Category: writing

What’s in my bag

August 11th, 2018
It’s been a while since I shared a fun post, but rest assured there’s no fun in digging into your bag to see what’s there.

I should probably add that I threw away the various receipts I had crumpled inside there, most of them coming from supermarkets.

Here’s my bag, I take it everywhere including to work, where a friend said I need some serious help! My sister bought it for me and I can’t resist it 🙂

So, what’s in my bag:
- A water bottle (Kisumu is always hot and inasmuch as it’s my kind of weather, being hydrated is important.)
- Books (one is a novel I’m reading and the other is a writing book for all the ideas that come to mind.)
- Pain killers (I picked this up being on the road, so I always have at least three or four tablets with me, just in case)
- Coin purse and wallet
- Pencil porch and stationery (highlighters, pencils, rulers and erasers are a must!)
- Two varieties of lipgloss and the NIVEA Blackberry shine lipbalm.
- Hand sanitizer, Body Splash, Hand cream.
There you have it, that’s what’s in my bag 🙂

Have a lovely weekend.

TMI:

Currently watching: Click on BBC
The Unique Blogger Award

August 9th, 2018
I just received this notification and being nominated for this award is awesome.Hey Briennaij, thank you for always giving me life by sharing your views on books. Y’all head on out to her blog and see what I mean by “giving me life”- Bri’s Book Nook.

Rules:
- Display the award!
- Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
- Answer the questions they’ve written for you!
- Nominate 8-13 bloggers and give them three questions in the spirit of sharing love and solidarity within our blogging family!
Bri’s Questions

What is the hardest part about blogging for you?

Right now, the hardest part is getting my domain and name servers synced.

What is the most inspiring character that you have met in a book, TV show, movie, or other creative media so far this year?

I’ve met quite a number of awesome characters. I was intrigued by Eddy in Prince of Mirrors by Robert Alan Clark. The author’s depiction of Eddy moved me so much through his struggles, brevity and how in a way he embraces Jem, and for some reason I felt like I was reading an Allan Hollinghurst novel.

As for TV Shows, I will say that I am currently obsessed with Sanem played by Demet Ozdemir in Erkenci Kus (Early Bird), a Turkish telenovela.

What is your favorite artist/song/type of music to listen to while reading and/or blogging?

I listen to everyone, of late, working on the release of my next book has been so frustrating that somehow writing while One Direction’s Take Me Home album plays in the background seems to ground me.

Now, onto the nomination part, first, my three questions are:
1. If your blog would be in a notebook or presented as a journal, what colors would you pick for the header, quotes and body text?
2. What do you struggle with as a blogger?
3. What are some of the most moving stories/books that you’ve read this year?
I’d love to hear what these unique bloggers have to say:

Sidebar Books Blog

Elly in Nairobi

The Girl on the Go

Musings of a Rich soul

Realist Blog

Boss Lady Mindset

Kenyan Miss

Scribbles on Cocktail Napkins
When a character takes over

August 7th, 2018

Dear Writers,

What do you do when a Character takes over your story?

Do you

a). Think of ways of killing them?

b). Groan and shriek until your frustration oozes onto the paper?

c). Ask ‘Google,’ just to make sure that you are not losing your mind?

I started writing and had this lead character in mind but somehow he’s been usurped by a secondary character and now I cannot help but drink an extra cup of tea and wish I was on the road to Busia.

So, I tried to cast my writing aside, talked about my frustrations, read a book, watched an episode of Erkenci Kus, and had a piece of chocolate, all to no avail.

I ended up taking snippets of the story to create posts for Facebook, and ended up settling on this.

There has to be something that I can do before giving in and seeing where the story will lead, until then, I will rack my brain and keep watching Erkenci Kus.
Love Anew

August 6th, 2018

I want you and you want someone else,

So I stay hoping you will turn around, but even then I know that I don’t have to make you love me.

I am in the sea of tomorrow, you might come across this text, or see this in the quiet moments before you go to bed and know that what I said five years ago was my way of asking for time.

I got it.

The Lone Flower by Jackson Jost via Unsplash

I got the distance, because back then you wanted me and I wanted someone else,

So, you stood there and looked away knowing I was cruel to break your heart.

My greatest fear is that you’ll read this and call,

You will call and ask “was that for me?” and a part of me will hesitate, but even then, we’d both know I mean every word.

So, I will immortalize you in words,

Soak you up in chapters,

Craft you in images and sail the course of feelings.

