₦airaland Forum

illicit:
most people don't like to read Yoruba tho maybe because of the spellings and the marks (ami) but writing in English self na wahala o....
I remember I once wrote YORUBA in JAMB .
I was the only candidate that wrote Yoruba in the state I think and the officials were even laughing about it.... they just left me in one corner with my palaver.....
It actually helped to boost my marks

EvaJael:
That's great. I can't manage more than one at a time. I would end up mixing issues

illicit:
I doff my hat.
Your imagination is very vivid o...
hmmmm am writing a short story in Yoruba presently..... do you read Yoruba....
if you do, you can tell me what you think

Divepen1:
Evajael and Missnande ... So, I got back from work and used my phone to say hi to somebody and since then the idiot refused to come on. That's since last week wednesday...
But I hope to get a phone that can visit nairaland at least.

Meanwhile, my writing process is one that Elizabeth Gilbert as people that work like Butterfly. We spread essence from one work to another. I'm not the jackhammer type of people that can concentrate on one work.
I can't sit down to write a book at a go, but i like to write up to ten at a go. In other words, when i get bored or fixed at a point in this story, i move to the other one. In one of the ted talks I listened to, one of the speakers said when one leaves the work, it would keep processing itself in our subconscious. And that's what i do. I remember I started writing about Chibok girls two or three years ago, I'm still on Chapter five. Meanwhile, I got the opportunity to write others as if they were just flooding in because I've been thinking of them for months without touching.

So, what happens at the writer's block ish...I read any of the following a. Chicken Soup for the soul b. Harry potter c. Percy jackson d. A compilation of stories.

Or i would rewatch any of the following, which unfortunately I have watched like ten times now. a. Scandals b. The 100 c. 24 hours

But what gives me inspiration?
Most times, when someone just joke around me. I live amidst sarcastic and funny people. Also, when listening to messages especially Joshua Selman.

illicit:
most ardent readers in Nigeria swapped hobbies already....
Anyway I only write what amuses me. Interestingly its not even for fans or readers. I just write to amuse me.
I have always wanted to write a book,
well maybe because John Grisham did. Stephen king did. Am an avid reader tho.
I still have some stories from my Sec sch days that I still read to amuse myself or my friends when they visit.
I like to write what I like just for myself and build a personal/private collection..... am not really into this stuff of writing for the public but I applause those who do.
From what I see, most Nigerian writers dont get money from writing but that's not an excuse.

I just write to amuse myself privately.
Nairaland is a faceless forum yeah but I have this feeling that Chimamanda is here..... dont ask why

souloho19:
Thanks for the mention. first I love meeting people, studying them (I'm more of an observer) and working on merging their different characters to form my character. I also get inspired by reading other stories, mostly by Nigerian writers and stories on this forum too, most times I just have an idea, a vague idea even and I usually don't have the full storyline planned out, its more like I challenge myself and see where the story goes, if it would make sense or not. Oh yea and when I kush up the pictures become more vivid

souloho19:
Thanks for the mention. first I love meeting people, studying them (I'm more of an observer) and working on merging their different characters to form my character. I also get inspired by reading other stories, mostly by Nigerian writers and stories on this forum too, most times I just have an idea, a vague idea even and I usually don't have the full storyline planned out, its more like I challenge myself and see where the story goes, if it would make sense or not. Oh yea and when I kush up the pictures become more vivid

frankline461:
Well, whenever I want to write, I make a list of chapters and what would happen in them. Then I sub divide the chapters into episodes and what happens in them, all this with songs from my favorite artists playing softly in the background (songs from sia, Eminem or imagine dragons most times should do the tricks) although I do listen to other songs. And whenever I have a brain block, I just pick up my DVD remote and continue watching my American series, no time

Lilyjoe567:
Chai nysc can suffer someborry. I didn't even see the mention, sorry Eva sweetie

Okay, back to inspirations.

For me, my inspirations comes when I'm focused on something, both continuously and unconsciously . Example,
When I'm focused on a particular thing or even person as the case might be, I'm not necessarily looking at the thing or person, rather, my mind has already started creating a scenario where I become the director, and I won't notice what's happening around me until someone touches me or I stop to grab a book or phone to write down all that's happening in my head.

And sometimes, I just need someone older than I am to make me angry. Since I can't say what I feel, I just think it, and from thinking it's escalates to something else

And sometimes it just comes to me lol

And also, if I put my mind to it and grab something to write on, I'll write for hours non stop and cuz of it, I've been known as the writing girl back at nysc camp

KimberlyWest:
;DEvajael has come again

Let me just mention few.

When I don't feel like writing all I have to do is look for a really boring movie with not so good storyline. While watching it, I do my own personal criticism like what should be here, what should happen after this scene, if I were the writer. From then I can just pick my phone and begin typing the stuffs going on in my head.

When I'm angry and I'm supposed to write, I listen to good music, before picking up my phone.

When these two doesn't work, I simply go online and read something related to what I want to write about.

If all the above doesn't work I simply relax and enjoy a nice Korean movie.

