Why I decided to be a writer – Jude Dibia

What motivated you to want to be a writer? In a sense, writing has always been a part of me. I kept a diary when I was younger, writing about things that happened to me and the people around me; it contained my deepest thoughts and fears. I was also surrounded by books. My dad […]

What motivated you to want to be a writer?

In a sense, writing has always been a part of me. I kept a diary when I was younger, writing about things that happened to me and the people around me; it contained my deepest thoughts and fears. I was also surrounded by books. My dad had a library at home, so at an early age I had, at my disposal, classical novels as well as modern contemporary reads. I never woke up one day and said to myself ‘alright, I want be a writer!’ No, it was an organic process, from reading so much and then wanting to tell my own stories eventually.

Who or what is your muse?

I draw inspiration from a number of sources. I could be somewhere and overhear a conversation or a phrase that would inspire a story idea. I love listening to music as well, and sometimes when I am pulled in, I find myself dreaming up stories. But primarily, the most significant source of inspiration is life.

What are your hopes for Nigeria’s future?

I would hate to say I have given up on Nigeria, but we have yet another opportunity to make a change and elect responsible leaders, and this on its own looks promising. There’s so much that has to be done, with infrastructure, with education, with the morale of the people and imbibing a sense of pride for our identity and dignity in honest work. This change starts with the individual and from there we can build a great country.

What are your upcoming projects?

For now, I am focused on promoting my new novel ‘Blackbird’. I do have some story ideas that I would develop in the near future. I should have some short stories out this year, as well.

Courtesy: NaijaStories.com