Michael Okere on Writers Focus.
In today's interview, Francisa Ogechi Okwulehie chats with New Author and Motivational Writer, Chibuzor Michael Okere. He speaks about his journey through writing, his new book ( The Secret Place) and the challenges encountered. He also talks about what writing means to him.
FOO: Please tell us about yourself: school and course of study, hobbies, how you began writing, the journey so far, etc.
MO: Chibuzor Michael Okere is the principal at Kitspring Consulting, an organisation with a strategic focus on tech, leadership and human capital development. He is a farmer, leadership trainer, public speaker and an author. Michael hails from Egbelu-Nguru, Ngor-Okpala L.G.A of Imo State. Krystal-Bal Comprehensive college is my alma mater. Michael is a Business Administrator by discipline and an alumnus of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.
Michael has the following as his hobbies: Meeting People, Travelling, Singing, Listening to Music, Writing, Reading, and Computers.
Beyond being a wordsmith, Chibuzor Michael Okere is a tenacious entrepreneur. In 2017, I was a regional recipient of the federal Government Youwin Connect Awards. I am passionate about personal transformation and youth empowerment. His long-term vision is to groom the next generation of leaders who will transform Nigeria, Africa and the World.
As for how I began writing, I think, the art found me. It began with my environment always say “Michael, you write so well.” Then in affirmation, I seldom have people bring a document for me to either write or edit. So, I gradually grew into that consciousness. So, I would conclude by saying writing is a gift from my Maker.
FOO: Do you have any current work? What inspired it?
MO: Yes! I am disposed to author the book, The Secret Place. It falls under the Motivational and Business genre. It is aimed at helping young people find self, build capacity and maximise living on this mortal plane.
In our very busy and fast-paced world in which everything has been craftily constructed to rid us of our core essence – and relevance, I introduce the Secret Place which is considered to be a potent and timely intervention to the perennial attempt of society to erode our sense of identity, dignity and functionality. This is an attempt to not only cushion the vast and trendy rate of depression but also to remedy an intellectual gap in Nigeria and the World at large.
FOO: Do you share your work before publication? Have you ever encountered plagiarism in the industry?
MO: Like in weddings, yes I Do...Lol! Especially in its verbal sense. I informally engage people in conversations around the context which I am writing on to sample their opinions and in the process to validate certain train of thoughts. I also post some excerpts on social media to also get feedbacks premised around my writings.
Have not directly experience plagiarism. At least not in its indecent sense.
FOO: What's the most difficult challenge you face as a writer? And how have you been able to overcome them?
MO: This would be finding time to write amidst other competing demands. However, it is important to note that all the stages of writing – conceptualizing, researching, drafting, editing, publishing, marketing and sales all come with their unique challenge. But time seems to be a recurring challenge across the creative space. Sometimes, it’s like 24hours is not even enough. To manage this challenge while writing, I had to adjust my body clock by creating a sacred space.
The key to creating a sacred space is to get rid of things, habits, people and thoughts which add little or no value to your life. Precisely because these series of this are toxic to your everyday functioning. They are not an accurate measure of your effort and time. Put it differently, Albert Einstein warns that, “not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." In the 21st Century, especially in this digital age, we can quickly crowd our lives with junks that block our creative thinking.
So, if you keep saying “I have no time,” it is an indication that you need to empty your experience of those things that don’t really count. And begin to prioritise. This underlines how distracted you have been.
FOO: What is the most unethical practice/unsavory encounter you've had in the literary industry?
MO: The indecent mass distribution of creative work in a portable document format “PDf.” It’s unethical to share other peoples work via PDF. King Solomon, the wisest at a time, says buy wisdom and sell it not. This strengthens the premise that wisdom and knowledge have a commercial value. If at any point in time anyone thinks knowledge is expensive, I advise him/her to try ignorance.
Just as captured in the Secret Place: “there are no mountains anywhere. A man’s ignorance is his mountain.” I have never seen any man who is greater than how much he knows.
FOO: Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
MO: Never! I love self. I am proud of my heritage. I cherish my names, especially my native names. They are constant reminders of who I am as an entity.
FOO: What other authors do you have as friends/mentors, and how do they help you become a better writer?
MO: Chibuzor Azubuike, author of the girl who found water. Dayo Falokun, author of unlocking your global relevance.
FOO: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
MO: Publishing my first book reinforces the belief that Impossible is nothing.
FOO: Do you prefer to self-publish or publish under a firm?
MO: Fair enough, I am open to all forms of publishing. The offer just has to be right.
FOO: How do you manage environmental factors such as noise, unstable electricity etc?
MO: Before writing, one needs to research not only on the subjects to write on but also environment and happenstance around you and then possibly adapt or improvise. If you are a writer in Nigeria, to manage your frustration, you must either have a generator set or have alternative sources of power. Then be sure you will be fine las las.
FOO: What’s the best way to market your books?
MO: As an author, nobody can sell your book better than you. So word of mouth remains the best. Seize every opportunity – training, book reads, conference, bespoke events etc. to talk about your book. However, you can also use social media to enhance sales.
