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

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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 Blessing Dennis

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Anambra State Chapter has visited the Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Sir. Chido Obidiegwu ahead of their 2023 edition of the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture.

The visit, according to the group, was to discuss potential areas of collaboration with the ABS ahead of the event slated for 16th November, 2023 where they will also unveil their annual publication, Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, titled ‘Anthills of Words’, at the Festival.

When presented, this year’s edition of the anthology will be eighth international edition which the association has produced in honor of the literary icon.

The delegation was led on the visit by the Coordinator of the chapter, Mr. Izunna Okafor. Also among the delegation included Sandra Nwadi and Kanu Chioma Angel.

In his speech, Mr Okafor expressed gratitude to ABS for their continuous support and coverage of literary events in the state over the years, saying that the purpose of their visit was to establish a stronger bond for an ongoing promotion of activities that encourage writing and creative work.

He said the event, which holds on the posthumous birthday of the revered father of African literature, will bring together writers, poets, and enthusiasts while uniting them in the spirit of honoring thier tradition and fostering the literary culture in Anambra state.

Responding, Sir Chido promised that the ABS will continue promoting literary endeavors in the region and described the late Chinua Achebe as the best gift from God to Ogidi, Ndi Anambra and Nigeria at large. He also commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for renaming Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport after Prof. Chinua Achebe.

The visit also featured presentation of recent editions of the Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology to the MD.

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By Austin Ojiego

Writers, intellectuals, literary activists and book lovers from different parts of the world will, on Wednesday, November 16, storm Awka, the capital city of Anambra State for the 2022 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture.

The Coordinator of the 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 2022 edition of the event.

According to him, Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, initiated in 2016 and currently in its seventh 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 in the literary field and beyond. He added that this year’s event will (as usual) hold on Achebe’s birthday, November 16, 2022, at the Anambra State Central e-Library-Library, Awka, starting at 11.am; with many dignitaries and participants in attendance.

While revealing this year’s theme of the event as “Literature, Intellectuals and National Development: The Achebe Model”; Okafor further disclosed that the 2022 Achebe Lecture will be delivered by the award-winning author, journalist and literary-cum-political activist, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu; while the National Vice President of Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, will Chair the occasion.

In his word, “The event will feature the 2022 Achebe Lecture, drama, spoken word poetry, announcement of the winners of the 2022 Chinua Achebe Essay Writing Competition (for secondary schools), announcement and recognition of outstanding entrants for the 2022 Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, special reading, award/certificate presentation, among other literary packages slated for the day.”

He added that the occasion will feature the unveiling and presentation of the seventh Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, entitled “Achebe the Soul Brother”, 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, in response to the ‘Call for Submission’ earlier made by the association.

Okafor, a veteran author and journalist, said the 2022 event is expected to be graced by top government functionaries and literary enthusiasts, including the Executive Governor of Anambra state, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who is expected to declare the event open; and the Traditional Ruler of Obosi, H.R.H. Igwe Chidubem Iweka, who is the Royal Father of the Day; among other dignitaries.

He said the open-to-all event 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 and critic, and author of Things Fall Apart. He died on March 21, 2013, at the age of 82.

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A writing workshop is a great opportunity for budding writers to have their works subjected to peer review and critique. Readers and writers workshops come in various models, but the goals are to teach writers to be better writers

Every year, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie organizes the Purple Hibiscus Creative writing workshop. Various writers are selected to hone their crafts. Teaching the writing workshops are professional writers.

In 2018, Simbiat Haroun attended the writer’s workshop. In her essay, she shares everything she learned. From the writing workshop model to the writing tips. Simbiat bares it all. Ready to learn how to write like a noble laureate? Keep reading.

Writing Workshop With Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Learning To Write Like A Nobel Laureate At The Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop.

The thing to know about acceptance letters is that they usually come when you least expect them. Most people are never ready for an official endorsement of their work.

Even if you send in your best, the moment the positive feedback comes is usually so euphoric that every thought flies out of your head no matter how prepared you thought you were to receive it.

You forget the certainty that made you send out the application in the first place. And then, you forget the fact that by getting this chance, you have robbed hundreds, maybe thousands of people of the opportunity.

You even forget people. And you forget where you are. Chances are that you even forget your body. Then, you condense as you become a mixture of air and euphoria.

This feeling enveloped me at five a.m. on the seventh of November, when I woke up to check my email. You must know that the day before, I had been looking up writing workshop attendees.

