message is clear by the end: actions speak louder than words, and we must prove ourselves worthy of the love and support we receive from friends and family by giving back in kind.

Dear Zimi is published by Quramo Publishing Limited and will soon be available in bookstores nationwide. You can order your copy from Quramo’s Official Instagram. 

Also Read: Book Review of Who Drove Nearly All The Men in Lagos Mad?

The post Book Review: Dear Zimi by Chiziterem Chijioke appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Nigerian Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is set to release a new novel titled Dream Count after 11 years.

On the night of October 1st, 2024, marking Nigerian Independence Day, news burst across the internet, especially on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the best-selling author of Americanah, was set to release a new novel after 11 years. This wasn’t just an announcement of a new book to hit the shelves but a celebration for fans of the writer who could not contain their joy after a long wait.  Although no novels had been published in 11 years, Chimamanda had released short stories, essays and even a children’s book in the past years.

What is Dream Count About?

It is a story of four Nigerian women with interconnected lives, navigating loves, longings, and desires. Here is the synopsis:

Chiamaka is a Nigerian travel writer living in America. Alone in the midst of the pandemic, she recalls her past lovers and grapples with her choices and regrets. Zikora, her best friend, is a lawyer who has been successful at everything until—betrayed and brokenhearted—she must turn to the person she thought she needed least. Omelogor, Chiamaka’s bold, outspoken cousin, is a financial powerhouse in Nigeria who begins to question how well she knows herself. And Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, is proudly raising her daughter in America—but faces an unthinkable hardship that threatens all she has worked to achieve.

According to the publisher, Penguin Random House,

When is Dream Count Coming Out?

The novel will be released on March 4, 2025. Preorders are now available for interested readers.

How many pages is Dream Count?

The Penguin Random House website states that the novel is 416 pages long, promising readers an extended immersion in Chimamanda’s writing.

How can you Buy Dream Count?

The book will not be out until next year. However, you can start preordering from the Penguin Random House website. 

What other books has Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Written?

She has written several, from full-length novels to short stories and essays published in the New York Times and even a children’s book.

Here is a list of books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:

• Purple Hibiscus (2023)
• Half of a Yellow Sun (2006)
• The Thing Around Your Neck (2009)
• Americanah (2013)
• We Should All Be Feminists (2014)
• Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions  (2017)
• Notes on Grief  (2021)
• Mama’s Sleeping Scarf (2023)

Chimamanda, one of the most revered Nigerian writers, also occasionally held writing workshops to help Nigerian writers better their craft. One of these workshops produced the writer of Blessings, Chukwuebuka Ibeh.

Also Read: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Advice on Writing Like A Nobel Laureate

The post What to Know About Chimamanda’s New Novel ‘Dream Count’ appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Prior to November 30, 2023, it was unthinkable that stakeholders in the publishing industry would be searching for  Okadabooks alternatives.

Sadly, this has been the case since the African self-publishing platform Okadabooks closed its virtual doors permanently, leaving a void in the publishing industry. Authors are now searching for new platforms to showcase their work, while readers are seeking alternative sources for engaging stories from talented writers.

Self-publishing is challenging. In fact, this report argues that 90% of self-published books sell less than 250 copies. Okadabooks provided an increased access to a wide range of readers. Furthermore, it simplified the publication and distribution of books for writers and readers on the African continent. Since its closure, new platforms have sprung up to ensure African writers can still sell their books and that readers can access books with ease. 

So, if you are seeking alternatives to Okadabooks, you’ve come to the right place. We have compiled a comprehensive list of options for publishing stakeholders. Enumerated below is our ultimate list of Top 7 Okadabooks alternatives for 2024.

1. Pabpub

Phoenix Award Books Publications (Pabpub) is the closest alternative to Okadabooks, with similar features and more that help writers distribute their books to readers. Pabpub is described as a hybrid publisher, infusing self-publishing with traditional publishing in what can be pitched as Amazon Print-on-Demand meets Cassava Republic Press. 

The platform has two publishing options;

1. The self-publishing option called the Fluid Package
2. Traditional publishing Diamond Package

The fluid package, which is the most popular, gives the writers complete control of their book, from covers to formatting and marketing, allowing PABPUB to serve only as a source for the book. The Diamond Package (currently on hold) uses all of the traditional publishing features, giving the publishing platform more control over publication and distribution. 