FOO: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
MO: I indulge in both formal and informal research. The kind of research to indulge in, with special consideration to time, is usually a function of the subject of study.
FOO: Do you Google yourself/read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
MO: Yes, I Do. Growing up in secondary school, my fine art teacher taught a topic called Perspective. A take out of this topic is that people make inputs based on their point of view. So a good or bad review is only a function of the reviewer’s life view. It does not make him/her any wrong or right. Hence, I’m open to all forms of reviews. In the end, they would make me a better version of self, which fair enough is the motive of the reviewer - to make me a better person.
FOO: Are you a full-time writer? If yes, does your family support your career as a writer?
MO: No! I am not a full-time writer. However, it is important to note that I always have the immeasurable support of my family in all my endeavours. You would have noticed how blessed I must be.
FOO: How long on average does it take you to write a book?
MO: 6 – 7 Months.
FOO: Do you believe in writer’s block? How do you think it can be dealt with?
MO: This may surprise you, but I believe Writer’s Block is a myth. You read that correctly. You do not have to be paralyzed by it any longer. This discovery has helped me write two books.
“Hold on!” you say. “If Writer’s Block is a myth, what am I suffering from right now?!” you are simply suffering from a deliberate lie, being told by self.
Let’s think this through.
If Writer’s Block were real, why would it affect only writers? Imagine calling your boss and saying, “I can’t come in today. I have a worker’s block.” You’d be perceived a clown! And you’d likely be told never to come in again. No other profession accommodates block as an excuse to quit working, so we writers shouldn’t either. If writing is just a hobby to you, a diversion, something you can take or leave, it shouldn’t surprise you that you find ways to avoid it when it’s hard.
FOO: What is your motivation for writing?
MO: As I journeyed through life, I have graciously served in diverse challenging capacities. These have given me the opportunity to pick up resourceful lessons and experiences, which I hope to share with the world, as living for others is the gravitational essence of life. My motivation is to serve humanity through my writings and hopes it makes the desired impact in the fullness of time.
FOO: What does literary success look like to you?
MO: That my literary work is making the desired impact, measured by testimonials from readers is enough success for me.
FOO: What word of advice would you give an aspiring or upcoming writer?
MO: Stand up to your fears the way you would a bully.See blocks for the myth it is.
Turn your fear into humility and humility into hard work.
FOO: Over 10 score your fashion sense. Does it affect you as a writer?
MO: I think 5 is fair. This emphatically has nothing to do with my writing, neither does it affect my speed as a writer. So, it does not affect me as a writer.
We hope you enjoyed this focus on our Writer today. You can reach him on Facebook via Michael Okere or his Facebook page: Michael Chibuzor Okere
FOO: Please tell us about yourself: school and course of study, hobbies, how you began writing, the journey so far, etc.
MO: Chibuzor Michael Okere is the principal at Kitspring Consulting, an organisation with a strategic focus on tech, leadership and human capital development. He is a farmer, leadership trainer, public speaker and an author. Michael hails from Egbelu-Nguru, Ngor-Okpala L.G.A of Imo State. Krystal-Bal Comprehensive college is my alma mater. Michael is a Business Administrator by discipline and an alumnus of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.
Michael has the following as his hobbies: Meeting People, Travelling, Singing, Listening to Music, Writing, Reading, and Computers.
Beyond being a wordsmith, Chibuzor Michael Okere is a tenacious entrepreneur. In 2017, I was a regional recipient of the federal Government Youwin Connect Awards. I am passionate about personal transformation and youth empowerment. His long-term vision is to groom the next generation of leaders who will transform Nigeria, Africa and the World.
As for how I began writing, I think, the art found me. It began with my environment always say “Michael, you write so well.” Then in affirmation, I seldom have people bring a document for me to either write or edit. So, I gradually grew into that consciousness. So, I would conclude by saying writing is a gift from my Maker.
FOO: Do you have any current work? What inspired it?
MO: Yes! I am disposed to author the book, The Secret Place. It falls under the Motivational and Business genre. It is aimed at helping young people find self, build capacity and maximise living on this mortal plane.
In our very busy and fast-paced world in which everything has been craftily constructed to rid us of our core essence – and relevance, I introduce the Secret Place which is considered to be a potent and timely intervention to the perennial attempt of society to erode our sense of identity, dignity and functionality. This is an attempt to not only cushion the vast and trendy rate of depression but also to remedy an intellectual gap in Nigeria and the World at large.
FOO: Do you share your work before publication? Have you ever encountered plagiarism in the industry?
MO: Like in weddings, yes I Do...Lol! Especially in its verbal sense. I informally engage people in conversations around the context which I am writing on to sample their opinions and in the process to validate certain train of thoughts. I also post some excerpts on social media to also get feedbacks premised around my writings.
Have not directly experience plagiarism. At least not in its indecent sense.
FOO: What's the most difficult challenge you face as a writer? And how have you been able to overcome them?