What had I been researching? Everything. I had been checking the number of people who are being accepted to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s creative writing workshop each year.

Also, I’d been sending pathetic messages to my younger brother, wailing to him about how I would never get into this highly selective writers’ workshop.

So in the morning, I woke up to go to work, and I checked my email because Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would be sending out emails to the luck workshop participants that day.

When I saw the subject of the mail, my palms became clammy and my breath started to come out in puffs. Fear crawled through my body unknowing to me – the sneaky bastard – and sat firmly in my blood, planted itself on my chest.

With this choking feeling acting as a witness to one of the most euphoric moments of 2018 for me (it comfortably sits in the top five), I opened the mail.

“Dear Simbiat, thank you for applying to the Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop,”

it began. No clue of what was coming. After,

“I am pleased to let you know you’ve been accepted…”

and finally,

“I enjoyed reading your entry…”

My Reaction To The Acceptance Letter.

My body became one again and I flew up, down, up, down and the floor was shaking beneath my feet and I was vibrating with excitement, and my youngest brother, who had slept in my room that night, was jarred awake by my silent screaming. (I was dimly conscious of how early it was and I did try to keep it down). Unimpressed, he begged me to tone it down, and then he went back to sleep.

I continued to jump up and down, stopping at some points to try to let out excited tears – which never came out –and trying and failing to contain my excitement. That was probably my best day at work after I managed to calm down long enough to get ready.

After I told my brother, who at first couldn’t believe it and then I told my parents but they didn’t understand the gravity of what had happened. They correctly read the waves of excitement pouring from my body and extended their most hearty congratulations.

For the duration of the days it took between receiving that letter and going off to the writing workshop, I was buzzing with excitement, making plans, making, and canceling arrangements.

The Arrival To The Writing Workshop Venue.

Finally, the day came for me to leave home. I arrived at the hotel a day before the writing workshop was due to start (as did most of us, really).

I lived in Lagos, where the writer’s workshop was billed to take place, so I could have to the workshop early on the start date. But I was too excited to wait for a whole day.

The day I got there, it was if a rush of creative juices got emptied on my head. This is proof that the writing workshop still works. The conducive environment and the idea of collaborative learning simply make the writer more productive.

I sat at a very comfortable writing desk, with its bright lights, and its soft perfect chair and its distracting mirror. And I wrote two stories. Afterward, I ate and slept.

How To Write Like A Pro. Everything I Learned From Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie On Day 1 Of The Writing Workshop.

The next day, the writing workshop kicked off. To prepare, I did nothing. It was all in the mind, I reasoned, and short of literally cracking my skull and parting it open, there was nothing I could do to fully get ready.

I had attended the writing workshop only to learn how to write like a nobel laureate. Some other participants hoped to learn about teaching writing workshops. I realized later on that the later was also a useful skill.

Don’t think about the audience when writing, think about the story.

— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

At the top of my mind was my decision to do my best. And hopefully not remain star-struck throughout the creative writing workshop!

When I got downstairs, I was greeted by a congregation of eager students clustered in pockets of small groups. There, I met H. I joined her small cluster, which consisted of herself and G.

I remember that day and all the others that followed very vividly. We sat together and spoke about the things that connected us: our nervousness at meeting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We spoke about our uncertainty about being at the writing workshop, random things, mundane things.

Soon, it was time to eat and we proceeded to the dining room; I still miss the food. After, I quickly went to the room where we were to have classes.

Chairs were arranged in a U formation, with sweets, a bottle of water and a jotter and a biro. I walked in and I sat. Less than five minutes later, I walked out again and went back to the dining room.

The room was too cold and I had been the only one there, everybody else was too busy learning the patterns of other people’s minds.

Many minutes later, we were ushered back into the room, into the freezing cold. It felt like stepping through the doorway from the summer into the winter. Somehow, in the minutes I had been away, it had become even colder. We sat there in the cold, waiting.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Comes To Teach The Creative Writers’ Workshop

When Chimamanda finally walked into the room, I can only speak for myself and say that it felt like the sun had just risen. She had a large smile on her face, and she was gorgeous and she looked genuinely happy to meet us.

I didn’t notice when but eventually, I felt the strain in my cheeks that told me I was smiling widely. She came in and sat beside me, to my immediate right.

When editing, look at the first and last few sentences.

— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Here was a woman whose books I had read back to back and who I had loved for so many years and she was sitting so close that if I stretched my hand, I would have been able to touch her. She smiled at us many times and then she introduced herself to raucous, disbelieving laughter.

“We already know you!” Many of us wanted to shout. “We know everything there is to know about you.”

She told us bits about herself, declared the room a safe space, and invited us to share pieces of ourselves. It was like we were transported out of that freezing space by the sea to the safest place everyone could be. (For me, it was an island away from civilization).

It was like we had been transported and told that we could be our deepest truest selves. Some of us poked the change with sticks, and others embraced it wholeheartedly.

What is important is that one after the other, we shared pieces of ourselves. And in that room, we started to form bonds that I believe will endure. And this is what I found most fascinating about the writing workshop model Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie built.

Why Our Writing Samples Stood Out From The Other Applicants.

After our brief introduction, we began the business of the day. Chimamanda told us why she had selected the stories she did.

Use more detail so that your story is more believable.

— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

She didn’t pick perfect stories, she said. She added that It had been particularly hard that year, to select the stories she did. And then she began to critique our entry stories one after the other.

During the course of this session, which stretched into the next day, she shared a few gems. I’ll share a few of the writing tips Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie shared while she was teaching the writing workshop:

• Don’t think about the audience when writing, think about the story.
• When writing out of your box (gender, nationality, etc.), it is important to come to it with humility.
• When editing, look at the first and last few sentences.
• Use more detail so that your story is more believable.
• Allow your characters some vulnerability.
• Be specific but don’t overdo it in order to write a more believable story.

Finally, she got to my story. And she told me something I will remember forever. Sorry, I will not share it with you.

The First Three Days Of The Writers’ Workshop and The Writing Prompts We Explored.

We spent the first three days of the writing workshop with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

We wrote more stories. They can serve as a writing workshop idea or a writing prompt for you.

• One assignment was to write a story using only dialogue,
• Another prompt involved a story about what we like and dislike about ourselves. These exercises opened us up and forced us to confront parts of ourselves we had never dared to open up.

For many of us (myself included), we had never been able to write anything so personal. For many of us, it was like opening a can of worms.

The stories were so hard to write but eventually, the worms grew into butterflies. We found that we were better for the sleepless nights we had to endure to complete our writing assignments.

Writing Tip: There should always be layers in everything you write.

— Lola Shoneyin.

So yes, the first three days of the writing workshop were daunting but absolutely worth it. Above all, they were fun as we had started to develop stronger relationships over fried fish, and chicken curry sauce, and salads, with sugary drinks to wash it all down.

The Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop With Lola Shoneyin, Author and Founder Of The Ake Festival.

The fourth day of the writing workshop saw us paired with Lola Shoneyin and brought what would become a fun, poetry session.

Writing Tip: Use symbolism to show how people are different.

— Lola Shoneyin.

I definitely did not know before I met her that she had published at least three poetry collections. And that she’d published these before releasing her critically-acclaimed novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives.

During the writing workshop, Lola taught us about brevity and subtlety in writing. The workshop participants learned how to use writing as therapy.. And we learned about foreshadowing.

Some golden creative writing tips she shared with us are as follows:

• There should always be layers in everything you write. This will help you build a great narrative arc.
• To be able to tell overly personal experiences, learn to detach yourself.
• The more you translate someone’s work into your language, the better your description will be.
• Use symbolism to show how people are different.

She also discussed how to write from many perspectives when writing a novel. To make it all easier, here are some things to note when writing different voices:

• Draw very clear lines.
• Get to know each character intimately.
• Write down a character bible.

To practice, we took a poem that Lola chose. After she’d separated us into groups of four, we translated it into pidgin.

This exercise was an illustration of how description can be more vivid when translated into your language. It showed how translation exercises can aid the writer in painting a clearer picture in a story.

The Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop With Tash Aw.

After Lola was Tash Aw with whom we learned to write about people who are close to us.

Write about things you’re more emotionally drawn to.

— Tash Aw

Tash’s writing workshop model was slightly different from Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche’s model.

Tash Aw had us pair up. And for his assignment, we had to discuss parts of ourselves with our partners. From what each writer had learned of the other person, everyone had to write a story about their partner. It had to be something they could relate to.

Colour narratives of people with what you know about them.

— Tash Aw

On the second day, my roommate, D, finally arrived. And it was with her that I completed this assignment. This was particularly hard for me, and I ended up doing a fairly decent job only on my second try.

