₦airaland Forum

Every person who ever sat down to write an essay, or an article, or a letter, or even something as seemingly simple as a social media post knows that writing can be difficult. Even seasoned writers don't sit (or stand) and begin to rapidly write out fully formed sentences, producing great pieces of literature with ease and in very little time. Writing is difficult for every one of us but a lot of people have conquered the odds to produce great pieces of writing so why can't you? Let's look into some common challenges that writers face:

• The words aren't coming
This frustration can make writers question their intelligence. They stare at the blank page or screen in front of them, their hands poised and ready to strike...but nothing comes. It's a really frustrating feeling and writers who feel this way usually avoid writing, waiting for that moment when the words will finally tumble out of their fingertips. Some call this Writer's block.
When faced with this, it's a good idea to relieve yourself of the pressure that comes with that writing project. Try to write something else which actually interests you and is not exactly important. Something for your eyes alone. Writing something of which you have no pressure to do good at could draw your words out. After writing that, you can then refocus on writing that is actually required of you.

• I'm writing words, but they make no sense
I'll offer a solution found in the book, Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow: "There's garbage in your head; if you don't let it out onto paper, it will really infect everything else up there". Accept the fact that your first draft won't be your final piece of writing, continue to pour out the garbage in your head. Let the words show themselves on paper or on screen, then write again, again and again, consciously noticing where you made mistakes, and correcting yourself until your nth draft starts to make sense.

• I can't bring myself to start writing
Many people would say, "Just write" and the response in indignation would be, "but that's exactly the problem, I can't write!". This can be especially daunting when there's a deadline. When faced with an assignment which seems boring, turn to research. The internet and library are large sources of information, but also seek advice from experts. If you're writing about, say, health, consider asking a doctor or a nurse you know (remember to quote them in your reference). Talking with a person could prove more interesting than less personal means of research. If you're writing something less serious, take a walk. The change of environment and connection with other people could activate the words which seem to have been lodged in a deep recess of your brain.


Always remember that there's always room for improvement, so if you constantly face challenges in writing, seek solutions to make you writing process easier; and your writing clearer and with a strong sense of your own distinct voice.
Seek out advice from experts, books, and the internet, yes; but also keep in mind that writing advice can be subjective, it doesn't always apply to everyone. Pick out that which applies to your writing experience, work with it, and watch your writing - and writing process - begin to get better.

Why do you live unthinking to the thoughts of those around you? Why don't you consider them too? Why don't you think of the consequence to them too? Why don't you care about how they feel?

Salahdin:
Smiles... I mean to say chest.

Of course.

Salahdin:
I hope August is twice as nice to you as July and grants all your wishes—revealed here or otherwise, buried deep within your breasts.

Thank you!
*the last part tho

Dear August,
Please bring with you blessings. It's my birthday month, I think I can ask for that much. I want to take pictures in a pretty little dress, the ambience of the world behind me serving looksss.
I want (King's bite) Chocolates and (Maryland Triple Coated) Cookies.

I want to go out early in the morning and get back home late in the evening. I want to meet friends and see new places. I want to meet new people - but not talk to them. I want to take in the beauty of the outside world. I want to see a world different from the walls of my home and the streets of my neighborhood. I want to gaze in wonder at God's and humanity's creations. I want to see a lot of places.
August, provide that.

A time when my drive for perfection actually decreased the value added to my project was when I planned to write about The Reading Culture of Nigerians, and by extension, Black people. This was due to the often said, and very annoying quote which goes: "If you want to hide it from a Black man, put it in a book". I made my research on it and heard other people's view on it with two posts on the internet especially standing out for me.
I really wanted to write about it and let people know how I felt about it (including my Father) and hopefully persuade them to stop spreading the lie.
But I also sought for perfection too strongly. The two aforementioned posts which stood out were written and crafted really well. The first was relatable and clear, written by an African. The second was worded with strongly persuasive language and written by a Black American. I wanted to do what they did, hit the the marks they hit. But I kept on in my quest for perfection and staved off actually writing. The result: I've still not written it even after a year. I've completed many other writing projects but not that one. My passion to write the piece slowly fizzled out as time went on, but I believe that I will write it soon. Fear my return!