MO: This would be finding time to write amidst other competing demands. However, it is important to note that all the stages of writing – conceptualizing, researching, drafting, editing, publishing, marketing and sales all come with their unique challenge. But time seems to be a recurring challenge across the creative space. Sometimes, it’s like 24hours is not even enough. To manage this challenge while writing, I had to adjust my body clock by creating a sacred space.
The key to creating a sacred space is to get rid of things, habits, people and thoughts which add little or no value to your life. Precisely because these series of this are toxic to your everyday functioning. They are not an accurate measure of your effort and time. Put it differently, Albert Einstein warns that, “not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." In the 21st Century, especially in this digital age, we can quickly crowd our lives with junks that block our creative thinking.
So, if you keep saying “I have no time,” it is an indication that you need to empty your experience of those things that don’t really count. And begin to prioritise. This underlines how distracted you have been.
FOO: What is the most unethical practice/unsavory encounter you've had in the literary industry?
MO: The indecent mass distribution of creative work in a portable document format “PDf.” It’s unethical to share other peoples work via PDF. King Solomon, the wisest at a time, says buy wisdom and sell it not. This strengthens the premise that wisdom and knowledge have a commercial value. If at any point in time anyone thinks knowledge is expensive, I advise him/her to try ignorance.
Just as captured in the Secret Place: “there are no mountains anywhere. A man’s ignorance is his mountain.” I have never seen any man who is greater than how much he knows.
FOO: Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
MO: Never! I love self. I am proud of my heritage. I cherish my names, especially my native names. They are constant reminders of who I am as an entity.
FOO: What other authors do you have as friends/mentors, and how do they help you become a better writer?
MO: Chibuzor Azubuike, author of the girl who found water. Dayo Falokun, author of unlocking your global relevance.
FOO: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
MO: Publishing my first book reinforces the belief that Impossible is nothing.
FOO: Do you prefer to self-publish or publish under a firm?
MO: Fair enough, I am open to all forms of publishing. The offer just has to be right.
FOO: How do you manage environmental factors such as noise, unstable electricity etc?
MO: Before writing, one needs to research not only on the subjects to write on but also environment and happenstance around you and then possibly adapt or improvise. If you are a writer in Nigeria, to manage your frustration, you must either have a generator set or have alternative sources of power. Then be sure you will be fine las las.
FOO: What’s the best way to market your books?
MO: As an author, nobody can sell your book better than you. So word of mouth remains the best. Seize every opportunity – training, book reads, conference, bespoke events etc. to talk about your book. However, you can also use social media to enhance sales.
FOO: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
MO: I indulge in both formal and informal research. The kind of research to indulge in, with special consideration to time, is usually a function of the subject of study.
FOO: Do you Google yourself/read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
MO: Yes, I Do. Growing up in secondary school, my fine art teacher taught a topic called Perspective. A take out of this topic is that people make inputs based on their point of view. So a good or bad review is only a function of the reviewer’s life view. It does not make him/her any wrong or right. Hence, I’m open to all forms of reviews. In the end, they would make me a better version of self, which fair enough is the motive of the reviewer - to make me a better person.
FOO: Are you a full-time writer? If yes, does your family support your career as a writer?
MO: No! I am not a full-time writer. However, it is important to note that I always have the immeasurable support of my family in all my endeavours. You would have noticed how blessed I must be.
FOO: How long on average does it take you to write a book?
MO: 6 – 7 Months.
FOO: Do you believe in writer’s block? How do you think it can be dealt with?
MO: This may surprise you, but I believe Writer’s Block is a myth. You read that correctly. You do not have to be paralyzed by it any longer. This discovery has helped me write two books.
“Hold on!” you say. “If Writer’s Block is a myth, what am I suffering from right now?!” you are simply suffering from a deliberate lie, being told by self.
Let’s think this through.
If Writer’s Block were real, why would it affect only writers? Imagine calling your boss and saying, “I can’t come in today. I have a worker’s block.” You’d be perceived a clown! And you’d likely be told never to come in again. No other profession accommodates block as an excuse to quit working, so we writers shouldn’t either. If writing is just a hobby to you, a diversion, something you can take or leave, it shouldn’t surprise you that you find ways to avoid it when it’s hard.
FOO: What is your motivation for writing?
MO: As I journeyed through life, I have graciously served in diverse challenging capacities. These have given me the opportunity to pick up resourceful lessons and experiences, which I hope to share with the world, as living for others is the gravitational essence of life. My motivation is to serve humanity through my writings and hopes it makes the desired impact in the fullness of time.
FOO: What does literary success look like to you?
MO: That my literary work is making the desired impact, measured by testimonials from readers is enough success for me.
FOO: What word of advice would you give an aspiring or upcoming writer?
MO: Stand up to your fears the way you would a bully.See blocks for the myth it is.
Turn your fear into humility and humility into hard work.
FOO: Over 10 score your fashion sense. Does it affect you as a writer?
MO: I think 5 is fair. This emphatically has nothing to do with my writing, neither does it affect my speed as a writer. So, it does not affect me as a writer.
We hope you enjoyed this focus on our Writer today. You can reach him on Facebook via Michael Okere or his Facebook page: Michael Chibuzor Okere
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