Pabpub currently boasts of being able to provide copies as small as one or as many as hundreds, depending on the reader’s needs. What makes it even better is that a delivery fee is incurred less than that of print-on-demand sites like Amazon.

Readers also have the option to read free books on the Pabpub website or pay small amounts for paid books with the platform’s digital coins, Pubcoins. This Okadabooks alternative also allows readers to use their simple subscription plans to have all the books at their fingertips.

2. Iko Africa

Iko is one of the newest platforms on the block dedicated to pushing storytelling in Africa.  It allows writers to share their stories with a built-in audience of readers passionate about African narratives. Readers can explore a diverse collection of literary works and discover new voices. The platform also encourages collaboration by allowing users to connect with writers and other members of the African literary community, fostering conversations and growth in the creative space.

Features of Iko Africa include:

• Social and Serial Publishing

On Iko Africa, writers can share short or long-form content and serialized works. This is an excellent option for writers whose abilities lie in posting chapters of their writing in parts. Authors can build a loyal readership awaiting each new instalment, encouraging readers to stay connected and engaged with the story over time.

• Creator Rewards

Writers can get paid for their content, helping writers get an income from their skills. 

• Community Engagement: 

Direct interaction between writers and readers.

• Writing Resources: 

Offers writing classes, interviews, editorial support, and a curated selection of standout works.

Iko Africa is an innovative social publishing platform that empowers African writers by offering a space for them to share their stories, and they are taking steps forward in revitalizing African writing and providing greater visibility for diverse stories.

Read: Ways to get ideas for your story. 

3. Bambooks

Bambooks is a reading platform in Nigeria for books. It serves as a digital library that offers users access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and comics from any internet-connected device, including mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

They also offer a range of services to writers, helping them publish and promote their work effectively. Writers can upload manuscripts to the platform, making them instantly available to Bambooks’ broad reader base. This digital publishing process ensures authors’ accessibility and exposure. Additionally, writers can monetise their content, earning revenue from book sales and subscription-based access.

 Unlike many Okadabooks alternatives, Bambooks also helps promote these works to a broad audience, assisting writers to gain visibility. Authors can engage directly with their readers, fostering a loyal community and receiving valuable feedback.

4. Ebony Story

Ebony Story is an online platform that has been around for a while. Founded in 2017, they are dedicated to African storytelling, offering a wide variety of free, serialised fiction or online novels. While it allows readers to access stories across genres such as romance, drama, fantasy, and thrillers, all tailored to African experiences and narratives, it also empowers writers by providing a platform to publish their work and engage with readers. 

The platform encourages reader-writer interaction through comments and feedback on each chapter, fostering a community of African literature enthusiasts.

5. Africa Read

Africa Read is a digital platform that promotes African literature by providing a space for writers to publish their works and for readers to access a wide range of stories. It emphasizes showcasing African voices and narratives across fiction, poetry, and short stories. 

The platform is designed to celebrate African storytelling, allowing authors to share their unique perspectives and for readers to discover diverse African stories. Africa Read supports both emerging and established writers.

One of the platform’s primary offerings is its user-friendly app, which categorises various books, including genres like business, children’s literature, novels, and textbooks. For aspiring authors, Africa Read provides tools for self-publishing, allowing them to bring their work to life without the barriers typically associated with traditional publishing. They also offer marketing resources and guidance for authors, helping them effectively promote their work. 

Africa Read promotes reading not just for enjoyment but as a means to enhance skills and knowledge, catering to the evolving needs of readers in a digital landscape.

6. African Books

AfricanBooks.com is an online Christian publishing platform established in 2021, dedicated to amplifying the African voice within the global narrative. Their primary mission is to provide a space for African writers and publishers, offering quality African content through their digital bookstore.

They offer competitive pricing that aligns with current African market rates, ensuring accessibility for readers. Additionally, they support multiple currencies and provide African payment options to facilitate user transactions based on the continent.

African Books helps authors benefit from the platform by providing accessible royalty earnings, which they can receive in African bank accounts and mobile money platforms.

7. Itanile

Although Itanile is predominantly a literary magazine focused on promoting African writers regardless of their career stage, it also encourages the publication of e-books on its site, encouraging writers to share their works with the Itanile reader base. 

