Maryann is a writer, poet and children’s rights activist based in Lagos, Nigeria. She also the founder of an NGO charity organisation, Daughters of Africa. In this post, she discusses her recently published novel, Bruised Affection, her work as a content creator and more.
How did you get into writing?
When I was in my teens, I had a series of stories in my head, which I had to jot down at the back of my book, then sell to my friends for 20 Naira or 10 Naira. It’s quite funny, but that was my first experience as a writer.
Through the help of my English/literature teacher back then in secondary school, Mr Brai, I was able to improve my writing skills.
I started writing poetry in my early 20’s. I saw poetry as a form of relief when I was going through a particularly bad time. The only way to cool off and get through was to pen down my emotions. Up until now, I have always kept diaries of my day to day life experiences.
When I was in my teens, I had a series of stories in my head, which I had to jot down at the back of my book, then sell to my friends for 20 Naira or 10 Naira.
Tell me about the books you have written
I have written several books (both published and unpublished). My recently published book titled – Bruised Affection is my second novel. I also am the author of Widow, Letters To An Impossible Land and Lagos Palava.
How was the writing process for your debut novel?
Procrastination was one thing I combatted against while writing my novel – Bruised Affection. Although it wasn’t easy multitasking between my every day 8 am-5 pm job, managing my client’s social media page, my NGO business and building CVs – I still managed to get it done.
The writing process was quite easy for me because I wrote every day and understood what and why I was writing.
What is bruised affection about?
Bruised affection is a novelette that gives insight into the vices of domestic violence and the struggles of being in denial. The book exposes the day to day life of African women who are through common marital problems.
Bruised affection is a novelette that gives insight into the vices of domestic violence and the struggles of being in denial. The book exposes the day to day life of African women who are through common marital problems.
In the story, the main character, Ada, experiences abuse at the hands of her husband, Gbenga. It is a brutal exposé of what some married women in Africa face in their marriages. The book encompasses abuse, domestic violence, fertility, love, marriage life and torture in its panorama. The book is a must-read for both men and women.
Will your books be available on Amazon?
Yes, I am currently trying to get two of my books – Lagos Palava and Bruised Affection on Amazon.
What advice will you give to someone who is trying to write their first novel?
Writing can be quite tedious and but I’ll be sharing three tips to help you through.
- Avoid procrastination
- Know what and why you are writing
- Know your target audience.
What was the hardest part of writing Bruised Affection?
The hardest part of writing Bruised Affection was deciding on the right setting to feature in the book. Contemplating whether to use a rural or an urban setting took me a while.
At one point, I wondered if I would publish the book because I was torn. I had to do a lot of research before finally making a decision.
Through the help of God and my editor, I finally decided to use an urban setting. I am very grateful for my editor, who did a great job adding the final touches to my novel.
What advice will you give to someone who is also working on publishing their first novel?
If you want to publish your novel, you need to be consistent and avoid procrastinating
You should also do the following things;
- Set aside time, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day
- Write down your ideas and thoughts about the plot and storyline.
- With time, you’ll have a lot of great content that you can start organizing.
- Don’t just write with the motive of making money.
- Write knowing that it is something you must do – an important message that must be shared.
What other projects are you working on right now?
Right now, I am spending a whole lot of time and energy trying to rebrand my NGO Charity (Daughters of Africa) it’s been strenuous but through the help of my supportive partners, it’ll definitely be a success.
I also work as a social media content creator for a start up tech company.
I am spending a whole lot of time and energy trying to rebrand my NGO Charity (Daughters of Africa)
What is your day to day like working as a social media & content creator?
Life as a content creator is both exhausting and interesting. I go to bed with ideas, and I wake up with ideas. Every day I surf the internet for trending topics that are a part of popular conversations. I need to do this to understand what people are talking about to use it in my posts.
Content creation entails digital marketing, writing, social media management, graphic design and much more. I do a combination of researching, storytelling, marketing, and exploring various subjects.
When creating content, I always keep in mind the needs of the brand I am managing. What works for one will not work for another.
Life as a content creator is both exhausting and interesting. I go to bed with ideas, and I wake up with ideas.
What brands have you created content for?
I have worked with various brands over the years like Today News, Infobuddieshare, Ashleuxury and Comfort Homes.
What advice will you give to an up and coming content creator?
As a content creator, you should remember that you are not working for yourself; you are working for a brand.
You should know the objectives and needs of the brand you are managing and their target audience.
Iberuche Maryann can be found on Instagram as @maryann_writes. Find her latest article at https://guardian.ng/opinion/tunde-eso-deserves-a-nobel-laureate-prize/
This is a beautiful interview
Thanks J