GriotsLounge, the publishing arm of Yagazie Media, is on a hunt. We’re looking for young and talented writers to publish. Only young and talented!




In a bid to achieve our dream of publishing the best from the ordinary, we have decided to promote our West African unpublished authors. Our dream is to promote lovable writings, so that publishing houses will call for them. So, from today till life stops, we shall be on the hunt for the raw and young.



Our first is Mr. Kingsley Iweka. And below is his biography.



Iweka Kingsley is a young writer, who is currently studying Industrial Physics in one of Nigeria's Federal Universities. He is passionate about positive change for Nigeria and Africa, and inspires more young people through his writing to get involved in the renaissance of Nigeria and Africa. His passion reflects in his writing too. He has just finished work on his first book titled 'DAPPLED THINGS’; it is not published yet, but will soon be. Kingsley is 21 years old, and lives in the city of Lagos. He’s mostly published online at Naijastories.com, an online museum of literary works, and is celebrated on the same website as the author of the month. This young writer is rising tremendously in the literary world, considering the creativity found in his stories. I think I know who our tomorrow’s writers are. Kingsley is surely one.



In my brief interview with him, I got to know this calm gentleman.



GL: When did you find out that you could write?



Kingsley: About 7 years ago back in high school, when I started writing motivational articles and opinions about life and several other matters affecting human existence.



GL: Who is your role model in writing, and why?



Kingsley: I can't say I have any particular role model in the context in which you've asked, but there are several authors that I look up to, who have influenced my writing in various ways: Chinua Achebe is first on the list. It was after reading 'Things Fall Apart' that I set out to write my first book before 'Dappled Things', even though I haven't finished it. Helon Habila's 'Waiting For An Angel' influenced the way my book is structured. Myne Whitman has been of great help too, she has to be mentioned here.



GL: I see your presence on Facebook and other social networks. What does social networking mean to you?



Kingsley: I see social networking as a tool. It can lead to diverse outcomes depending on how you use it. It was the tool used to cause a turn around in state of things in Egypt recently. It has also given me a suitable platform to showcase and improve my writing.



GL: How does it feel to be celebrated on Naijastories as the Author of the Month – March?



Kingsley: It is always a great feeling when one is celebrated. I feel honoured that I am celebrated so because, I know the quality of talent that the site contains, and to be celebrated as the 'Author of the Month' on such a platform, it means you are doing something right and really appreciated for it.



GL: I’ve heard about your new work, Dappled Things. What’s it all about?



Kingsley: Yes, 'Dappled Things' is the title of my first book. It is a novella. The book with its rich array of characters and plots, captures and addresses several cultural and social predicaments that characterize the country Nigeria. It exposes from an angle, the woes of womanhood and the role that men play, and perhaps women too.



GL: Have you found a publisher?



Kingsley: No, I haven't found a publisher yet.



GL: What do you think about publishers?



Kingsley: What I think about publishers? I'd rather say what I think about publishing in Nigeria. It's not easy getting published in Nigeria, especially when one is new and unheard of. The very few top quality publishing houses in Nigeria don't have enough resources to publish as many writers too. So it's tough for us who are fresh and new to breakthrough in the industry. However, I do believe that with the right support, the industry will blossom and give as many the opportunity to be read and appreciated.



GL: Who’s your best author and why?



Kingsley: That would be Chinua Achebe, because of the near perfect fusion of seriousness and simplicity that define his works.



GL: Who has influenced you the most?



Kingsley: That's not quite an easy question to answer, mainly because of the experiences that I have had in my short life yet . Therefore, it is in order to say that my greatest influence is God. But I still have to mention one person who has been with me through it all, Stanley Azuakola. He has influenced some of my decisions and I think it necessary to mention him.



GL: What do you dream of?

I dream of a time when people are not hindered by their fears and limited by their circumstances. I dream of a nation united by purpose and driven by a pure passion. I dream of a time when boys would become men and ideas become industries- yet seeds not sown will never yield harvest.



Kingsley Iweka’s stories can be found on these links:

