Skip to main content

Writeousness: This Is How I Wrote My First Chapbook

Writeousness: This Is How I Wrote My First Chapbook

Whenever you published writers give advice on writing, it almost always includes this: Start to Finish. What they mean is, don’t just start a bunch of writing projects and never finish them. 

This is the struggle, because we are prone to getting rather too excited about NEW ideas at the exact same time you get sick of working on the OLD ideas. This shouldn't be. It gets one nowhere.



I used to be in this cult of 'off to new goals', leaving old projects half done and unrealized. I would be working on a book project, then of a sudden, a new idea sneaks in, I abandon a solid 20 pages of ten half-thought out books moved to 'revisit folder' (which I never get to revisit) at the very first brick wall of writers block.

It’s easy to go, “Well, 'Story A' isn’t going anywhere, so what’s the point? I’ll just work on 'Story Z' instead. Life's too short to expend energy on one project. Go bro! Go!” 

How sad! 

You go nowhere, because newer ideas will always come to replace an existing one. You end up building a dunghill of unfinished books.

Sometimes you abandon things for one reason or another, but it should never be because you think it’s not worth it, or that it’s not a good idea, or you just read something else that is somewhat similar to what you’re doing. Those are excuses that would trick you into abandoning something you’re not yet confident about.

My first chapbook faced this fate many years ago. I abandoned it occasionally to chase new writing ideas (fiction, playlets, music, songwriting, drawing). This book would have been published four years ago, had I focused on it when the idea popped up in my teenage head. Finally, after many years of gong back and forth, 'Diary of a Broken Poet' was published in 2017. While this doesn’t mean it’s done and dusted (I noticed flaws in the book, which should be reviewed anytime soon), it does mean that, despite feeling like throwing in the towel constantly, I finished a goddamn book.

I stumbled upon these on my Pinterest account. Cover arts of my first chapbook.

(First cover art, 2008)

(Second cover art, 2011)

Here's the final cover art, when it was published in 2017
Click Here to get a copy

It’s not a particularly classic chapbook, but it’s a hell of a lot more poetry that can earn me a Grammy (I dream a lot, alright?). Finishing, publishing it and having great sales, was my 2017 greatest achievement. 

Although I couldn't make much sales, because I lacked, as at then, the know-how of book marketing and how to leverage social media to promote my book. If it sold pretty well as did 'Sweetness', my second anthology, you’ll be hearing me talk about it relentlessly.

Good thing is, I WROTE THAT BOOK. I PUBLISHED IT. I MADE SALES. Have you?

If you’re struggling to make it through that first draft, all hope's not lost, YET. I’ve got the secret for you. The sure-fire way to finish that manuscript. Here's the secret:

Sit down and do it!

I know, sucks right? It does. It really, really does. But that’s the only way to get it done, because no one else will write that book except for you. Here and there does not make a champion. 

But, it’s not as romantic as that. It’s a slog. At least, for me it is. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE WRITING—once it’s time for a second draft. That’s a blast. That’s where the details are fleshed out, poetic devices come to life, the lines and verses makes sense (hopefully), and everything gets a bit more lively.

If you plan on writing as a primary source of income, you must sit up and work hard. Do not spend precious time thinking you can't do this thing and swirl in self-doubt. Get your butt fixed on a chair and write your heart out. You can't be a successful writer cum author if you are not writeous. It calls for dedication and passion, plus obsession.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but Writeousness exalts the writer - Stefn

Time spent actively avoiding the project and doing other things delays is actualization.

The process would be long, require dedication, willpower, patience, and most important, support. Don't give up on you. Don't switch to a new writing idea.

I’m currently writing my third anthology (which would be co-authored with a writer friend). 

So far, it’s going fine? Hell no!

I’m sure there will be hiccups and interruptions and distractions, but I am dedicated to this. No backing out! There are other projects with tighter deadlines, but I would rather lose those than abandon this project. How about you?

The length of time doesn’t necessarily matter, as long as you get the damn thing done. But, you know, hopefully do it in a timely fashion.

But do not forget to remember: writing is hard, and takes a lot of time. 

Where I come from, we say it in this manner: 'writing hard, no be beans'

Keep writing!

#Pengician #SSA

Enjoyed reading? 
Please leave a comment and share with friends. Thank you! 
African Literature Blogs
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fiction | The Tripod Effect

THE TRIPOD EFFECT The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the surrogate father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife and said, "I'm off. The man should be here soon" Half an hour later, just by chance a door- to-door baby photographer rang the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.  "Good morning, madam. I've come to...." "Oh, no need to explain. I've been expecting you," Mrs. Smith cut in. "Really?" the photographer asked. "Well, good. I've made a speciality of babies"  "That's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat"  After a moment, she asked, blushing, "Well, where do we start?"  "Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch and perhaps a couple on the bed. Sometimes the living room floor is fun too; you can really spread out!" "Bathtub, living room floo...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Curve And Colors Of Hate | Uwen Precious Ogban

The Curve And Colors Of Hate When the evening news had broken Father spoke with a tone of pain and anger “Nigeria is a whore,” And my mother agreed Painting sensual scenes giving you pleasure of what looks like a garden that hides a landmine. And how trying to walk through it becomes slippery A journey asking for crimson libations, full of fractures and ‘Had I knowns’ while you looked over the fence for greener  pastures Her sighs spoke of a menu full of thrills but you are served double horrors She, Nigeria, abhors you later on when it relinquishes you of value, Truly, she is an old ‘Whore’ My Father picked it from there, “Nigeria gets hard as rock” Wants of men despised Sullen moods recorded in poems, speeches, and events, snubbed For as long as it makes sultry suplex’s on a comfortable ring – Nigeria is satisfied “Son, Nigeria is you, your mum and I” Guilty to a fault Pained by happenings that come with fire and brimstone Let loose from bellies that should hold  patriotis...
Post a Comment
Read more

Featured Poem: Slavery In Africa - by Uwen Precious Ogban

SLAVERY IN AFRICA We believe they rowed their boats of tumults into our region; carrying with them bags of conundrums, while we drummed our drums and jollied to their, intonation. The way they dressed, the way they addressed us Made us mime to the harmony and yearns in their speeches of a dawn to civility and hale: that was a start of the course of slavery in Africa. We still thought they were our brothers, because our chiefs rolled floridly with their proposals While we were mockingly disposed of In the field, or given to bespoken tailors as apprehends; as helps; in servitude; ‘posed to carry out orders as the come in flicks. We became babies in our own motherland we became cartage of their foreign plans. We cleared our huts so that they could find comfy and build on our strengths draining our tears as they wryly whipped us on our backs. Their wisdom their prowess They used to molest And we gazed in cluelessness Cause we still didn’t see it as slavery then – but as pain, so enjoyable....
Post a Comment
Read more