#WinterABC2023, #Day1
It's intriguing when the embers of your fire die out—when that which used to flow through your veins like the lava of old suddenly ceases. This is precisely what happened to my writing mojo towards the end of 2021, and I've been struggling to find my groove ever since. However, let's start from the beginning. Allow me to explain.
For as long as I can remember, just like you, dear reader, I have always been captivated by books, devouring every piece of literature I could get my hands on (yes, I was a chubby boy). Naturally, writing soon followed, and I found myself composing poems, stories, and pieces well into my upper primary and secondary school years. Need a poem for a girl? I was your guy. Want unique stories about Uganda's past? I was your guy. It comes as no surprise, then, that I continued to write during my university years, even earning a scholarship for my master's degree as a result.
Suffice it to say, the spark was always present. Anything and everything had the potential to inspire me to write. A girls' fight? That's a story. A political event? That's a story. A deteriorating situationship? That's a series of poems! Thoughts on what the future held? Those would become epitaphs of varying lengths. Life was my canvas, and I was there to chronicle everything. I often wonder where most of those writings ended up, as they would have made for enjoyable reads now.
I suppose all of this is to say that the spark igniting every fire is life itself. When you cease to notice the mundane occurrences of life, the flames begin to dwindle like a candle left out in the wind. That's precisely what happened to me when I became too preoccupied with work to pay attention to the small things that used to breathe life into my writing.
We must take the time to appreciate the moments we live in, perhaps even documenting them through the plethora of media available to us now. But, above all, we must live and embrace those moments. We should cherish the conversations we have and the people who grace our lives. We should strive to create memories rich enough to warrant penning them down.
Most importantly, as Africans, we need to write. We need to leave a trail for future generations to learn from and to make better decisions. Nothing should be left to chance or left to fade away in the darkness, lest our history and presence continue to be erased and ridiculed.
Writing, for me, has always been a form of self-expression, a means to understand myself and the world around me. It allows me to delve into the depths of my thoughts and emotions, to untangle the complexities of life. Through writing, I find solace, catharsis, and clarity. It is a powerful tool that can bridge gaps, inspire change, and preserve our collective stories.
However, I must admit that a writer's journey is not always smooth sailing. There are peaks and valleys, moments of inspiration and moments of self-doubt. The challenge lies in pushing through those periods of creative stagnation, in rekindling the flame that once burned brightly. It takes dedication, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of growth.
In my quest to reignite my writing spark, I have turned to various sources of inspiration. I seek solace in nature, allowing its beauty to seep into my soul and awaken my senses. I indulge in the works of other writers, immersing myself in their prose and finding inspiration in their unique storytelling styles. I also actively seek out new experiences, exposing myself to different cultures, perspectives, and ideas. By constantly expanding my horizons, I fuel the sparks that turn to fully fledged fires of opinions and sometimes queer jokes that burn through time.
One can only hope that everything they have put out there makes someone's day sometime.
#WinterABC2023 #DAY1
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