Do you know that feeling you get from being noticed when you think that you are far from getting nominations or awards? This is it!
When I was very
young I used to be so DULL, as in, Chinonso Nwakaeme (chuks donchester) was so dull
and inactive that teachers pitied my mom whenever she came to pick me up from
school because they often wondered what a terror I must be at home.
Yes, I was a terror at home, I was always tearing papers, writing stories, drawing cartoons, gluing drawings to walls and endlessly trying to sneak out of the house to play. In school, I wasn't really considered the 'scholar', even though my teachers said that if I played less, I'd do better but I didn't care.
I was ME and if
you didn't like it, 'go and hug transformer'. As I got into secondary school I
knew what I wanted to be in life, 'an economist'. Huh? Wetin? What? That was
the expression in my family member's faces, and teachers too as everyone knew
that Chinonso might do well in the practice.
By the time we
started proper essay writing in school, I always came out tops to the annoyance
of some my teachers as they felt that the 'Best' in English or literature
should be reserved for the quiet students and most times they scored me low.
In a nutshell,
it took me time to acknowledge my talent in writing even after publishing
series of short stories as a child (which was really through the effort of my
parents especially my mom *thank you mommy* you help me most nights to complete
the story). When I found that my mother wanted to help build my writing talent,
I got more exicted to write, I started seeing myself as a writer.
I loved writing
it was part of me. I decided to pursue my career towards that direction. I enroll
for Creative writing school in USA and went for a certificate programme in
writing.
Eventually when
I started work, one day, I decided to start this 'blogging thing' that many
people I knew was into. At first I started with Nwakaeme Chinonso's blog, which
triggered other blogs I created. Two months later, I published several published
work like: UNDERSTANDING THE THREE T’S TIME TALENT, TREASURE, THE VOICE OF
AFRICAN CHILDREN, READING IS LIKE EATING JOLLOF RICE, HIDDEN IN A BOOK.
No one will
understand how much this award means to me, it means that out of my
restlessness as a child and my talkative nature as a young adult, 'something'
was born. Now, I don't talk as much as I like to as I channel my talks into
writing and so far, it's been very rewarding. The comments I see on my blog
spurs me on and assures me that I am putting smiles on beautiful people's faces
through my writing. However, I acknowledge that I am still a work in progress
and with God on my side, I'll definitely get there. This nomination has given
me the courage to spur on as I am certain now more than ever that I was called
to be a Writer.
For the Nigerian Writers Awards, I was nominated under the FICTION WRITER OF THE YEAR which I believe is for my creative writing. It seems people have to vote and the judges have to choose as well but for the fact that I made the list, I am so excited.
FICTION WRITER OF THE
YEAR
1.
JULIUS BOKURU (THE ANGEL THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE)
2.
OLUWASEGUN OLUFEMI FRAGILE- (LETTERS TO GOD)
3.
OLAJUMOKE OYEYEMI (WHAT IS NOT YOURS IS NOT YOURS)
4.
IKIMAT SALAWU-YUSUFF (MEMORY CARD)
5.
NWAKAEME CHINONSO
6.
SALLY KENNETH DADZIE (THE FOURTH FINGER)
7.
MEDICINE MAN (IBEH NWOKOCHA)
8.
AHUBELEM AZUBIKE A. (DON’T JOIN)
9.
AMADAK UBENG (UNDERWORLD HEAVEN)
The Award Jury
is composed of individuals of high moral stature with demonstrated commitment
to the ideals of the Nation and who have distinguished themselves in their
respective writing fields and covers virtually all category of writing
(Online/Print media, Arts and Literature).
Only Spoken words poetry, writers’ supportive brand of the year, Song writer of the year, Entertainment writer of the year, writer of the year and blogger of the year are eligible for voting, others will be determined by the Jury and winners will be announced on the Award Ceremony. To vote send Nominee’s name and the category to nominate@nigerianwritersawards.com. Voting ends on the 14th of November 2015. Visit www.nigerianwritersawards.com for more details.
Only Spoken words poetry, writers’ supportive brand of the year, Song writer of the year, Entertainment writer of the year, writer of the year and blogger of the year are eligible for voting, others will be determined by the Jury and winners will be announced on the Award Ceremony. To vote send Nominee’s name and the category to nominate@nigerianwritersawards.com. Voting ends on the 14th of November 2015. Visit www.nigerianwritersawards.com for more details.
