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You’re a Writing Oracle
You've seen the movies. Someone comes to a shrine and says, "Baba, help me!" And the baba throws some cowries on the ground, listens and says, "Bring me two goats." Fast forward to three days later and the problem is solved. That should be you.
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Stakes in Writing
Stakes refer to the consequences or risks a character faces if they fail to achieve their goal. High stakes can create tension, conflict, and drama in a story, making the character's journey more engaging and suspenseful.
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Motivations in Writing
Dear Christian Writer, Every character is driven by motivations that are shaped by their surroundings, and in turn, they impact their environment through their choices and actions. What appears on paper is only a glimpse of a person’s life since birth. If your character is 30 years old, then they’ve passed through three decades of life on earth existing in a particular time and place. They certainly did not live that life sitting on a chair. By reading about your character now, we must be able to understand or picture what those years must have been for them or guess what their response to certain situations would most likely be.…
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Oh, Teacher of Teachers!
Dear Christian Writer, Every time actors climb the stage or go before the camera, they become teachers which is why actors are advised to be selective of the message they automatically endorse with their dramatizing. But you, dearest writer are a teacher of teachers. Your script is their tutor, your words their message. So when God judges teachers of the word, you can be sure that you'll be in that queue. We will all stand before God to defend this message, the words of our hands. Every idle word you write or add just for the sake of it goes to incubate in someone's heart. An impulsive sentence can furnish…
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No to Art for Art’s Sake
Dear Christian Writer, Writing should not only be about the art of it alone. Art for arts, sake? I say no. Form is important. Plot structure is imperative but if that’s all we have to offer then we’re no different from secular writers (authors, dramatists or poets). After all, every good story informs and educates. But that can’t be all. There are already hundreds of such. We who bear the name of Christ should not be satisfied with such a low threshold! Let’s contend for something more. Let’s contend for stories that can cause transformation in lives. Stories backed up by the compelling power of God! Writings that will bring…
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Deliver us from Evil!
I’ve recently been trying to revive my news-following culture even though it has been quite difficult and irregular. However, one thing is common to me after those sessions; I always leave the sites troubled about the nation, and especially the wickedness of humans like me. Producing and selling fake drugs and foods, drug and sex trafficking, ritual killings, kidnappings, civil unrest, war – violence, everywhere! I tried communicating my troubles and worries to God in prayer but I never could find the perfect words to do so (in my understanding). I’d often feel dissatisfied like I wasn’t hitting the nail on the head, you know? During PPC some weeks ago,…
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I Saw God Through ‘Useless’ Archaelogy
I was wowed as I watched episodes on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, on the Canaanites high places where the remains of sacrificed children have been unearthed in different horrific states (some even sawn in half). Remember the worshippers of Molech in the Old Testament that God warned the Israelites to not even think about copying their practices? Exactly!
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CASE OF A CHRISTIAN BRIDE VS HER DJ
I was at a traditional marriage ceremony for one of our MZI girls last year when it came to the point where we were to escort our iyawo to be officially presented to both her parents and in-laws. Shout-out to Iyawo Itunu Mary. We were close to the parents when the DJ started playing some, “You Must Chop My Money” for us. Immediately, the madam iyawo who was already sweating from all the different body contortions a human can mould into during moments of ecstasy stood upright. Under her breath, she said to her ladies-in-waiting (that’s us), “Don’t dance. That’s not a Christian song.” Oh, wow! Was I impressed! The…
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To the ‘Ashawo’ Writer(s)
One of the battles you will need to win this year is the battle over excitement. That one that comes when a new inspiration hits you smack in the face; that feeling akin to hot bubbles swimming in your gut and joy in your heart. Hey, dearie, you're pregnant again!
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An Eavesdropper at God’s Door
I was heading home from work some minutes ago when I came across a live interview session in God’s office. The lady’s voice held such a strange high tilt to it that I was compelled to cautiously lean on the door as I tied my heels together. Reporter: I actually mean, your most exciting thing to do? Like the top of your list. God: Yes, I understood your question- to show mercy. Reporter: Okay, okay. Then what do you do to relax, and take the edge off the day’s work? God: I select persons to show mercy. Reporter: (Eyes flashing) So if we asked you to choose an event to…
