Exploring Creative Writing – Genre, Perspective, and Personal Motivation

Exploring Creative Writing – Genre, Perspective, and Personal Motivation

Hello everyone, my name is Utibe Friday Isaac. It is nice to meet all of you. I have a confession to make, I actually love football. My personal interest in the sport is mainly focused on the Premier League, which ranks as the most exciting and competitively contested premier league in the world. I have been lucky enough to watch matches at one of the best football stadiums in the world – Old Trafford, Manchester United. The electric buzz of hundreds of thousands of people cheering on superstars from around the world is an experience I will never forget.

36 Character Questions

1. My name is Perpetual, and I am 22 years old.
2. I am currently renting a two-bedroom apartment with my younger sister, Zara, in a suburb of Lagos in Nigeria.
3. The specific neighbourhood I reside in is Lekki. It is a middle-class suburb on the mainland of Lagos characterized by high-rise buildings, modern shopping malls, and closeness to the city.
4. In my neighborhood, there are young professionals like myself as well as families who have been there for many generations. Lekki is always busy: the market women are haggling, the children are playing in the park, cars beeping on the streets, and so on. Sometimes, it can be tiring, but at the same time, I get a lot of inspiration from the energy and diversity of the neighbourhood.
5. May 15th is my birthday, and it is not just like any other day for me because of my love for celebration, but it also reminds me of the day my precious parents passed away when I was only ten years old.
6. I have recently completed my university education. On completion of secondary education, I enrolled in the University of Lagos (UNILAG). I studied economics, development economics and public policy, in particular, at UNILAG. It is a field that has always intrigued me because I have always wanted to know how and why Nigeria and other developing countries are struggling with issues of politics and economics.
7. My parents died in a car crash when I was 10. It was a traumatic event that has had a massive influence on who I am today. My family came from the lower class, but my parents worked and developed into the middle class. My father is the first in his family to go to university to study civil engineering. He later got a job as a project manager in one of the leading construction companies in Lagos. On the other hand, my mother grew up in a family of small business operators. She helped in her family’s textile business before she established her own clothing store. Even with my parents’ passing, my grandmother, Mama Adaeze, ensured that me and my sister Zara grew up in a balanced home. She was a courageous and caring woman who had been my mother and her siblings’ protector, and she did not mind taking us on. Mama Adaeze was a retired teacher, and despite our lack of wealth, we lived in a sheltered environment of love and support from Mama Adaeze.
8. My parents were Christians. They belonged to the African Church here in Lagos. Religion played a crucial role in our family.
9. Yes, I would say that my family’s Christian faith and commitment to the African Church were quite influential in my character and values.
10. Ethnicity is defined as the cultural and ancestral background of an individual. It ranges from the language, culture, and history associated with a particular group of people. Ethnicity is a significant aspect to me. It is a piece of my culture and Ibibio heritage.
11. I valued my relationship with my parents considerably, but this was not true for both of them. My father was a very serious person—a man who laboured hard to support his family. He had high expectations of me and my sister and always encouraged us to do well academically and to aim for the best. My relationship with my mother, however, was more emotionally intense and supportive. She had an incredible enthusiasm and energy that made everyone around her feel positive. Our home was always filled with music, noise, and passion.
12. I have a sister, Zara. Zara has been my best friend since childhood. We have always been very supportive of each other, whether it be a good day or a bad one.
13. I am not married.
14. No, I do not have a boyfriend.
15. I was particularly a person who would plunge into love from one relationship after another. I was fascinated by the element of mystery in meeting a new person: beginning flirtations and those early pangs of attraction. And for that matter, I also believe that I sometimes allow these feelings to influence my analysis and judgment. But such experiences taught me some bitter truths. It taught me the need for patience to become acquainted with a person before diving right in. This is because it is easy for an individual to get carried away with the euphoria of being romantically linked with someone new.
16. I do not have any children.
17. I work as a social impact consultant for a nonprofit organization. It entails assisting community-based groups and NGOs to build organizational capacity and initiatives to address emerging social and environmental problems. I actually enjoy working there tremendously and find it very purposeful. It gives me the opportunity to utilize my analytical abilities, creative mind, and ability to make a difference for people in the real world. I go to work and get to meet amazing people and organizations that are working hard for good. I like the fact that I do such varied work, and it is really interesting to me and rewarding. It is also challenging, and I’m always learning new things. I must say I am very lucky to be working with such wonderful colleagues. We are all different and bring different skills to the mix, yet we are driven by one goal.
18. Zara: My sister has been my pillar of strength and my greatest friend since I was little. We have been through a lot together and have supported each other in challenging times like the death of our parents. Zara is honest, and she does not hesitate to constantly remind me how controlling and inflexible I am. She inspires me to be the best version of myself, and I can always rely on her support.

Adebayo: Adebayo and I have known each other since we studied at the university. No one can make me laugh the way he can. He has an uncanny knack for finding a new angle to understanding any situation. Adebayo is smart, inquisitive, and extremely imaginative. Aside from that, he is also a kind and supportive friend I have ever known. He is always there to listen and comfort me when I am depressed.

Chidinma: I met Chidinma through the NGO we worked for; we immediately hit it off. She is intelligent, hardworking, and committed to real-world change. The thing I love the most about her is her honesty and her being true to herself. Chidinma is not afraid to come out and defend what is right in her own right. She has been my mentor and taught me how to think and be critical but also bold. I also feel that I can rely on her to push me to try new things.

