UPDATE ON BOOK COUNT
The year began with a revival of a New Year resolution that I have somehow invariably managed to botch. And that is setting a book count goal for the year and actually committing to it. Part of my “brand” is that I am an avid reader, and shockingly the motivation to do a book count evades me at the critical moment. Ironic, and sad too.
So I RESOLVED to put the sob story and the excuses behind in January and pick up a book. Unsurprisingly, once I began I quickly fell into a rhythm.
Of course with other aspects of my life clamoring for my time and attention, it became imperative for me to make my reading time an unmissable exercise. It is so easy to fall away from such a resolution as the year rolls by that regaining the motivation becomes an uphill task. But the discipline to carve out time to recline and read, when the world around is moving erratically, was attributed to the simple fact that I have made it a habit – instead of a task cloistered within a routine.
This is how I have been able to read the following books this year, not limited to:
- Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Agozie Idichie
- Finding Me by Viola Davis
- No Limits by John Maxwell
- Rescued from Destruction by Faith Oyedepo
- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
I am currently reading The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, a book that delves deeper into why we do what we do, and how this can be changed. I have found myself reading such self-help books with increasing intensity, and I hope this doesn’t speak to my inadequacies and inability to seek professional help for any conflicts within myself.
What book are you currently reading? Share it in the comments and I may include it in my yearly review!
MAGAZINE COMMITTEE
At the start of June, I received an offer to join the Magazine Committee for the Association of Construction Managers of Kenya. This is a professional body in charge of project and construction managers, and amongst the variety of services they proffer is churning out informative construction-centered publications. Serving in this committee has helped me realize two short-term goals: merging both of my passions (writing and construction design) and keeping me active as a graduate member.
The publication, BUILDING TODAY, is scheduled for a September release and the committee is presently engaged in editing.
IDEAS FOR AFREADA WRITING CONTEST
Apart from head-diving into opportunities for professional writing, I am also aware of my fictional writing skills which need improvement. And writing is a performative art, one that requires skill and practice.
My kind of practice comes from participating in writing contests. One of these online contests has recently gained traction as being the pedestal upon which modern Afrocentric story-writing rests. Lolwe, Jalada Africa and Afreada boast impressive inter-country platforms that welcome writers, seasoned or otherwise, to submit to their editorial teams for a chance to be featured and win amazing prizes.
At the moment I am low on ideas and I know exactly why that is: I have not actively sat to brainstorm. So this is actually a confession to you of my chronic slackness and the simple, nagging fact that I need to nip the procrastination at the bud.
VIRTUAL BOOK STORE
I thought about this last weekend when I visited home for the Kenyan General Elections and took a long look at the shelves in the study room. It made me wonder: Am I a hoarder? What do I do with all these books?
A virtual bookstore came in mind.
I realized I still keep my Famous Five, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Goosebumps and Bedtime Stories books which were a recurrent fixture in my young life as a budding reader. I adulated these books, and part of me still does as I know that they formed a foundational base for my earlier attempts at writing fiction. At some point, I knew I would part ways with these books and give a chance for the next generation to read them. I didn’t know it would be a real fear for me to do it, and perhaps I would have talked more about it in my Inspiration Story.
In fear of eluding a psychological chasm, I decided to either give them out as donations, sell some on Amazon and open a virtual bookstore where people can essentially “thrift” them.
I barely know if this will work, but at least 35% of the books have either been donated to church or been successfully sold. I will shelve this idea and refine it hopefully before I release the next writing update.
Speaking of updates, have you followed Avid Conquest on Instagram? Not yet? Well don’t forget to search [avidconquestig]on Instagram or click the link at the end of the post.
FUTURE FRED PUBLICATIONS
Sometimes I am so neck-deep into other commitments and ambitions that I forget I am a published author and it’s really shameful!
Well, I am here to announce that there is a very likely possibility that future publications of my tween crime fiction book, F.R.E.D Teen Detective, are on the production mill. I recently reached out to the same publishing company that massively helped me with the first issue, Missing in Action, and they are happy for us to collaborate again for a second issue.
Don’t get me wrong, I love writing fiction, but it can be draining. I last updated my manuscript almost a year ago, and there are thirteen waiting for me to edit and gloss over them with punctuation marks and catchphrases. Anyway, I still love it. And that’s why I think my friends, family and online community of readers will be happy for me to do this.
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Catch the next Writing Update on December 2022.
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