My Writers Cold Feet…

February 24, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

This is my first attempt at Silver’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday and I shall dip my feet into the water with this quote that resonates with me.

‘Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom we can neither resist nor understand.’ George Orwell

I don’t know how many times that I have read this quote and I care not to count. All I know is that whenever I come across it, I nod my head vigorously.

When people are reading the written works of others, they have absolutely no idea the amount of drive, discipline, zeal, craziness and a whole myriad of emotions and actions that are invested in that work.

It is an arduous tiresome and thankless task, yet the muse in you will not let your mind keep quiet or sleep if you don’t put down those words.

Most times, writing short notes, stories, poems and essays are easier by far and more fun than writing a book.

Sometimes, I set off writing something and find myself surprised at where I ended up.

I have three manuscripts of novels at different stages sitting on my desk and staring malevolently at me and yet, some days it’s just a drag to get editing and working at it.

I have run around in circles to circumvent doing this painful task and I am running out of ideas.

One is at 95% completion, the other 70 and another at 50 percent and the characters in these books are ganging up and threatening my life with all sorts of things.

I am using the excuse that I am putting my poetry book together to stall them.

I know that there will be mutiny in the near future when the poetry book and the motivational books are done.

Maybe then, they will seize my clothes!

Hope · Memes · Self Help · Writing

Midnight Motivations And Musings #15

February 23, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

Those who crave for the moon have to learn how to reach for the stars, even when life knocks you on your back. As a matter of fact, that is a good position for star gazing 😉

Wishing and not doing is idle-dreaming.

Dreams are only actualized when the steps are set in motion.

Your steps should be broken into days to give your a greater opportunity to be fully present in your moments.

It makes no sense running off to make a five year’s projection, when the next weeks projection is staring you in the face without being dealt with. That my friend is simply trying to play the game of delayed procrastination with your time.

Do remember that all the time that you have are equals to your life.

Step out of the revolving door and dare to fail forward.

Regards,

Haiku · Photographs · Poetry/Poems · Writing

It feels right…Ronovan’s weekly haiku poetry challenge.

February 23, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

Tight and Warm, a pair of words that can be used in lots of beautiful ways. Connotes, cosy, snug, comfortable and so many more. Thank you Ronovan.

Blogging · Writing

Accentuated Blogging …

February 21, 2016February 21, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha50 Comments

This post should be treated as a suggestion that you are free to take or leave.

There is no point in getting your dander’s up or getting your pants twisted in a bunch.

I have observed several blogs written in languages other than English and it’s a beautiful thing.

However, the problem lies in the fact that a whole lot of people may not understand what you are expressing and therefore find it difficult to relate, to engage in a conversation and to comment.

I also use smattering’s of my native language in my post occasionally, but bearing at the back of my mind that since most readers may not understand it, I translate it for them.

In no way am I suggesting that someone should let go of their language and heritage, that would be misconstruing my thoughts, because I am extremely proud of my heritage and will frown at any aspersions cast at my use of my language.

I lay no claims to being an expert, but from the side of your reader, I am just expressing a consideration.

For the intents and purpose of growth in your blogging efforts maybe a one or two liners ‘in English sub-titles’ to aid understanding will go a long way.

I have seen some bloggers who are doing a great job in balancing this act and I admire them.

Except your blog is meant just for you and a specific group of people, then that’s fine.

I am just saying this for those who aspire to expand their reach beyond a certain circle, because like it or not, if truth be told, English still remains the World’s Lingua Franca.

Regards.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Blogging · Life · Lifestyle · Self Help · The Daily Post · Writing

Money, Money, Money….

February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

I think I have mentioned it before in this space that my dear friend WordPress is quite telepathic enough to know my thoughts and need, thus providing prompts that echoes my thoughts, even if he is stingy in meeting those needs.

I spent a good number of my years before now, racing along the corporate corridor in search of the big corner office.

It was without doubt a worthwhile growth experience. I enjoyed my corporate ladder years with all it’s attendant stress and perks, but my life is turning several new and beautiful bends and there are some nuts in the fire of my writing life, which hopefully should yield ample dividends.

I love to keep a positive outlook and frame of mind because it is always better.

I got into blogging for several reasons asides the obvious reason that I am passionate about writing.

One of the reasons that I would like to explore henceforth, is how to turn my passion into my pay master, that way it’s a beautiful win-win situation.

I know that writers write because they love to write, but they equally have to live and what better way than to earn from the sweat of your passion.

The Daily Post Money For Nothing.

If you’re like most of us, you need to earn money by working for a living. Describe your ultimate job. If you’re in your dream job, tell us all about it — what is it that you love? What fulfills you? If you’re not in your dream job, describe for us what your ultimate job would be.