19. I go to my sister and friends because they are my friends to whom I am closest and from whom I mostly seek advice and emotional support when things are tough for me.
20. On a Sunday at 10 a.m., I attend the Sunday service at the African Church, just like my parents used to do. It is a weekly practice that relates to my family’s history and religious beliefs.
21. Friday nights at 9 p.m. is usually when Adebayo and I are out together. We normally have some friends over and probably go out for dinner and drinks in the downtown area.
22. Yes, I do. I have a habit of loading two to three loads during the weekends to ensure I have enough for the week.
23. My favourite food is jollof rice. I love jollof rice so much because it takes me back to my childhood. My mum would always make it for us, and the smell of it cooking would automatically take me back to our comfortable home. It is quite nostalgic for me.
24. One of the things that I consider to be one of my most valued items is a hardcover journal that I have used for years. This journal has become one of the most valuable things in my life and an integral part of my life.
25. I try to keep a relatively clean and somewhat organized living area. I do have a routine system of cleaning and organizing things. I ensure that I make my bed in the morning, but there are the occasional days when I feel particularly lazy, and sometimes, I might not bother making the bed.
26. My bedroom is decorated with things that define my values and personality. The bed is already made with clean sheets, a nice fluffy duvet, piles of books I am reading, and a nice-looking lamp on the nightstands. The walls are white, and only one piece of abstract art is above the bed. In the corner is a comfy reading chair—another favourite thing about this space. This is my personal sanctuary, and I have decorated it to be as comforting as possible to my mind and body.
27. Yes, I do. Cooking is one of my hobbies. I take it as seriously as everything else in my life.
28. How could I refuse to dance at a wedding?
29. I enjoy listening to music, especially Afro beats. Afro beats is a mix of West African highlife, Yoruba music, and hip-hop and dance music trends. The end product is a rich and diverse style of music characterized by complex rhythms and grooves, which finds its origins in the culture of the African continent. I cannot make music or sing.
30. One of the main passions in my life is reading. It is one of the main sources of expanding intellectual horizons. I am an enthusiastic and voracious reader of novels, books, poetry, articles, and so on. I am especially attracted to literary works that use beautiful language to depict human life in its complexities and complexities. I have read Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realist works, where the lines separating real and imaginary worlds fade away. Works such as ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ are filled with poetry and, in turn, take me to worlds that are often vividly imagined (Márquez et al. 255-272). I am also keenly interested in the psychological observations and the literary style of the likes of Murakami. Books like “The Wind-up Bird Chronicle” and “Kafka on the Shore” expertly peel away the layers of the human soul with delicate, dreamlike strokes as they touch on topics like isolation, loneliness, and the meaning of life (Murakami). Finally, my overwhelming passion for reading results from my fascination for the lives of people in general. From the fantasy and exciting world created by fiction to the clarity of all the aspects of the world presented in non-fiction to the spiritual dimension of poetry, the written word remains one of my main sources of inspiration and knowledge.
31. I am a late sleeper and not an early bird. All in all, there is something about the peaceful silence of night that appeals to my desire to think and work.
32. If I had to choose between being good and being rich, and the question came down to it, I believe I would choose to be good.
33. Although I am torn, I believe that I would choose to be good in the long run.
34. Frankly speaking, I do experience a big desire to be wealthy and have freedom and privileges connected to wealth. I desire to adopt and create better lives for myself and my loved ones, the possibility to invest in the causes and projects I support, and the luxury of life. At the same time, I do not want to become greedy, so this desire for wealth can become the only thing that occupies my thoughts.
35. I lack confidence, ask myself if I can actually change things, feel like problems are too big to deal with, and wrestle with the reality of everyday life and the pressure around me. These challenges can only be eliminated by remaining true to my moral compass, accepting risks and discomfort, and continually honing myself through ongoing learning.
36. I am afraid that the worst-case situation would lead to a complete and total collapse of the very thin line that I was walking.

Works Cited

Márquez, Gabriel García. “One hundred years of solitude.” Medicine and Literature, Volume Two. CRC Press, 2018. 255-272.

Murakami, Haruki. Kafka on the Shore. Vintage, 2006.

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We’ll write everything from scratch

In this discussion, begin by introducing yourself to the class and sharing something interesting; maybe you have a prize-winning recipe for apple pie or know how to wiggle your ears. Make sure to answer all questions below.
In your initial discussion thread: A good story catches our attention and sometimes even seems to transport us to another world. In your initial post, name a short story or novel you have found particularly riveting.
• Offer a summary (2-3 sentences) of the piece and evaluate what makes it effective at engaging readers from the very start. In other words, how does the story hook readers? How does the author build on that initial hook throughout the entire short story or novel to continue engaging readers?

Exploring Creative Writing – Genre, Perspective, and Personal Motivation

Then, answer these questions:
1. Why did you choose to take Creative Writing?
2. We will write the first 2,000 words of a novel/novella for our final project. What genre do you plan to write? (mystery, thriller, sci-fi/fantasy, romance…
3. What POV will you tell your story (1st or 3rd)?
4. What did you like about our two readings this week (Aug. 2026…” and “The Morning After…”)? What stood out to you? Ask a question if there was something that you didn’t understand. What could you use in your own writing?
As you respond to classmates, consider too, the elements of fiction you read about in The Editor’s Blog: http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/02/03/the-elements-of-fiction-the-basics-beyond/
Which elements do you think are most essential for a story to continue engaging readers after the initial hook, and why? Perhaps an action-packed plot is your greatest priority. Or maybe character development is your top priority, with the plot there to reinforce it.
MAY