Two bad people together in one place? Why nau??

Deliberate Practice: “First, identify the expert performers, then figure out what they do that makes them so good, then come up with training techniques that allow you to do it, too.” — Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool, Peak: Secrets From the New Science of Expertise (2016)

Another book by Chibundu Onuzo is Welcome to Lagos. Although, at first I didn't understand why the title of the book was "Welcome to Lagos" when the first chapter is (and more chapters to come) set in Delta?

The spider King's daughter by Chibundu Onuzo

It took a little time for me to understand the switching point of views, the letters written in italics and in bold signifying Abike and "her hawker" respectively.

The book describes the jarring difference between the rich and the poor and also the thin(not so thin) line between riches and poverty. Monday, you're rich and then on Friday, you're a beggar.
The book has a fairy tale sort of feel to it, I almost can't believe that a person is in contact with so much affluence at a point and the next you're back to squalor and fighting to survive and make a means. It's not your average rich girl- poor boy story dynamic, that, I can promise you.

And the uncertainty that being in love can bless you with, you misread what the other person has done or said, you question whether they reciprocate your feelings or are simply just being nice. Baring your feelings is almost out of the question because you're scared of heartbreak which seems imminent.
#bookreview

"Do you climb down to the level of your community, or stay at your exalted height and wait for your community to gradually move up to you?"

I've forgotten where I heard or read this from, I can only recall I read/heard it in December 2020.

The days are so alike that they blend into each other until you lose sight of date and time, of when and how.

I'll always pride myself on quality rather than quantity!

Angelsssss:
Good morning guys. Please sorry for the wait. Thanks for following the story. I was very busy ehn

Thank you sis!

I hope that if Lola finds out about Ime and Ife, she keeps up this professional attitude at least. Ime's healing and moving on from her ex-husband and the trauma is very important.

I think we never talk about anger enough; particularly the one directed at our parents or siblings, maybe even children of parents or wards of guardians; family members in general.

This brief anger I feel towards my mother which makes me wonder: "Why did she do this?, "Doesn't she know this?", "Haven't I tried to explain this enough times?". And then immediately these thoughts come up to the surface, it's followed by guilt. You know that your parents have done a lot for you, have been patient with you, they practically raised you! They answered every one of your questions when you were little and clueless even though you might have just seemed dumb. Isn't it time to reciprocate their patience? Why do you feel this anger?

This doesn't mean you don't love them though, you do love them, you want the best for them and you want to make it happen. But at those times when the anger makes your thoughts roil and you can't look into their face for more than 5 seconds, keep your cool, stay calm. Words spewed in anger -although may break the dam of your barely contained negative thoughts and emotions- aren't always true. You may think that they bring out the worst in you, but remember they're the ones who taught you to feel.

No one's perfect but some behaviours can be changed, made better. Change those things which are in your control. Stop hiding behind, "no one is perfect", that's gutter behaviour.

Following! (ﾉ*0*)ﾉ

Some books on various wars that I've read are:

* A Long Petal Of The Sea by Isabel Allende

* House Of Stone by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

* The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

* Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

After reading books on war, I've come to the conclusion that war is a useless thing. Why was the killing of people glorified? Why was the thirst for power backed up by innocent soldiers who fought wars that weren't always theirs?

I've been planning to read books by Female American writers such as Maya Angelou, Octavia Butler, and Chilean writer, Isabel Allende for a while now but I never quite got to it until a few days ago when I finally got round to starting a book by Isabelle Allende. It's called "A Long Petal Of The Sea" and I can say that the author is one of the great ones.

I might share a bit about the book when I'm done...