To sell your ebooks, you must fill in the details on their website, and then you can enjoy the features accorded by Itanile. 

Why This Is Great News For Everyone  Seeking Alternatives to Okadabooks in 2024 

While Okadabooks is gone for good, their vision of ensuring writers can find ways to publish and market their works still lives on in the aforementioned platforms. Each of these Okadabooks alternatives is dedicated to one cause—ensuring writers find a home for their stories to be accessed by eager readers waiting to read.  

Are you a bookseller, an author or a reader? Which of these platforms will you be trying out?

The post Top 7 Okadabooks Alternatives in 2024 appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Zambian Award-Winning Author Mubanga Kalimamukwento has announced her forthcoming book, Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies.

The 2024 Drue Heinz Literature Prize winner‘s new book, Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies, is a multi-lingual, hybrid collection of essays and poems that encapsulates a kaleidoscope of emotions: at once self-excavation and epitaph, exhumation and burial song. These words are a conversation between the present and the past.

“…joy wilts, Dust to dust, the preacher calls it Ashes to ashes, as mwana tosses it mangles itself inside her nostrils now the aroma of starved earth, the brilliant white of a mother’s new coffinment waiting to receive it.”

Kalimamukwento deftly navigates the aftermath of devastating personal losses, particularly that of her mother. Through them, she invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of loss and the enduring impact of familial bonds.

About the Author

Mubanga Kalimamukwento is a Zambian poet; her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in the Tusculum Review, Contemporary Verse 2, and Passengers Journal and has been translated into Italian by Menelique. She won the 2021 Deborah Keenan Poetry Scholarship and the 2022 Tusculum Review Poetry Chapbook Prize, selected by Carmen Giménez. Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies Shortlisted for the 2023 (Center for African American Poetry and Poetics) CAAPP Book Prize. 

Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies comes out in April 2025 and is now available for preorder

The post Mubanga Kalimamukwento Announces A New Book, Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies. appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Many budding short story writers struggle with holding-attention in a short-story. Writing a short story seems like an easier form of prose than writing a full-length novel. Writers who do not have the passion to write full-length novels may find ways to express their creativity through short stories.

However, just as novel writing has its techniques, so do short stories. The misconception that short stories are easier to write must be corrected, as this is not usually the case. Many times when I read short stories, it is as though they are written in haste. Many writers have not mastered the art of holding-attention in a short-story and do not know how to properly engage readers as they miss the techniques required to write a successful short story. 

Sometimes Holding-Attention in a short-story of 500 – 3000 words might be difficult because it seems like the word count limits the expression of creativity. However, writers must write in a way that helps readers understand the message they are trying to pass across. There are steps that writers must follow in order to share their creativity in the best way possible.

It was for this reason that I decided to listen to Jack Wang’s presentation: Holding Attention in the Short Story. 

According to Jack, the most important thing a writer must know while writing short stories or fiction in general, is how to hold attention. They must compel the readers to keep up until the very last word.

In this article about Jack Wang’s presentation; Holding Attention in the Short Story, he explores the technicalities of a short story and how one can properly have the attention of any reader. The following are some things I learned from the presentation.

A Tale of Two Tensions

According to Wang, every short story answers two questions.

• The first is why now? Wang believes that a short story cannot capture the entirety of a person’s consciousness. A short story is like a synecdoche. A part has to represent the whole. This brings about the question that your short story should answer — why now? Why this part? Why do you think that this part is what would hold attention in your short story? Your short story should be able to give an answer to this question.
• The second question a short story should answer is; what is at stake? The question triggers the readers to be intrigued. Why should the story matter to them and why must they pay attention? There has to be something at stake that pulls them and alerts them to read until the very end.

Jonathan Godshell states that there is a universal grammar for every kind of story. Stories across cultures have their unique essence. The universal grammar is character, predicament and extracted extrication.

Stories are about predicament. Something has to happen to the character that they have to face head on. It is this predicament that triggers a series of event that the writer eventually shares with the readers. Without this, a story has no true essence.

There are different kinds of predicaments.