I will smile and sit back knowing that I sent you my love and the universe was kind enough to remind me that “sorry love, you had your chance.”

I’ll give the universe the middle finger and settle down at Java, drown in your smile, order an iced mocha and chocolate cake and listen to Emile Sande.
Updates on the Writing Life

August 4th, 2018
Saturdays are slowly becoming my update days. I cannot seem to shake off the urge to post about updates on both my writing and reading life. A friend told me that I have a very rich reading and writing life but need serious intervention on a social life. My response to that is:

Photo Credit: TeePublic/ Google Images

So, I had some funk milkshake at Urban Coffee today- it’s a new coffee joint at Mega Plaza here in Kisumu and I cannot walk by the sweet aroma of brewed coffee, so if I’m ever around that place, I sit down for a cup.

On reading:

As I was making my way home, I kept thinking of the dramatic shift my interest has taken especially with regards to the books I’ve been requesting to read off NetGalley. I met my Goodreads 2018 Challenge, having read 188 of 180 books. The past two weeks have seen me scout for more books on Business/ Investing/Leadership/Social Inclusion/Multicultural Diversity and Mental Health.
- I just read Jiwe – a short fantasy tale by Kahiki Enjani Strokez. A Kenyan Writer and if you’re into fiction that serves an African theme, then- check out my review here.
I’ve completed all my reports for the week and cannot wait to get started on these two books this weekend:

On Writing:

Let’s just say that things have been looking up with the final revision of Sifuna and now I am scouting for other online outlets where I can post the books for ease of reading.

TMI

I’ve been listening to the album Cage to Rattle by Daughtry

I’m on my sixth cup of coffee this evening

I cannot stop obsessing about Erkenci Kus– this Turkish Telenovela I stumbled upon on YouTube.
Title Me Woman

July 31st, 2018

I found a love,

Bold, Vicious, Manipulative and Tender.

I found a love, that came at me like drones.

A love with hordes of lies, and tender caresses…a love that sang me to sleep and unearthed a new dawn of best wishes.

Oh, This love of mine…

Photo by: Samantha Qeja courtesy of Unsplash.com

I found a love,

Beautiful, Venerating, Morbid and True.

I found a love that came at me like an iron throne.

A love that spoke of a home cooked meal, elegant dressing, never ending income and a supple waist and skin. A love that knew nothing less than a size six.

Oh, this love of mine…

I found a love,

Brave, Vindictive, Mellow and Timid.

I found a love that came at me like a storm and I charged towards it like a hurricane.

We drowned in the now and cast dreams in tomorrow,

Yet, what I couldn’t fathom was the sorrow,

The silence that would come tomorrow.

So, I sat back in my seat…updated my facebook status, read three books, had six cups of instant coffee, drank half a litre of Fanta Orange and refused to write about it.

For, how could this love of mine, shatter what I held so dear?

How could this love, this drone filled love of mine, let his dreams of tomorrow be cast away by the expectations of today? How could he dream of perfection and not work for it?

How could he wear a trouser a size smaller?

How could he not know that one kiss…just one was enough to burn him to ashes?

How could he not know that everything he did could potentially be a best-seller and still submerge in a sea of silence?

I found a love,

Title me Woman.
Migori: My stay in pictures

July 29th, 2018

Hello, it feels good to be writing this afternoon. I’ve been on the road for the past twelve days and bits and pieces of my journey has stayed with me. I was working in Migori county and visiting various communities in the eight constituencies has been a thrill. So, before I digress, I’ll share some of the highlights of my stay:

We call this “nguru” but in real sense it’s like an overdose of sugar that demands you drink up to two litres of water for every three bites!

This is the first time I had an ENERGY DRINK, well, I had seven of them but instead of being energized, I was too drained to think straight, the team told me to sit in the back of the Cruiser and sleep!

Yes! Michelle Obama is so awesome that there’s a girls school that’s named after her!

I can’t tell you that Migori was all tarmac, this is the kind of dust I choked on every working hour!

Every time we came across these trucks, you’d see people pulling out a cane or two and chewing!

This is my way of planning for a programme session or going through a pre-psychosocial support visit plan. Highlighters and stick notes are bae!

I’m setting out to another county in a day or two, so I’ll probably write some more. Have a great week ahead!
Ambition

July 16th, 2018

He left her.

She woke up on a Friday morning and reached out for her phone. There was no text or missed call from him. It had been three days since they talked. She looked at her phone, dialed his number and slowly closed her eyes when she was directed to his voicemail.