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Inspiration - Motivation · Monday Motivations · Quick Facts · Writing

A Toast To Good Writing…Monday Meme

February 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

Quick Quirky Fact

Agatha Christie was still speaking to her imaginary friends well into her seventies.

So, don’t worry about those friends inhabiting your head. You’ve not gone cuckoo yet 😉

F. Scott Fitzgerald once danced on the lawn of publishers Doubleday to attract Joseph Conrad; the caretaker noticed him and had him removed.

I am just planting some ideas here 🙂

It’s always lovely to start the week and each day as much as we can with a smile and positive outlook. I find Leannenz Monday memes interesting.

Do have a fruitful and blessed week awesome people.

Life · Writing

Save Me From Myself…Help! This is torturous.

January 12, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha45 Comments

I am not crazy and I am not exaggerating.

Sometimes, my muse runs off into the wild winds not to be found.

But that sometimes is very, very rare.

As a matter of fact, I am wishing that the muse would run off for some days and let me have peace.

How do you quieten the thousand voices of characters in your head, with ideas racing from pillar to post and vying for your attention.

A lot of times my body is tired but my brain remains supercharged and the voices just won’t keep quiet.

It’s totally driving me mad.

Even when I say that I am not going to think. I STILL THINK.

Hey! Is anybody out there? I need good tips of how to kill a muse and get some sleep.

What do you do to keep the voices in your head shut? Short of hitting my head with a sledgehammer!

Life · Personal story · Quotes For You · Weave that Dream · Writing

If Tomorrow Comes…personal

December 22, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha73 Comments

Recently, I had a chat with a friend and we spoke about passion. Since we had that chat, I have been mulling over bits and pieces of our conversation and chewing on the fat of things.

During our chat, she did not out-rightly deride my passion about writing and public speaking, but in her opinion, she thinks that it should be classified as a hobby, since I was not yet making pots of money from either.

In her eyes, I was not yet a serious writer because there is no World acclaimed bestseller title under my belt.

As far as she is concerned, I am writing just for the pleasure of writing. At this point I had my tongue in my cheek trying to rein myself in from saying the first thought that fleeted through my mind, which was @#$#$%$##%!

Calmly, I asked her how much pleasure she was deriving from her work?

If she was that ecstatic about it, why is it that she moans over her job every time we speak, wishing she had the funds to take a bold step away from the rat race bandwagon.

She had wished over a 1,000 times that she had the guts to pursue her desires to own an events management outfit, but like I had equally given myself the leeway of excuses in the past, she had a million reasons why she couldn’t get started in that direction.

I asked her what her plans were in the immediate, interim and long term, towards achieving her goal, but to my surprise, she had made absolutely no concrete plans in the realization of her dreams.

….And she calls me a dreamer!

Her hope is that tomorrow will come armed with all that she would require to achieve her dreams and build her castles in the passing wind.

I told her that ”Tomorrow will never come if we don’t get hold of today!”

I now cheekily told her that I am absolutely pleased with what I am doing at the moment and though I did not give her a detailed breakdown, I drew a sketchy idea of my writing prospects and aspirations which I believe will come to pass even if it delays.

In the meantime, I told her that I was willing to make certain sacrifices to achieve my dreams, since I had also learnt that some of the material expenses which we load on ourselves were absolutely unnecessary. We can live very well without some of these things for as long as is necessary.

I have heard tales and jokes of hungry artists/writers. I have heard about all the hard mental work endured for passion in return of peanuts.

…Then again, I have heard and have experienced first hand, the irrefutable, bone deep pleasure that a true writer derives from answering their call and I then realize the true meaning of the morbid African proverb which says that”we cannot because of the fear of death avoid going to war, if that war means that we get to live the life that we deserve.”

In some ways, she was right that I am not yet making anything out of my vision and dreams.

Now, it is time to write the vision, take the vision and run with it.

Creative Writing · Devotions · Hope · Life · Poetry/Poems · Writing 101

So Long To Thee…

December 18, 2015December 19, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

I never ever say goodbyes,
Except when you’ve made a real good buy,
For whenever I say goodbye,
It always makes me want to cry.

It takes on such a finite note,
To memories sweet with tender quotes,
It kinda sticks right in my throat,
Which makes me choke when you board the boat.

Now, I prefer to say farewell,
Which makes my heart to really swell,
With thoughts of sweet affection tell,
And hope that things will go so well.

So long, farewell to thee I say,
For all who journey with me this way.
May your dwelling be in safe grace,
Until our paths cross again in this space.

Writing 101, Day 10 FAREWELL