• Acute tension: a predicament that characters face immediately; here and now. They disturb the habitual/ status quo in the character’s life. The emphasis is on action, incident, and plot. This kind of tension helps to answer the question “Why now?”
• 
• Chronic tensions: problems from the past. It is a kind of tension that is longstanding. The problems are ongoing in the character’s life. This kind of predicament emphasizes more on the character. Stories are about the mystery of character and chronic tension helps to reveal that mystery. It helps to answer the question, “What’s at stake?”

A short story is an interplay of these two tensions. For a writer who wishes to be successful in short story writing, understanding these tensions and knowing when and how to use them is a prerequisite.

Turn and Face the Strange Changes

Perceptual systems don’t work unless there are changes to detect. The human mind can only pay attention to what they find fascinating and new. When unexpected change happens, readers are more inclined to find out what it means and what effect it has to everything ongoing.

Humans always want to understand the concept of change and where it might lead to. Is it good or bad? Curiosity is what readers should feel in the opening movements of an effective story. This helps to keep them on their toes and hold their attention.

There are stories where the acute tension doesn’t change. However, it all depends on how well the author can embody this.

Suspicious Minds

Every writer should understand that the content of one’s mind differs from the content of others. In learning the techniques of holding-attention in a short-story, a writer must understand that suspense creates eagerness, and this can only happen when the reader’s mind becomes suspicious. 

The theory of mind describes our ability to explain people’s behavior in terms of their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and intentions.

The human mind is naturally designed to be suspicious, eager to know, and willing to properly understand what goes on around.

Mind the Information Gap while Holding-Attention in a Short-Story 

As humans, we want information. We want to know what is happening. Story tellers should often use this to their advantage. According to Wang, “The more context we learn about mystery, the more anxious we are to solve it.”

Readers need to be informed, they need to understand the drama in order to keep up with the build up a writer is creating. Providing readers with visual presentation using a creative ppt is a must to keep them updated at all times. The curiosity of readers plays a significant role. The zone of maximum curiosity is what a writer should aim at. It is a situation whereby storytellers play; making readers think that they have some idea, but with uncertainty.

A short story should have these basics in order to properly hold attention. When a writer begins a story in a particular way, creating chronic or acute tension at the beginning, the writer should also make sure that at the end of the story, these tensions are resolved.

Short stories must not have a complex structure or form. Every story start at the latest possible moment and only the writer can decide when that moment is. Many successful endings of stories project into the future, but it doesn’t need to expatiate the entirety of that future.

Once a writer has resolved the acute and chronic tension, as well as the information gap, then there is no more information to share.

Finally on Holding-Attention in a Short-Story 

Without holding attention, a writer will struggle to persuade readers to continue reading when there are many works to read.

These tips mentioned in this article are some basic techniques a writer should follow in order to hold the attention of readers in a short story.

Chiziterem Chijioke is a creative writer, editor and a student of mass communication. She has worked as a volunteer and is a member of Fresh Writers Community and currently works as an editor for Creative Writing News. She has authored four works, some of which have been published on Pabpub.  She is purpose driven and passionate about writing.

The post 5 Tips on Holding Attention in a Short-Story { Step by Step Guide + Examples} appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Dear Writer, are you wondering how to overcome a writer’s block? Are you in the middle of a huge writing project and it suddenly feels like you’ve run out of creative ideas? Then this is for you!

Writer’s block is a common condition that affects almost every writer. This term is often used to describe a situation where a writer loses their creative drive or experiences a creative meltdown of sorts. Many creatives often struggle to overcome writer’s block and are often in despair when they can’t get their creative juices flowing.

Studies suggest that it is possible to experience writer’s block and to overcome it several times. Many literary greats have written eloquently after various spells of writer’s block.

To make your job easier, we have compiled a list that may help you to figure out how to overcome writer’s block and in some ways, even, avoid this malaise.

Understand your writing style

Every writer has a unique voice. Every writer has their own style of writing. As a writer, you must be able to understand your own tune, your own voice and your style. Many a time when writers get mental blocks during their writing. This is because they suddenly did not know how to put their ideas down, how to write it or express it.

This is most times because they have gotten to a point where they no longer understand themselves. Most times they never understood themselves from the very beginning.

Some writers often aim to write like their favorite author. They put up this narrative in their head. The voice of another author writing, but when everything gets jumbled up, they stop.

