Seun:

Can you rate your interest in the following types of writing jobs on a scale of 0 to 10?
1) Fiction writing (novels, shorts)
2) Song writing (music & lyrics)
3) Screen writing (movies & tv)
4) Non-fiction (biographies, textbooks, etc)
5) General freelance writing (for websites, etc)

Also, how interested are you in the following writing-related fields, on a scale of 0 to 10?
1) Editing (copywriting, managing publications, etc)
2) Public relations (for companies, politicians, etc)
3) Journalism (newspapers, tv)

akinsadeez:



To start with, you seem to have the wrong idea that reading law is all about practicing. You can read law and be a solicitor only and not practice. There are purely commercial law firms in Nigeria making billions, (not millions) who hardly step foot in court. That does not make those working there any less lawyers. These are the firms that handle complex deals involving millions of dollars. It is not compulsory you practice if you don't have flair for it.
While I was in school and even up till now, I read law reports as if I am reading novels. I find it so intriguing to see lawyers approaching the same facts in the same case from opposite angles and the subsequent battle of intellect. I love reading supreme court cases to see how a lawyer can convince d apex court to overturn the judgment of three judges (at least) of d court of appeal. I have the flair and passion for it and it shows when I am appearing in court.

Reading law and becoming a lawyer opens up so many opportunities for you. After being called you can work in Kpmg, PWC, Delloitte, or even become an OAP and not practice but trust me wherever you are working, you will be accorded respect because you are a lawyer. I have never regretted being a lawyer and I'm sure you wont. Stick with it, evaluate yourself again after being called to d bar and then follow your heart.

Seun:
Many journalists and bloggers and social media professionals are introverts, yet the jobs they do all fall under mass communication.

safarigirl:
200 level. I'd say my academic performance has been okay. No carry-over and I'm one of the few on 3-points

What took me to law? It seemed like a great course....I liked Mass Comm as well, but when I told my dad, he told me that it's never good to study anything you'll need to apply for a job for....Professional courses are better- he didn't study a professional course and that decision hasn't been good to him so he didn't want any of us to face the same issues

I like the idea of law, but the things that make me happy- writing, singing, dancing, rapping...Law doesn't give room for such

safarigirl:
1) fiction- 9
2) Song writing- 7
3) Screenwriting- 5
4) non-fiction- 1
5) General freelance- 7

1) Editing- 5
2) Public relations- 7
3) Journalism- 8

Teespice:
cc cocolav.

Maybe you can chip in a word or two.

@safarigirl,

I clearly understand how you feel, but as time goes by you will get to appreciate law as a course. it is never easy considering the volume of work one has to read but trust me it will be well worth it in the end.

hope this helps.

safarigirl:
I was going to use an alternate moniker for this, but what the hell?

I'm just not happy here.

I almost feel like I'm wasting my time reading it. When I sit and listen to others talk about going to law school and practicing, I take on a 'whatever' stance. It's not my passion....funny enough I don't think my passion(s) can take me anywhere- at least not in Nigeria

I'm not passionate about law. I don't see myself in a wig and gown or a law court. Everytime I write an exam, I don't feel like I wrote enough to pass. And all I think of is serial F's or just useless grades....what's the point?

Is there really any point in studying a course you have no passion for? I know many people do it mostly because all they see is the profit in the long term, but I'm not programmed like that.

I need advice, because I'm really unhappy and I might even say depressed anytime I think of this course

*singing Tomorrow from Annie*

Seun:

Making a living as a novelist, which is your strong preference, is hard. I think the only person who has achieved this in Africa is Adichie. I think it requires writing new hit novels which can be sold in Nigeria and internationally every year or so. Novels that everyone would want to read - including people who don't usually read novels. In short, it means being as good as Adichie. Can you be that good when you graduate?

Why don't you like screenwriting? In many ways it's just like writing fictional novels, except that you can't say what people are feeling or thinking, you have to show it in their actions, though funny enough novelists are encouraged to do this too. The average person spends far more time watching TV than reading novels, and buys many more DVDs, VCDs, and cinema tickets than books. As it happens, every quality movie or TV production requires writers. Even (US) reality TV shows employ writers. So screenwriting is potentially a good job. I don't know the situation in Nigeria, though. I'd like to urge anyone who knows the status of writers in Nollywood to tell us more about it.
Update: I just found this: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/i-dont-like-being-in-the-limelight-nollywood-screenwriter-peace-oni/

safarigirl:
I tried out screen-writing while I was in junior class. Most of the stories were brief and I wasn't feeling them.