Are you interested in trying this writing workshop idea? Here are some writing tips which I noted from Tash’s class:

• Write about things you’re more emotionally drawn to.
• Be able to say the things that they said, didn’t say, and could have said.
• Stories can be used to antagonize the subject.
• Writing is about going into their emotional space, about invading their personal lives.
• Colour narratives of people with what you know about them.

Learning How To Write From Eghosa Imaseun.

Next, the workshop participants enjoyed a visit from Eghosa Imaseun. Before he showed up, he sent us stories to read. Short stories and articles that taught us a lot about the proper way to submit stories and how to maintain voices while we write.

We also got an assignment to re-write a chapter of a popular book. The winner took home the complete set of Chimamanda Adichie’s books (I’m still jealous, T).

Below are some things to note from Eghosa’s writing class. His tips focused on things to consider when submitting a book to a publisher:

Write a striking cover letter.

Write a letter of approach requesting publication. This should have three parts: why you write, what you write, who you are.

Include A Short Synopsis.

Summarize what you’ve written in two sentences. Include why you’re the best person to tell the story.

Include Samples Of Your Work.

Submit three chapters or 50 pages or 10,000 words of your novel, whichever is longer.

Don’t Hesitate To Send A Follow-Up Email To The Publisher.

Follow up on your submission after two months.

Follow The Publisher’s Submission Guidelines.

The safest thing is to go to their submissions page and check if they have a preferred format; it’s usually best to send a traditional format.

Eghosa was hard surfaces with soft tips. He asked questions and actually expected an answer. Again, he was self-critical and magnanimous. And he said things that shocked you but at the same time did not, because you knew he meant them.

You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.

He shared some tips about points of view with us and their specific differences. An important thing I learned during Eghosa’s session is that the best way to transport yourself to the time where you’re writing is to use music and things that are relevant to that place.

What Dave Eggers Taught At The Writing Workshop About Points Of View And Editing.

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Dave Eggers was last to see us but in no way the least. With Dave, we discussed how to humanize a character, for writing about people we don’t particularly like.

Some of the ways a writer can humanize a character are:

• Show vulnerability in the character.
• Portray the character with someone or something they love.
• Present their weakness in relatable ways.
• Reveal their doubts, their internal struggles.
• Show what they are like when they fail.
• Reveal their inner justification for evil. In most cases, people who do evil think they have good reasons for their actions.
• Take readers into the character’s head.

Dave took us through an invaluable editing class that is worth more than I can ever say. Gold, maybe? With Dave, we discussed experimental stories, stories that are told not from the typical points of view but strange ones.

Workshop participants had to think about possibly writing from the point of view of a housefly, of a dead woman, using different structures, and we did, with many of us producing stellar work.

For our assignment, Dave told us to pick a newspaper story and write a fictional story out of it. It was particularly boring as none of the stories seemingly had good material. We spun gold out of the ordinary thread after which we took the practical road to ‘editing’.

How To Edit Your Story: Tips From The Writing Workshop With Dave Eggers.

• Never use so/then.
• Do not put a semicolon in dialogue.
• Analyze your story sentence by sentence and remove words that don’t do anything for the sentence.
• Don’t overdo the dialogue tags.
• Show more than you tell.

We were encouraged to share our work and until today, a quote rings in my head every time I think of holding back: “You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.”

The quote may be overused but it is no less important.

Other Interesting Extracurricular Activities We Participated In During The Writing Workshop.

It is crucial to note that we were not just props sitting in class, and trudging back to our rooms at the end of the day.

In the middle of the unending work, we found time to watch movies together in J’s room, have a dance party, go on long walks as a group during which I had a soul-moving talk with T.

We took our time to grow as writers as well as individuals as well as Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Trust Students.

Also, we spent nights staring at the sky, sitting in the bar downstairs discussing ourselves, peeling open wounds that had been long forgotten, and left buried under a bandage.

We talked and laughed and selfied among ourselves. Each day of those ten days is well documented.

The Final Days Of The Writers Workshop.

All too soon, it was the tenth day. We would spend the day getting ready, making ourselves up and stuffing beautiful outfits, shoes, and gorgeous makeup into the gaping holes our oncoming departure would leave within us.

At the oriental hotel, I floated through the day. It was finally the day we would have our long-awaited selfies with Chimamanda who had to travel and couldn’t make it on our previously scheduled date.