Dear writer, discover yourself on your own. Do not aspire to write like anyone because they are well achieved or because you simply like their way of writing. Struggle to find what suits you, what is buried within you. This way, there is a chance you won’t get stuck on the way and wonder how to write down your own idea.

The following steps would help you discover your own voice:

• Know your genre.
• Read a lot of books, by different authors. When you see different writing styles, it would jumpstart yours.
• Lastly, practice writing the genre you want to be an expert in. If you prefer short stories, write a lot of them. When you do this frequently, you’ll surely be able to uncover what tone you write it.

Make sure your story idea is organized before you begin writing

When I began my writing journey, I was spontaneous. I wrote as it came to my head. I wrote without having it organized and it was fun. I thought that I would know it all as I wrote, that it would come to me anyhow and that it was better that way. But it was not. The story ended up having a lot of plot holes and at some point, I ended up not knowing where I stopped and where I was supposed to go on from. Now, a lot of us writers are like that. We think our story would figure itself out as we go and we find this fun.

Dear writer, stop starting a story when you’ve not fully organized it. When the plot has not been thought out. This would lead you to a dead end. Before you begin your story, figure it all out, from the beginning, middle and the end. Figure out the point of view you want to use, the names of characters, the narrative and descriptive arc and also, the location. Figure out everything to the very spoon your character uses.

When you do this, it would be difficult for you to lose your way while writing. Many people talk about how to overcome a writer’s block, but have you asked yourself if there are ways to avoid it? Ways to just prevent it from ever coming? This is a way.

Creating a Plot Outline Can Help You Get Rid of Writer’s Block. 

A plot outline is a plan. It helps you put all your organized ideas together and in a chronological order. Having a plot outline would make you more organized. All those jottings and whispers in your head would be in a single place.

More so, it is a plan that would remind you of what you are writing as you go. It would keep hitting you hard and telling you. “This is what you planned. This is what you wanted.” That way you don’t get lost.

Also, having a plot outline does not mean you cannot make changes or little tweaks. It does not mean that you cannot at some point feel the need to put Tunde in the car instead of in a truck — it just helps you understand your idea in blueprint. Dear writer, create a plot outline today!

There are even apps that can help you through creating your plot outline. I understand that the excitement of a new idea would send you feeling the need to begin writing immediately. Avoid it. Use that energy to create your plan. You won’t regret it.

Start Writing

After you have taken all the steps above, begin your writing. Write. As you write, read through your plot outline, to remind yourself of that idea. Read it like you are reading an exotic story, one that is new to you. Write that story.

Discard every self doubt

Avoid thinking that the idea was never good enough. That would set a writer’s block in. When you begin to doubt your idea, a creative block sets in.

As a writer you must remember that a story is of your own creation. Just like Chimamanda  Adichie said during her Purple Hibiscus Workshop. “Do not think about the audience when writing, think about the story.”

Many times we writers like to think about what people might think or how they would view the story — yes, this is a good thought. However, always remember that a story doesn’t have to fit into the everyday life. It doesn’t have to be regular. It is fiction. Think about the best way to put your idea out, not the best way to bend it to be pleasing to the audience. Remember that a story is told so people can see or read what you have created.

Do not write when you feel exhausted

Every human is often preoccupied. You are often busy with many things at a go. Then you get exhausted by one thing and you are unable to actually do the other thing. Sometimes the other thing is writing. My dear, don’t kill your self, please. Write when your mind is fresh and not worried or exhausted from something else.

But hey, this gives you no right to become a procrastinator. No no, Aunty/Uncle — do not begin to shift your writing because you feel another day of preparation will come. Get up and write. Cast away the spirit of procrastination and face your laptop. It takes discipline to fight procrastination, nothing else. Remember this.

No one is chasing you

Stop thinking that you have to meet up with time — except of course a publisher is on your tail. If no one is on to you then write at a pace that suits you.

Many times we writers think we might lose something if we do not finish this story within this time frame. Stop that. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to write that story. In the end what matters is that you do. Again I’m not saying procrastinate o. I’m saying when you feel overwhelmed, put aside your thinking and any thing that would involve you working mentally and just relax, rest, soothe yourself. Take your time.

