You, too, can win that coveted writing award

NAIROBI: The National Book Development council in conjunction with the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education will on Friday recognise this year’s BURT Award winners at the Villa Rosa Kempinski. I was not surprised when one of my writers, who is among the three winners, called to inform me of this development – he is excited and proud. You too could be receiving such an award soon, if only you plan and consciously follow through with your plan.

I have met quite a number of writers who just write – without a plan. Well, it works for some and leads to failure of a big number of others – remember those unfinished manuscripts you keep? I am one of those people who believe that failing to plan is planning to fail. That is why I would like to encourage you to plan.

It takes me a whole week to write this column. Such few words? You might ask. Well, this is how I do it. I usually read responses from you – the readers − and decide on which one I should respond to. Other times, I meet authors or editors, discuss writing and then something comes up. Then I spend time thinking and researching about what I have decided to write on. Finally, I develop an outline, which suffers with me as I twist and turn, write and rewrite it. When I am satisfied, I start writing my piece.

Usually, each of my paragraphs is a single idea that I develop to lead me to next paragraph and eventually to the conclusion. At the back of my mind, I stick to the word limit that my editor has assigned me; everything must fit within this. When I pick The Standard on Saturday, I always read my column first and ask myself whether what I wrote was the best I could do? How about you? How do you do it?

THE MAIN CHARACTER

If you want to win an award, you certainly must plan for it. There was an Italian young man who really wanted to win a lottery. He told his mother about it everyday. She encouraged him, ‘If you can dream it you can win it.’ One day, the young man’s aunt paid them a visit and heard the boy’s wishes. The lad went on and on for the whole week his aunt was around. Irritated by this endless moaning, the aunt said, ‘If you wish to win a lottery, buy a ticket. Wishes will never get you anywhere!’ This is what most young writers do – wish, dream and moan. It is about time you got down to work.

Identifying what you would like to write about – this must be in sync with the award’s requirements. Avoid those wrinkled, grey, overwritten themes. Think about what is happening around you. Cunning writers will turn ordinary, day-to-day issues into interesting stories. Take the case of an amorous man who believes he is not to blame for cheating on his wife because ‘it is women who desire him’.

Ordinarily, most writers would write about how he eventually breaks his own family. This was not the case when I read a short story by one of my writers from Zambia. She caused the main character, the cheating man, to meet his long lost son at the airport. While waiting, his roving eyes fell on several women who he believed could not resist him.

Finally, there was this young woman who was walking towards him. The man licked his lips and said, “Even my wife would understand this. She can’t resist me.” He sucked in his tummy and walked head high towards the young woman. A metre away and “Daddy,” the young woman addressed him. “I am you son, I mean daughter ...” The man fainted. His son was a transgender!

To achieve such an effect, you must have an outline, which will be your guide. Ask yourself, what will happen at the beginning, how about in the middle; where will the climax be; how will you achieve the resolution? These questions will be your sign posts. As you travel you will know you must turn right at point W; move on to point X; stop to ascertain your position at point Y, and ultimately end at point Z.

Finally, you must start writing − plan for it too. How many words will you be writing daily? Will you be reviewing your writing daily? When must you be through with the first and then final draft? When is the submission? If you consciously work towards your target then you will soon be on or close to the podium. Remember, writers write; those who wish they could write never write.