Why I quit accounting for writing, publishing – Tolulope Popoola

Bookshelf: When and how did you start writing? Tolulope Popoola: I have always been drawn to words, reading and writing. My earliest memories of writing dated back to when I was about six years old. I grew up in a household where reading and academic pursuits were positively encouraged, so I have always been surrounded […]

Bookshelf: When and how did you start writing?
Tolulope Popoola: I have always been drawn to words, reading and writing. My earliest memories of writing dated back to when I was about six years old. I grew up in a household where reading and academic pursuits were positively encouraged, so I have always been surrounded by books. I used to read a lot, and I would write my own versions of stories that I had read, or I would make up my own.
 As I grew older and became a teenager, I kept diaries and journals, and writing was my therapy whenever I was upset. English and Literature were my best subjects in school.

Bookshelf: But, somehow, your first degree was in Accounting, not English or Literary Studies, and your Masters was in Finance and Investment. Was there any particular reason why you made these choices?
Popoola: I chose to study Economics at A’level because I enjoyed it, and I was fascinated by people in Nigeria always complaining about the economy. When it was time to choose a degree subject, I thought Economics was a bit too broad, so I decided to narrow my focus a bit and choose something that would lead to a clear professional path.
 I don’t think I fully understood what I was getting myself into by choosing those subjects while looking at a university brochure. But they were interesting enough, and the skills I acquired from my degrees are transferrable and useful in many ways, so I don’t regret them at all.

Bookshelf: How would you describe your experience as an accountant?
Popoola: Studying Accounting at degree level was one thing, but working was a whole different matter. Within three years after graduation, I had lost all motivation to continue working in finance. I was bored with doing the same things every day. I hated having to stick rigidly to rules. My eyes glazed over when I had to collect data, create financial statements and analyse spread sheets. Let’s just say I knew that I couldn’t remain in that profession for the next 40 years of my life. I quit my professional CIMA qualification exams, and never looked back.

Bookshelf: How did you start blogging? How relevant do you think it is to writers today?
Popoola: I discovered blogging in 2006, when I was searching for some information online and I stumbled across a blog written by a Nigerian lady. I started reading it and I was fascinated. One click led to another and I soon discovered many more blogs written by Nigerians like me, so I decided to join them. I started my first blog then, and I have since created four others.
 I think blogging is still relevant to writers today. Your blog is your personal writing space and your platform. You can write whatever you want, you can use it to practise, you can use it to test your work for feedback, you can use it to showcase your thoughts, and so on.

Bookshelf: You wrote a first novel in 2009 which was never published. What was it about and why was it not published?
Popoola: I was nearly done with the novel when something happened. I came across a review of ‘In Dependence’ by Sarah Ladipo Manyika and the story described sounded eerily similar to my work-in-progress. I immediately had to go and buy a copy of the book to find out. And when I read it, my heart sank. It was as if I was reading my own story, published with somebody else’s name on it. At first I was worried and confused, like how did this happen? Did someone hack into my computer to steal my manuscript? I mentioned it to my writing mentor and she told me that it’s actually quite common for two writers to have similar ideas and similar storylines; it’s just a matter of who got to the finish line and published first.
I researched it and found that it was true, and there had been cases where authors were sued for stealing a story that somebody else had published before. Since I didn’t want any trouble, I finished writing the novel, and filed it away. I decided that it wasn’t worth publishing, but, at least, I got the experience, practice and discipline of committing to a project.

Bookshelf: You have talked about how your novel ‘Nothing Comes Close’ was rejected by traditional publishers because it was seen as ethnic fiction. So what has been your experience since you self-published?
Popoola: It’s been an interesting journey. Initially, there was a huge learning curve and I made many mistakes. But I have learned from them and continued to improve and get better at publishing and putting my work out there. When I first decided to become a writer and was researching the publishing industry, I felt like the traditional publishing model was good for some things, but was definitely old-fashioned, slow and inefficient in many ways.
I preferred a system where I had complete control over my work, decide the stories I want to write, when to publish, how to distribute, what book covers I wanted, and so on. I also wanted to be in charge of my royalties, not giving up 70 per cent of them to someone else. I wanted to be able to reach my own audience directly too, and I wasn’t daunted by the task of doing things myself to reach my goals.

Bookshelf: Some are of the view self-publishing is not the way to go. What is your opinion about that?
Popoola: Self-publishing is not for everyone. There are writers who don’t want to deal with the business and production side of things, they just want to write. Those writers will prefer to work within the traditional publishing model. I think it ultimately depends on what the writer is trying to accomplish with their work. For example, if they want to be considered for literary prizes, then they are probably better off submitting their work to a traditional publisher. If however, they want to write entertaining stories and find an audience for them, they might prefer to self-publish.

Bookshelf: You founded Accomplish Press, a publishing, consulting and coaching company, in 2012. How challenging or successful has it been?
Popoola: Like every other start-up business, it has had its share of ups and downs, and a mixture of challenges and successes. In the beginning, I committed all my time, efforts and money to getting the company started and publishing my first book. Publishing being what it is, it took a long time for me to start making any money back. I have spent many sleepless nights working, researching, learning, and trying new things. But the rewards have been worth it. I enjoy working from the comfort of my home. I enjoy doing a job that I love. I enjoy helping other writers achieve their own writing and publishing dreams. And I have received awards and recognition from many organisations.
 In my first year as a publisher, I was named runner-up in the New Venture Award category by Women in Publishing (UK). And more recently, I was given a special award at the Nigerian Writers Awards, for my contribution to the writing and publishing industry. So, I’m grateful to be doing what I do.

Bookshelf: What books and authors influenced your growth as a writer?
Popoola: They are ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott, and ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ by Audrey Niffenegger.

Bookshelf: How do you juggle between writing and running a publishing outfit?
Popoola: I usually do my fiction writing first thing in the morning or late at night after everybody in my household is asleep and I can enjoy the quiet time alone. I try to keep my publishing and coaching hours to the usual 8am-5pm time slot, but sometimes I work longer, or I have a client appointment that is scheduled for the evening. It’s a constant balancing act, and sometimes I just need to take a break to rest, relax and read.

Bookshelf: What are you working on at the moment?
Popoola: I‘m in the planning stages for my next novel, a follow-up to ‘Nothing Comes Close’.