Overthinking how you need to write fast or write this amount of words per day, could shut off your brain and boom, writer’s block. Take it slow, you’ll be fine.

Find Creative Activities that Trigger Your Creativity

As creatives, we are mostly inspired to be creative by other creative works. One time I was buying Sharwama and I was watching the guy make it. It was so random. He made it look as though he were creating something- which he was, but it was with attention, eagerness, zeal, passion. It was just wow. And I was struck. I began to imagine the ways in which I could put that scenario down in my story. It was just beautiful. I was inspired.

For some people it could be music, movies, reality tv shows like BBNAIJA, being in a quiet place, watching real life play out too —

one time I took the bus to go to a nearby mall because I wanted to see something that would inspire me. Then I saw a conductor jump down from the bus to stop a little girl from drinking a water she saw by the road side and I was simply motivated. It could be a random thing, so just find it.

For some people it could be writing for contests, call for submissions or even writing prompts that could set them ablaze. The adrenaline when writing something short and with a deadline attached to it can create an excitement and you just feel like writing again.

I also get inspired by movies, reading books by other authors, articles about relatable concepts or even listening to music and understanding their lyrics. Just find that thing that can help you overcome your writer’s block. That thing that fuels your creativity.

Create a writing routine

As a person who would have other things to do, you can create a writing routine that aligns with your everyday routine. Fix your writings for times when you know you’d be free, less busy and willing to write.

This has worked for some people and it may likely work for you. If of course, you are determined and disciplined enough to follow it. You should give this a try. During these set times, you could also set a word count goal or just wing it, as little or as much as you write should be considered a plus.

Always remember why you began writing in the first place

• Never forget your story, the inspiration behind it and most especially, the excitement to share it.
• Re read your plot draft.
• Find movies that relate to what you’re writing.
• Seek people to talk out your ideas with – this is important! Talk about your work, ask for opinions, share your ideas. Most times when writing, you could find a beta reader (if you like) the person might be your ginger! Hyping you to go on and criticizing you as well. This could motivate you to keep going.

I hope these few points help you overcome your writer’s block, or find what you’re looking for.
Dear writer, you are amazing, never forget that.

About the Author 

Chiziterem Chijioke is a creative writer, editor and a communications professional. She has worked as a volunteer and is a member of Fresh Writers Community and currently works as an editor for Creative Writing News. She was awarded the Quramo Writers Prize in 2023.  She is purpose driven and passionate about writing.

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By Joseph Udeze, Awka

Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Obi, has commended young writers in Anambra State for annually celebrating legendary Nigerian writer, Late Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Obi gave the commendation while speaking at the 2023 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, organized by the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter), which was held at the Prof. Kenneth Dike State Central E-Library Library, Awka, Anambra State capital on Thursday.

Obi, the Keynote Speaker at the event, described Achebe as a revered writer whose literary contributions have left an indelible mark on the global literary landscape. He emphasized the importance of preserving Achebe’s legacy, stating that events like the literary festival play a crucial role in keeping the flame of Achebe’s influence and legacies alive.

The former Governor, Obi who rated the annual event high, commended the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter) for sustaining the literary initiative, and for their commitment to nurturing and promoting literary talents in Anambra State. He further urged young writers to draw inspiration from Achebe’s works and use their creativity to address contemporary societal issues.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Occasion and Traditional Ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka emphasized that late Chinua Achebe was a great literary icon, whose books were translated in many languages, and encouraged students to always focus on their studies and not be deterred by the challenges of the time.

The monarch also urged the students to constantly seek knowledge through books and to be proud ambassadors of Igbo language and culture anywhere, anytime.

Contributing, former Secretary to the State Government and former Nigerian Diplomat, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, commended the organizers of the event for their dedication to promoting literary arts and preserving the legacy of Chinua Achebe; even as he highlighted the significance of such events in fostering intellectual growth and cultural awareness among the youth.

While reiterating the importance of reading as a cornerstone for personal and intellectual development, Obaze, who is also the MD/CEO of Selonnes Consult, also urged the youth to embrace Achebe’s legacy not only through celebrations but by actively participating in the literary world, ensuring that the flame of enlightenment continues to burn brightly in Anambra State and beyond.

