The book inside us. Many of us believe we have at least one creative
book inside us and would love to have a published book to our name. It is one of the reasons, if I must be honest, I took to journalism. It is also one of the reasons I believe that many journalists all over the world, take to the pen profession. Journalism, for us, is a sort of half-way house which is supposed to satisfy the hunger for the written word while preparing us for that one book that will catapult us to the literary hall of fame. And for that, we are prepared to suffer the poor pay and inhuman working hours that journalism offers.
Except unfortunately, that the drudgery, the unstructured working hours, the limitations of prose and the discipline of strict and structured reportorial writing styles that journalism demands, will not help you in your quest for that creative big bang. Instead, they will hinder you. This probably explains why very few journalists, once they get steeped in the profession, ever go back to writing fiction. Those who are lucky—or determined—to have a book to their names, either end up with biographies, a compilation of their published articles or investigative books along the line of their interests.
I should know. I am a victim. I found myself in journalism and ‘settled’. Years slipped by as I enjoyed my bylines and a growing readership. But when I suddenly realized that I hadn’t written a poem or a short story in a while, I panicked. I, who had written a play in my late teens and was a runner up in a major Short Story competition a couple of years later, could no longer find my creative muse. I rushed to Uncle Sam, my Managing Editor at the time to ask for a two-month leave. He replied like any employer would and said if I could go away for that length of time, then I might as well not come back.
When he realized that I was serious about a long leave, he probed further. In his generous way, he said ‘Why not. We can even serialize the book if it is good enough.’ He then offered to send me to Kenya for a couple of weeks so I could concentrate on the novel. A week later, he was to call me to extend the Kenyan trip to a tour of East Africa. So what started as a get-away opportunity became another assignment and with that, the hope of my book. Now at the twilight of life and profession, I find I have the time but no longer the creativity. Poems and Short Stories don’t pop up in my head the way they once did. And I have not had the outline of a fictional work for quite a while.
Still, my daughter—and youngest child—probes and will not give up. She believes that I still have that one creative book inside me and has finally challenged me to a mini competition. She wants to see if she can write a book within the year and thus beat me to the finishing line. It is a contest I am reluctant to take up. Now, she has always been a student in mathematics and has two degrees in Engineering. But she has always had the writing bug and in spite of her obvious science orientation, has taken several creative writing courses. And like many young and not so young, she believes she has that one book inside her.
To write a book, you must have talent. Or more importantly, you must have belief in yourself and your talent. Then you must be prepared to put down a certain number of words everyday or every other day. That means hours of loneliness, of turning your back to the internet, the TV, the social media and of course, your friends. Why would a young lady who should be dating want to do that to herself? Why should she risk a back pain, a stiff neck and numb fingers? Why would she want to go through the frustrations of a writer’s block? Especially when there are no guaranties; only rejection slips.
These were questions I had asked myself and found the answers too daunting. And they are questions anybody who believes in their writing talent must find answers to. Writing is a lonely profession; it is also a very jealous and possessive partner; but it can be a very rewarding one. The joy of creation; of giving birth to fictional characters that develop lives of their own can be indescribable.
What has led to this uncharacteristic self introspection? This sigh of mission unaccomplished? This indulgent wish to turn back the clock just a little bit? An old secondary school classmate sent the first chapter of a proposed novel to the set email list last week. Sola Odemuyiwa was one of the brainy ones in our set at Igbobi College who found studying easy. He was an all rounder which meant he was good in English. But he chose to pursue the sciences and is today a very successful medical doctor in the UK.
But despite the challenges of a busy medical profession, he definitely did not give up on that one book which he must have nursed in his heart even as he nursed his sick patients all these years. Now he is set to bring it to fruition before the end of the year. I salute his determination. I commend his doggedness.
Dr Sola Odemuyiwa and my daughter have challenged me towards releasing that one book inside me. I in turn want to challenge all those who believe in the power of creativity and who believe they have that one best seller inside them to stop vacillating. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Give yourself the release. Start with your ‘once upon a time’ today.
And Wole my friend and brother, start that book we discussed today.
VANGUARD
END
Be the first to comment