I do imagine scenes for various stories and I could turn a novel to a play in my head.....when I have the characters in my head and act out their lines it seems more interesting, but I find the writing angle boring and bland

GodMode:


Go to hubpages.com and write.. Make sure your stories are not copied works.

safarigirl:
why would I use copied work? :-/ that's not how I roll

And what opportunities lie there? Can I get someone to help me publish? Cuz I've posted my works on other sites and too much of that can lead to plagiarism

CoCoLav:



Ermm...I saw this thread and I was about to advice her until I saw she was in 200L. I thought she was in 300/400L and I know that's when you suddenly get overwhelmed and fed up but 200L means she hasn't seen half of it, there's more coming.

Safarigirl I think you can transfer depending on your school. I had coursemates who transferred to other departments and its kind of easier for law students to transfer. This advice should only be taken when you are really sure you can't deal anymore otherwise continue and have law as a plan b.

I am an introvert too but I never ever thought of changing courses even though I only took law to run away from maths. Its quite interesting to me and I find it challenging. Even though I am not really outspoken and can't address crowds, once I am in the courtroom I feel at home and i feel like I was born to do this. I maintain eye contact with the judge and this is me that can't maintain eye contact with a guy outside the courtroom.

So what am I saying... evaluate your reasons, this is Nigeria...you will need to survive and be independent. Can this passion of yours sustain you in the next few years? Can you support your husband and build a young family as a rapper?(Not many men like their women going from one gig to the other, sometimes you will be out of town...who will take care of your kids?) I always believe that every woman needs a career.

Unfortunately, I am quite old school and I don't believe in advising my child to pursue a career in his hobbies (like drawing, dancing....rapping). You can draw as an aside but you must have a career to fall back on. I used to dance but then I got serious and faced the Nigerian reality. The society doesn't really support that. It can't pay my bills...maybe in more developed countries but not Nigeria.

I think you should try to finish but have law as a Plan B.

Cc Anaskie

urchbarbie:
Wow. Dis a huge one. U cant address ppl but u want to be an oap. Its basically d same tin dear. Let me tell u sometin, i could av d world record for crowd phobia. I never joined any chamber stuff in school. Even church groups self. I was an o yes member. In lawskl i dodged presntation in class like it was sometin else. I did my powerpoint presentation @d end of attachment n found it fun. Am just 4mnths @d bar and av addressed d court over a dozen times. Esp d fedderal high court. My dear. Practise is not d same as skul. Skul has plenty rigid stuffs dat ddnt go dwn well with students. When u av a case in court its just to study d file, knw d principles. If u av gud lawyrs in court dat day, they wld put u thru. When i started addressing d court, my voice wld be vibrating, but my frnds (courts clerks wld be giving me thumbs up sign) just to encourage me. Now i stll av d fear, but d shaky voice is stilling. I knw with time it wld disappear. I dont want u to regret like i almst did. Enjoy ur course of study. When ure done, nofin stops u from doing sometn else, u culd get an added certification to work else whr. Just conclude dis phase n see if u wont love it @ d end. If u wont, u can get sometin else doing.

Taylor184:
I love this

Seun:
@safarigirl: Perhaps you can find another course that will not waste your time like rewriting JAMB to study Mass Comm in a different university. Which courses are the closest to Mass Communication / Writing in your current university? Which university is that, by the way? Cheers.

safarigirl:
I feel like it's too earrly for the phase...200 level? I've barely started, yet I don't like it, it took you 3 years to reach this phase

With being an OAP, you deal with fewer people, not a crowd...but I originally want to be a writer, it's what I've wanted to be since I could write

enygmababe:
Hello Safarigirl,

I just stumbled on this thread and am curious. I know the semester is over. In fact, am sure the session is over now. How did you fare? Did your interest increase or decrease. Please let me know. Am curious

safarigirl:
I was going to use an alternate moniker for this, but what the hell?

I'm just not happy here.

I almost feel like I'm wasting my time reading it. When I sit and listen to others talk about going to law school and practicing, I take on a 'whatever' stance. It's not my passion....funny enough I don't think my passion(s) can take me anywhere- at least not in Nigeria

I'm not passionate about law. I don't see myself in a wig and gown or a law court. Everytime I write an exam, I don't feel like I wrote enough to pass. And all I think of is serial F's or just useless grades....what's the point?

Is there really any point in studying a course you have no passion for? I know many people do it mostly because all they see is the profit in the long term, but I'm not programmed like that.

I need advice, because I'm really unhappy and I might even say depressed anytime I think of this course

*singing Tomorrow from Annie*