Earlier in his Address of welcome, the Convener of the event and Coordinator, Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter), Mr. Izunna Okafor, said primary aim of the event was to celebrate Achebe as a hero and eagle on the Iroko of African Literature, immortalize him in their own way as young writers, as well as keep his memory alive.

He commended the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo for recently immortalizing Achebe, which he said, had been one of the Association’s major calls and appeals to government since the last eight years the event was initiated.

“Aside these, we also, through this event, promote, encourage and reward creative writing and reading culture among our youths and students; discover and harness amazing talents among our young ones, while also presenting writers and readers (intellectuals) as the elixirs to the country’s ailments, among other objectives we pursue through it,” he said.

Speaking, former MD/CEO, Anambra Broadcasting Service, Chief Uche Nworah, echoed the sentiments of preserving cultural heritage as a key aspect of Achebe’s literary legacy. He emphasized that Achebe’s works served as a bridge connecting the past, present, and future of the Igbo people, fostering a sense of identity and pride. He further encouraged the youth to delve into Achebe’s novels and essays, viewing them not only as literary masterpieces but also as valuable repositories of Igbo traditions.

On his own part, the MD/CEO Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) and Co-founder of Awka Literary Society, Mr. Odili Tony Ujubuoṅu, passionately urged the youth and emerging writers to cultivate imaginative thinking and writing skills, emphasizing their pivotal role in fostering innovation. Ujubuoṅu underscored the symbiotic relationship between writers and innovators, asserting that groundbreaking ideas often originate from the creative minds of writers, while challenging participants to embrace avid reading.

Other personalities who graced the occasion include the first female Professor of Mass Communication in Sub-saharan Africa, Prof. Stella Okunna; the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji, represented by Mrs. Chioma Ifediorah, the Ministry’s Director of Arts and Culture; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power and Water Resources, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Uzoka; award-winning writer and journalist, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu; widely-published author and former governorship candidate in Anambra, Okeke Chika Jerry; the MD/CEO, Naira Rice Mill, Mr. Arinze Omenwa; former Director, Anambra State Library Board, Dr. Nkechi Udeze; award-winning author, Reginald Chinedu Ofordile; among others.

The guests, in their respective remarks, praised Achebe’s legacies, commended the event organizers, and encouraged students to prioritize their studies and always strive for excellence.

Themed “Ten Years After: Remembering Achebe’s Legacies in Today’s Nigeria”, the 2023 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival featured unveiling of the 8th Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology — “Anthills of Words (In Memory of Achebe)”; cutting Achebe’s 93rd posthumous birthday cake, poetry renditions and dramatizing of Achebe’s books, Chinua Achebe Essay Writing Competition, and the presentation of certificates/awards to deserving participants and guests, along with other literary activities that made the event memorable.

The Keynote Speaker, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Chairman of the Occasion, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, were also honoured with the Chinua Achebe Excellence Award at the event.

More photos from the event:

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It will be a gathering of writers, intellectuals, literary activists, book lovers and top political figures in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, today, Thursday, as young writers in Anambra State set to host the 2023 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture.

The Coordinator, Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter), Izunna Okafor, made this known in Awka while giving update on the association’s preparedness for the 2023 edition of the event.

According to him, Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, initiated in 2016 and currently in its 8th edition, is a literary event the association annually hosts in honour of Nigerian literary icon, Late Prof. Chinua Achebe, in celebration of his life, works and legacies. He added that this year’s event will (as usual) hold on Achebe’s birthday, November 16, 2023, at the Anambra State Central E-Library (also known as the Prof. Kenneth Dike State Library), Awka, starting at 10.am prompt; with many dignitaries and participants in attendance.

While revealing this year’s theme of the event as “Ten Years After… Remembering Achebe’s Legacies in Today’s Nigeria”; Okafor further disclosed that the 2023 Achebe Memorial Lecture will be delivered by  the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, while the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo would be the Special Guest of Honour.

He added that this year’s event would be Chaired by an award-winning writer and Traditional Ruler of Obosi, H.R.H. Igwe Chidubem Iweka; even as the Traditional Ruler of Achebe’s hometown, Ogidi, H.R.H. Igwe Alex Uzo Onyido will grace the occasion as the Royal Father of the Day, among other dignitaries expected at the event.