He left.

She went on for two months, going to work, catching up with friends and taking each day as best as she could.

It must have been the casual way in which she met a mutual friend. He was swirling a drink in the glass in his hand. He said “yeah, he is still single, you know…I thought he’d settle down by now, but he just said that he started dating this girl but had to step back because she lacked ambition.”

Astro Nick took this #Unsplash.com

She walked away from that gathering and gulped in each breath as she walked towards home.

Those who saw her that weekend said that she kept to herself. They could not get a word out of her, but even then, the sun set on a soul that was hurting and what’s sad is that he’ll never know how much she bore the burden of judgement.

They all say “she was kind and caring,” like those words could strip down the weight of the world that she bore.

He left her.

As I sit here, I wonder, was it that ‘he left her’ or that life had pushed her to the edge of a cliff, and a few encouraging words or just one kind act could have been the hand she held on?
Keeping it Short

July 14th, 2018
It’s been one of those weeks spent on the road. I’m anticipating another two weeks on the road, but so far, what’s suffered most is my writing. I can make my daily journal entries but anything to do with creating short stories or generating new ideas becomes difficult when all you do is talk about counseling and pyscho-social programs.

It made me question, “how can you get some writing done when you cannot seem to get time for it?”

The first answer that came to mind was accompanied by my Mentor’s voice and it was “You are a Writer, make time!” The other that came included a few tips:
- always carry around a notebook. Jot down any ideas that come to mind, they could be of inspiration later.
- If you cannot stay away from your phone, install a note taking app. Thank me later.
- Try and make time, even if it is thirty minutes when you wake up or a few minutes during work breaks. Jog your mind of the importance of writing and see where that goes.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself.
So, I spent four days at this awesome hotel and I loved their color scheme so much and their paintings that I had to share a few pictures.

loved the color of the curtains 🙂

I guess, silver+brown+white are their go colors.

Loved this, it was right outside my room.

What are your plans this weekend?

I’ve got an idea, how about reading a free 5-page magazine? Just two short stories 🙂

The third issue of Nilichoandika Magazine is all about keeping it short and I’m so glad that I get to share two beautiful stories by amazing Writers. Get a copy here (Nilichoandika (3))- or on the left sidebar on this blog’s homepage.

Enjoy your weekend as I’m off to Kuria, who knows, I might just visit a place or two in Sirare while at it.
The Ultimate Writer Tag

July 7th, 2018

I love a good tag. They are growing on me, so thank you Jordy for sharing your responses and sharing in two parts, now, let’s do this!

unsplash.com

When did you first begin writing?

When I was twelve.

What are the best things about writing?

Creating a world where anything is possible.

Getting words right

What are the worst things about writing?

Not having the story that’s in your mind reflected on paper.

Not being able to write consistently or lacking the psych to simply jot down a sentence.

Being distracted by everything else while there’s this urge to write.

What is your favorite thing to write? (novel, stories, poems etc…)

I love writing short stories. I have also learned that novellas are quite interesting.

What is your favorite genre of writing?

I love writing romance and sometimes I excel at it, but since publishing The Currents Series, I have been drawn to Literary fiction that enables me to incorporate elements of the African culture.

What are your favorite writing resources?

If I say ‘none’ would you believe me?

Do you like writing in Girl’s POV or Boys POV?

I’m good with both and I love writing from the Male Point-of View especially when we are dealing with a drunk man. I live for such characters.

What is your favorite music to listen to while writing?

Oh, anything rocks my boat. I just steer away from Beyonce because I dance more than write whenever I listen to her. Yes, and Sauti-Sol too.

What are your favorite writing snacks?

I don’t snack when I write. I just drink a lot of tea, or a pot of coffee depending on my mood.

What is your favorite place to write?

Anywhere, as long as I can plug in my earphones and mute the world. I’m good to go.

What is your favorite time to write? At what times do you write best?

I write best from 2AM to 4AM.

What are your favorite famous authors/writers?

Grace Ogot, Margaret Ogolla, Azenath Bole Odaga, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi.

What/Who inspires you to keep writing?

I’m inspired by my desire to be vastly read and here’s the thing about ideas, they creep up at any moment, so whenever I get an idea, I put it to test.

Who are your writing buddies?

None.

So, that’s it for today and given that I jumped in on this tag without a welcome mat, I’ll sign out and wish you a lovely weekend.