One by one, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, with our certificates in hand, called our names. And one after the other we climbed onto the stage, to hear her say the things about us that she had liked best, things we had thought she would have forgotten.

Not Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; She had a sharp memory and remembered the most important things about each one of us, gave us words we each held to our chests, and as we went back to our hotel, one sentence played over in my mind which she had said at a point during the writing workshop, “I can’t wait to read your books.”

Author’s Bio:

Simbiat Haroun lives in her head and when she is not writing, she is silently watching, thinking about what next she will turn into a story. She is a graduate of Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Trust Workshop.

We’ll be publishing more feature stories from other writers. Keep visiting CWN. Or better still, subscribe for our newsletter and you’ll get updates right in your inbox.

Want to write for us? Great! Read the submissions guidelines on our Write for Us Page

The post Writing Workshop With Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Learning To Write Like A Nobel Laureate At The Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop. appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Society for Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN) is proud to announce its Virtual Creative Writing Workshop for young female writers.  

The aim of the SBMEN Creative Writing Workshop For Women  is to:

• enhance the skills and talent of female writers;
• explore the literary works of inspiring female writers
• and provide a platform for female writers to creatively express themselves.

No enrollment fee or application fee is required is required.

Eligibility Guidelines and Target Audience for the SBMEN Creative Writing Workshop For Women

They are interested in enrolling 20 female writers who are willing to hone their craft.

You can apply:

• If you’re female.
• If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30 years,
• If you write fiction, non-fiction, and cover culture journalism and new media.
• If you’ll be available to participate in the literary workshop.
• There are no geographical restrictions.

Everything You Need To Know About The SBMEN Women’s Creative Writing Workshop.

The workshop will hold over four days from Monday 23 November to 26 November 2020.

It will consist of several sessions with the facilitators online. The workshop will be delivered through:

• discussions,
• writing exercises,
• and guided readings.

The last session will be the guest session with an accomplished writer or publisher from Africa.

Submission Guidelines for the SBMEN Writing Workshop 

To qualify to join the workshop:

• Submit an unpublished 1000-word flash fiction or nonfiction piece for consideration.
• Submission deadline is Saturday 7 November 2020.
• Successful applicants will be notified by Wednesday 11 November 2020

Submission Guidelines For The SBMEN Women’s Creative Writing Workshop:

• Please send the following materials in a MS WORD document to womenwriting@sbmen.org.ng.
•  Ensure that the subject head is: Workshop Writing Submission:
• Your writing sample should be an unpublished work in fiction and nonfiction, but not children’s fiction. 
• Include at the top of the Word document your name, contact address, email and phone number.
• Manuscript Formatting Guidelines: Times New Roman size 12 font, black, 2.0 spacing.
• Include a biography of not more than 100 words.
• Include a 200-word personal statement on why you want to participate in this workshop.

Facilitators for the SBMEN Women’s Creative Writing Workshop.

• Dzekashu Macviban, writer and publisher of the award-winning magazine, Bakwa and Bakwa Books from Cameroon.
• Zukiswa Wanner, award winning novelist, journalist and editor from South Africa
• Enajite Efemuaye, writer and managing editor of Farafina books from Lagos.

Awards for Writers Who Participate In This Creative Writing Workshop:

Participants will be awarded:

• a “Certificate of Attendance” after the writing workshop.
• Also, next year, they will receive a free published “SBMEN Writer’s Handbook” a culmination of the workshop courses that will contain lessons and exercises to help with their continuous education to improve their writing.

This workshop is supported by Ford Foundation.

To increase your chances of getting into this highly selective workshop,

• read some interesting short stories online. We reviewed some by Howard Maximus, Simbiat Haroun , Nneka Lesley Arimah , Helon Habila and Others.
• Learn how to write a short story that publishers can’t reject.
• Get inspired by the amazing stories in these recommended podcasts for storytellers.
• Write eloquently.
• Give it your best.

The post SBMEN’s 2020 Creative Writing Workshop For Women Is Supported By Ford Foundation / How To Apply appeared first on Creative Writing News.

The Lagos International Poetry Festival (LIPFest2019) is here.

Now in its fifth year, the festival, which was founded in 2015 by Efe Paul Azino, promises to be “a wild beautiful thing.”