“The event will feature the 2023 Achebe Lecture, drama, spoken word poetry, announcement of the winners of the 2023 Chinua Achebe Essay Writing Competition (for secondary schools), special reading, award presentation, among other literary packages slated for the day,” Okafor said.

He hinted that the occasion will also feature the unveiling and presentation of the 8th Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, entitled “Anthills of Words (In Memory of Achebe)”, which is the association’s newest international anthology of poems and essays, published in honour of Achebe.

The annual international anthology, he explained, is one of the writers’ way of immortalizing Achebe, and contains poems, essays, and reviews written and submitted by writers from different countries of the world.

Okafor, an award-winning author and journalist said the open-to-all event, which will mark Achebe’s 93 posthumous birthday and ten years of his death, will also be graced by arrays of literary icons from within and outside the country, who will be storming Awka to honour the legendary Achebe.

Born November 16, 1930, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who hailed from Ogidi in Anambra State, was a foremost Nigerian writer, critic, and author of Things Fall Apart. He died on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82.

Credit: The Nation Newspaper

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By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Anambra State Government has immortalized the late Nigerian literary icon, late Prof. Chinua Achebe by renaming the State’s International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, after him.

The State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, announced this during the Independence Day celebration, which at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, on Sunday.

The befitting immortalization is coming barely ten and half years after the demise of the Ogidi-born literary legend, Achebe, who died on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82.

Announcing the immortalization, Governor Soludo highlighted many eminent personalities produced by Anambra State, who distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and also got honoured.

He, however, recalled that many of those personalities honoured and immortalized were public servants; and further said his would henceforth begin to fish out and honour the unsung heroes and intellectuals, to serve as motivation to the youths.

He said: “However, it is evident that almost all those honoured are persons involved in public service. They are all deserving. However, at this historic moment when we are trying to re-set our values, it is important that we also beam the light on those beacons that we wish to celebrate as icons. A society ultimately mirrors what it celebrates. Here in Anambra, we are going back to basics and have identified human capital as Anambra’s greatest resource.

“We are not just a land of politicians and distinguished public servants, but even more so a land of acclaimed academics, entrepreneurs, professionals, and the clergy. We are a land where intellect and enterprise are celebrated. We are determined to reclaim the soul of our society and celebrate those values that made us who we were. We must signal that you don’t have to hold political position to contribute to the advancement of our civilization.

“Henceforth, we shall be deliberate in fishing out and celebrating our largely unsung heroes, as motivation to our children and youths in terms of what matters, including distinguished teachers, medical and other professionals, persons of honesty and integrity, philanthropists with known sources of wealth, entrepreneurs/job creators, community leaders/developers, clergy with great devotion, etc. During the first Anambra Investment Summit last month, I already indicated our intention to honour also my predecessors.

“An example of Africa’s unsung hero is late Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe (Chinua Achebe). Wikipedia describes Achebe as “a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ‘magnum opus’, Things Fall Apart (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel. Along with “Things Fall Apart”, his “No Longer at Ease” (1960) and “Arrow of God” (1964) complete the “African Trilogy.””

Continuing, Governor Soludo said: “At an auspicious time, I will be able to say a lot more about Achebe’s place in history. Unfortunately some people wrongly think of legacies in terms of brick and mortar. Legacy is about impact on human life and human civilization. That is why those who have been celebrated for centuries are not those who built artefacts but those who changed the course of history.

“Achebe was not a President or Governor or Minister. He did not build bridges or roads or airports. But he will outlive most presidents, governors or ministers. Achebe gave the African literature an identity and a voice. In a way, he rightly reconstructed and redefined who we are and we will never forget. Indeed, he was not an Anambra hero, nor a Nigerian hero. He was an African and global hero, and yet largely unsung at home.

“Achebe rejected Nigeria’s National Honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state, Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour Chinua Achebe. After wide consultations, there is a broad consensus that no one is more deserving to be named after the first airport in Anambra State than Anambra’s all-time greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe (With its escalating population, Anambra will probably need two more airports in the future).

“Consequently, we will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to CHINUA ACHEBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, UMUERI. Yes, it has to be an international airport, and we hope to work with the Federal Government to give full effect to its international status.”

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Longreads is currently accepting submissions of drafts and pitches for reported and personal essays.

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