a)http://www.naijastories.com/author/scopeman60/

b) http://www.inktelligence.blogspot.com/

c) http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=512098197&refid=0

1. Young writers talk more about how they would want to be authors than they write. This is common with aspiring authors. They have little works to show for the many times they’ve been heard bragging about how they would one day write the best novel that has ever been written. Hey, I support you if you really want to be the best. This is how you do it. Keep writing, and never stop. One day, you’ll write that story that you have always dreamed of writing. Only talk about your project (or book) with a fellow writer, or someone who understands creative writing and would want to offer a few advises to help your craft. If you keep bragging more than you write that book, you may end up not being published or even writing it. And that is bad.
2. Young writers write for the bin. Most of the aspiring writers refuse to share their works with others. They write for themselves. Most of them feel their works are not just good enough. So, they throw these works into the bin, after a few days of completion. A few of them send their works to other writers and readers, who look at these works. At the very end, no comment from anyone about your work should kill your spirit. It they critique you constructively, go back to your desk and improve. After a few days, go back to that critique and show him the edited work. He may always send you back, until he is tired of seeing that work. Always have an alternative. Someone else may have something to say too. But you must listen to professionals only.
3. Young writers want to be alone and not locate other writers. Each writer must associate himself with other writers. Find a book club close to your area. Identify with that club, and never miss a gathering. Always go with your pen and jotter, and keep your ears open. Ask questions when you want to, and show them your work. Everyone has to share his opinion concerning your works. No matter how bad this stage may look, it’s the start of a soon to become writer of all time. You never know, they may marvel at your works. Even when they tell you that your writing is bad, never drop your pen. Work on improving your craft.
4. Young writers do not enter for literary events and festivals. Literary events are so boring. An old professor comes on stage to talk about a book he wrote over two decades ago that never sold outside his neighbourhood, and those that bought it, bought it based on their long term relationship with the old man. Then, after that, a weird dreaded young lad comes out to read some boring verses, and he calls them poetry. Aspiring writers don’t like being tutored. The truth is that no matter how boring other peoples’ works are, it’s important we read or pay attention to them. This takes me to the next topic.
5. Young writers do not just read any book. He reads only bestsellers. He thinks he can only learn from big names like Wole Soyinka (WS) or Chika Unigwe, or even Dan Brown. If you’re not known, forget it. They make wrong decisions. The truth is that for one to grow creatively in writing, he needs to read widely. My advice; read books. While attending a club meeting, discuss each book you have read. Try to critique these books on your own. No matter how big the author of that book is, try to find where he or she forgot to add a comma. Try to find out clichés. Also know when a book is flawless. There is yet to be a flawless book.
6. Young writers want to be famous. They dream on being talked about on the media. They dream of signing autographs and honouring interviews. They see their fan base even before they start writing their first books. They think everyone will see them as special beings, with a kind of special ability. I have information. No one sees you as one genius, and no one bows to worship you because you are a writer. You may just be celebrated. No one celebrates an unpublished writer. So, you must first dream of a book, find a desk, and start writing it. Fame comes by surprise, and sometimes without wealth. So, when you settle down and write that story, someone must read you. Someone must be your fan. Someone celebrate you. You have to dream of your work before you dream of your fans.
7. Young writers overlook competitions. They do not send their works in for prizes. They feel they either are too good for these contests, or that they are not up to it. These are two bad feelings. Keep sending your work of poetry and prose in for contests. This is how you get to know how well your craft is appreciated amongst credible judges. The internet it a very reliable source. It provides us with information on contests and prizes, with their deadlines. Check for their eligibilities. Enter for one if you’re eligible. Any award or prize is an added asset.
8. Young writers hate editing their works. I have said it before now, and will still say it. The hardest part of writing is editing your finished work. No lazy writer can do this. And when an editor asks you to do so, wrinkles form all over your face. A young writer feels his works are perfect, and doesn’t understand why an editor must keep referring him back to the same line over ten times. Rome was not built in a night. There is time to mould the bricks. There is time to mobilise for labour. There is time for the excavation of foundation trenches. There is time for laying bricks. In creative writing, the time for editing is the most important time. A manuscript could be thrown into the bin, or into the market, after the editor’s rounds. My latest collection of short stories, The Water was Hot, was on its way to the press when a renowned author called me and put a stop to it. She had seen something that was not meant to be there. I felt discouraged, because I had already gone through over thirty rounds of editing for just eight stories. I had the choice of continuing with press, but I adhered to her words. We went through five more rounds of editing, picking out and inserting words. I read the stories over and over again. They became boring at a point. I had to publish. Now, I read those stories, and I feel good.
9. Young writers see authors as gods. Authors are gods; so also are writers. This is because they create characters that breathe and live. This is an ability that is rare. Achebe’s Okonkwo became human after Things Fall Apart was launched fifty years ago. Adichie also created a few characters that are breathing today. My best of all her characters is Ugwu of Half of a YellowSun. We see them in and around all of us. This is why aspiring authors see established authors as special beings. To a certain degree, this is healthy, if the young writer can emulate the former, and create his own voice. It is only harmful when the young writer sees it as a very difficult or impossible battle to try to attain to the height of the author. Nothing is impossible. It is more healthy you see your models as celebrities; achievers of the art. It is also important to google them. Try and know one or two things about your models. Do this, bearing in mind that you must do better than they have done.
10. Young writers sound like Shakespeare. They do not own their voice. They want write of things that have been written before, because they were written by renowned writers. Simplicity is their last word. Then, they end up sounding like fake Shakespeare or WS. Creativity is an honest craft. It does not imitate. It is original. No one can perfectly sound like Soyinka or Marquez. An author can only sound like himself. Though the early stages are exceptional. This is when you emulate your favourite author and his style. Every author must be able to evolve a new voice and style from his imitated tone. He must be able to bring forth his characters to his readers in an unbelievable and awesome manner. His narrative strength must be unique. That is why every writer keeps writing and researching.