The festival begins October 30th, 2019 and ends November 3rd, 2019, and it features over fifty writers and poets and thinkers from over ten countries. According to their site, these individuals are drawn “from an assortment of dreamers, who by insisting that dreams be central to our lives, inspire a generation to rise up to the challenges of its time.” Among them are: Tolu Agbelusi, Wana Udobang, Upile Chisala, the alternative singer and songwriter Brymo, Bassey Ipki, 2019 winner of the Booker Prize Bernadine Evaristo, Logan February, the linguist Kola Tubosun, Kaveh Akbar, deputy-editor at Brittle Paper Otosirieze Obi-Young, and more.

This year’s edition of the festival includes readings and performances and conversations and workshops to be taught by amazing poets and writers.

The workshops:

• “FUSING POETRY AND FICTION—A WORKSHOP WITH BERNADINE EVARISTO”. Date: Thursday, 31st October, 2019. Time: 11am to 1pm. Venue: British Council, 20 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos. Registration: N5000.
• Poetry masterclass with Kaveh Akbar. Date: Thursday, 31st October, 2019. Venue: British Council, 20 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos. Registration: N5000.
• Poetry workshop with Itiola Jones, winner of the 2018 Brittle Paper Award in Poetry and a guest-editor of the Young African Poets Anthology.  Date: Wednesday, 30th October, 2019. Venue: Freedom Park, Old Prison Ground, Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos. Time: 11am to 1pm. Registration: N3000.
• “IN A LIFE OF WANT: A WORKSHOP ON THE POETICS OF DESIRE WITH LOGAN FEBRUARY”. Thursday, 31st October, 2019. Venue: Freedom Park, Old Prison Ground, Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos. Time: 2pm to 4pm. Registration: N3000.

Exchanges are also part of the festival this year. This will be the first in “a series of exchange programmes with Poetry Africa in Durban and Poetry International, a bi-annual festival hosted by the Southbank Centre.” The LIPFest Team will be sending poets from Lagos to Durban and London for these festivals and will be hosting poets from both cities as well.

We look forward to the festival with joy, and we hope you do too.

The post The Lagos Poetry Festival 2019, 5th Edition appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Have you been wanting to get some fairy new, high quality books? And at a very low price?

Here is your chance to. Osemhen is donating books, but at a very low price, to raise money to support a center. She writes: “I volunteer with this awesome center and we’re raising money to support the good works being done. We thought it would be a good idea to have a book fair where we sell books in really good condition for way less than they actually cost.”

Come buy your classics (old and new, Nigerian and Foreign), business books, Christian fiction, pop fiction, children books, history books, cooking books and more for less than N1000. Yes, less than N1000!

If you want to get these books at less than a N1000, you should attend the book fair.

The Venue: Afara Leadership Center, 25 Thorburn Avenue, Yaba.

The Date: November 2nd, 2019.

Time: 12 noon—4pm.

Make sure to go with a friend, and be kind enough to spread the word.

The post Afara Leadership Center Book Fair For Book Lovers On A Low Budget / How To Attend The Event appeared first on Creative Writing News.

SBMEN Fiction and Non-Fiction Editing Workshop

Lagos, September 2019— The Society of Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN) held its third editing workshop for the year themed: The Fundamentals of Fiction and Non-Fiction Editing from 21 to 22 September 2019.

This two-day workshop was attended by writers and editors who were interested in refreshing their knowledge, honing their craft and transiting to developmental editing. The training explored a broad range of subjects from the elements of fiction; detecting common mistakes in manuscripts, the elements of non-fiction, the business of freelancing, and developmental editing.

It was facilitated by a rich coterie of editorial experts including Adebukola Bassey, Founding Editor, BMS Editorial Services; Tahirah Sagaya, Senior Editor, Quramo Publishing; Eghosa Imasuen,  Co-founder, Narrative Landscape Press; Anwuli Ojogwu, ED/co-founder, SBMEN, and Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, author of The Son of the House (2019).

According to one of the participants, Joy Chime, a consulting editor at Sabi Writers company, who attended the workshop, “It was such an amazing, awesome time on both days.”

Here are some selected photos from the workshop.

About SBMEN

The Society for Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN) is a new educational and professional association that represents and supports aspiring and existing editorial professionals to develop editorial skills that meet global best practices. It is also extended to other professionals who work within publications, broadcasting, digital media, legal services, communications, public relations and academia. The organisation provides training and resources for professionals to increase their proficiency in editing

The post Press Release: The SBMEN Fiction and Non-Fiction Editing Workshop appeared first on Creative Writing News.