EvaJael:
It's my turn to spill.
When I want to write, I simply talk to my best friend. He knows I write. I simply go to look for trouble and unconsciously he says stuff that opens my springs of inspiration. I quickly move to my laptop and start typing away. When we fight, wahala don land be that. Kayo80 understands.
Sometimes, I watch a new movie to get inspiration. Recently, I discovered that very soft music works for me too. Gives me a really clear head to dowmload. When I feel like I can't press on anymore, I talk to writers. Kayo80 and cbella are always there. We connect very easily and soon my heavy burden is lifted. Divepen1 and Larrysun have been super help to me too. KimberlyWest joined the crew recently along with a few writers I know outside nairaland.
Some months ago, I used to play Zuma's Revenge to get in the mood too. Lol! I know it's childish but a girl has got to find inspiration somewhere.
Still waiting to hear more from you guys.

AryEmber:
Na Yanni and Enya fit do the magic oh! Plus I fantasize about how I'm going to bang my future husband, simple!

Missnande:
Good one @kayo80. For some reason the same method doesn't work for me twice so it's kind of a struggle finding a new muse for each story,but I learn to cope.

Jadedgrace98:
really getting inspiration, well I try reading other stories I have written, or perhaps someone else has or I draw from my experiences. Or I just pray.

EvaJael:
Lol funny way to ask. I want to hear from people too so lemme call on
Souloho19
Paulaspearz
Jadedgrace98
Aryember
Rachealfst
Chumzypinky
Kimberlywest
Cbella
Meneski
Theblessedman
OluwabuqqyYOLO
Frankline461
Chukswrites
Gracile
Lilyjoe567

meneski:
So this is me Meneski saying the truth here.
First i love fantasy movies set in Medieval times, i really get inspired from such movies.


Were the movies aint around, the alternative is palm wine or a little weed and am scribing till infinity.

CaptainChan:
hi guys, I'm Micheal and I'd love to be a writer like you guys but my problem is that I don't have any idea about literature, I've searched the internet to gain some ideas but Its not really helping. A friend introduced me to nairaland so I'm here to gain some ideas about writing

Please if you are interested in helping me out kindly reply me, God bless

twosquare:
Amazon is a no-no-no...the 20 or 30% tax after Amazon's cut spoiled everything...Just avoid any US company.

twosquare:
It is not part of their habits to read such books...mostly indigenous movies. Also, the western world has developed their reading culture over time. We don't have it here, or we kind of lost it during the 80s when there was massive brain drain during economic downturns Nigeria went through...In the 60s, you will mostly hear about the Onitsha market Literature, even during the oil boom...the market literature was okay, chapbooks or story pamphlets were in vogue...authors like Cyprian Ekwensi started that way. But from the 80s down to this moment...things went down with speed, the love for books/stories too...movies took over...home videos...assuming it was sustained till then, we would have had an active ebook market like South Africa (although it is still not impressive but manageable). Then literacy is part of it...how many people know much about Amazon, Kobo, etc. to get ebooks (even the word ebook). Many can't even operate an android efficiently to access Newspaper apps.

There is something known as Popular Culture in Literature (students/graduates will know what I'm saying). Even those you said are "earning well," you know not all are 'posh,' 'Behind,' etc...We have folks, not in the white collar jobs, suit up, blah blah earning well also more than the ones in the 'Behind' categories...some are educated, some aren't. Poverty is not the general excuse, just part of the causative elements that are hindering the market literature in Nigeria & Africa. Re-orientation is needed....and the popular culture now in vogue is Blogging where people read stories paid or free online...some here are yet to inculcate the habit of reading books via electronics...they prefer that feel...you know....even last two months or so, a lot in the US, UK and Canada bought more paperbacks than ebooks by a slight difference.

Most people read because it was made compulsory for them in schools, their discipline or academics...apart from that....people are pursuing money (even the young ones, fresh cool-headed)...what they use to relax are movies...no time to sit and read books...

sinceraconcept:
you're absolutely right. we like few things in Nigeria. I can't buy a Nigerian book when I could download lots of John Grisham,Chetan Bhagat,Stephen King free of charge

WHIZKIDEFE:
Kayo80, please come read my story and show me some tips(corrections where needed). Your 10 years of writing experience nor be beans o. I hail!

itsandi:
How about Sonyinka and his comtemporaries?

EvaJael:
What annoys me eh is when they finish reading your story free, somebody will still turn around and plagiarise. Haba!
The same plagiarist will come here and be ranting how poor our books are
The thing frustrates a lot.

itsandi:
How will there be when writers are posting their writings for free on Facebook and other platforms?

einsteine:
No, a pen name.

She writes Christian romance. She makes most of her royalties through the select programme. I think it's about the niche and the willingness to do paid marketing.

Blackops:
its just a pity Nigerians do not read. I volunteer with an NGO that promotes literacy. if I should tell you what we pass through SMH. you will not believe it. How do you expect a society that does not cherish reading to buy books. Authors will only sell if people buy abi...

Blackops:
Guy... those guys have lots of foreign sponsors, when you look at Nigerians who have won prizes in Nigeria they tend to move abroad in their later years. infact African writer series is been packaged from abroad. I mean there are some select few who would rather write for the foreign market than Nigerian market because they will sell better there.

sinceraconcept:
Foreigners can lie so much. which millionaire is marrying a girl that's not rich? the rich marries the rich especially this our present generation