Tell Me What You Think
In which I apologise for a quiet break and ask for your help! Please read.
I haven’t been good. It’s in fact more accurate to say that I have been bad. For two weeks, I didn’t send you a letter. The first week, I was preparing for my trip to Lagos. I was running around the City Centre at 5 p.m. looking for a big travelling bag when I remembered I hadn’t written my letter to you.
In the second week, I was taking a break from work, and although I had written a letter, I just couldn’t send it. Both times, I had writing fatigue — my life was (is) going through significant changes. It sounds enormous, and my word choice is probably exaggerating, but the truth is, the 2019 writer of this newsletter is not the same as the 2021 writer of this newsletter and I’ve been holding myself to the same standard. You know how time changes priorities, temperaments, personalities, needs, etc. Exactly. It’s no longer feasible for me to write to you every week. At least for now.
These past few weeks have forced me to reevaluate my time and priorities. I love writing to you, but there’s also very time-consuming, money-making work. Although I hate inconsistency, I don’t think consistency should be forced, risking quality and peace of mind.
My potential solutions include a compulsory biweekly letter to you on writing, editing, storytelling and stories. And maybe a random weekly letter on any other thing — every other month. This might give me time to write, rest and deliver quality consistently. If I have potential solutions, why am I telling them to you, instead of executing? For one, I believe in talking to your audience. You’re my audience. You show up every week, read my current obsession or whatever it is I’m rambling about. You deserve an explanation for the silence — this is the first time since early 2019 when I started writing these letters that I’ve gone two consecutive weeks without writing to you (except for the time I took a break and told you beforehand).
Finally, I’m writing to ask: What do you want me to write about? Honestly. As the year slowly winds up, I’m interested in speaking directly to gaps: questions you would ask me if you met me, a lawyer turned writer/editor who loves bread, fiction, Asa, etc. on the street. You can click this link to tell me. I’d be very happy if you did.
What I found interesting this week:
A film based on Ayinla Omowura, the Apala musician. Not sure if it’s available outside Nigeria. I saw it at a cinema in Lagos.
Pemi Aguda’s Manifest — which I read for the hundredth time. I should review it, breaking the structures and themes that make up the story.
The Street Sweep by Meran Hadero (Shortlisted for the Caine Prize)
And a well-written article, Paystack’s Media Threat.
I’d recommend the bi-weekly or even monthly option. That way, you can have enough time to write to us how you really want to. We will understand 😄. (And thank you so much for including my Paystack article 😊)