Writings do not necessarily have to be pleasing to the readers. As a writer, your sacred duty is to put issues and points across. This requires sobriety, a fertile imagination (for fiction and prose writers) and a flair for the pen. Let these guide you. A clear conscience is also very important.
Most of the poets and writers probably started by writing their thoughts down during those idle moments. You will be amazed by how far their writing has gone. Never be idle. A writer ( or an aspiring writer), is always on the look out. The three codes of writing are be an avid reader, listener and communicator. You must be able to sieve what is important from what is not.
A prolific African-Kenyan writer, Mr. Phillip Ochien'g once lambasted the poor writing trend of many of the current crop of African writers blaming it on the absence of a clear and strong moral conscience. While that may be debatable, fact is, without a clear conscience it becomes difficult for a writer to convey a message across without appearing to be babbling.
Readers will definitely see through a wacky piece of writing. This is because human beings are created in search a way that we can always read in between the lines. That is, there is always a 'third eye' pointing to something which meets more than the eye. Our sub-concious mind sees what we cannot see physically with the naked eye.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Elements of a good article
The main problem most aspiring writers as well as established writers often face is the question of how to put across an article to convey exactly what is desired. This is never easy. Many writers have been hounded just because their audience does not comprehend the intended message. What is sometimes worse is when readers fail to take in the satire in an article or literary piece.
A story is told of how a president in Utopia called a newspaper writer to congratulate him for a good piece on his government. The writer, tickled by all these, could only manage a thank you and an ear to ear smile. This was funny considering that the writer, had put across a mind boggling satirical piece. All those who saw the satire in the article too burst into peals of laughter. Such a stylistic device is known as reverse satire. The opposite is plain satire when one bares all just as it is.
A story is told of how a president in Utopia called a newspaper writer to congratulate him for a good piece on his government. The writer, tickled by all these, could only manage a thank you and an ear to ear smile. This was funny considering that the writer, had put across a mind boggling satirical piece. All those who saw the satire in the article too burst into peals of laughter. Such a stylistic device is known as reverse satire. The opposite is plain satire when one bares all just as it is.
Maintaining focus amid the buzz
Keeping one's focus amid the hectic lifestyle, noise and buzz present in the world today is not easy. Perhaps, the most common thing that dents our focus is when our friends say stuff like..'you can't do it'...it can't be done'...'you are just average'...'you are not beautiful'...'you will head nowhere'...'you are stupid'...and the list goes on.
Her husband told her she was 'just average' and that she couldn't do it. She was distraught for sometime but that did not stop her from pursuing her goal of participating in a beauty show. Despite the discouragements and low self esteem (initially, atleast), she went on to become the winner in a tight beauty peagant. Yes, she is Rachel Love Fraser, a 27-year-old construction company clerk who was crowned 'The Swan', after a four month long competition. On top of the crown, she got $50,000 cash, a new car, a $30,000 diamond necklace, two vacations and a $25,000 full-length mink coat. As well, she got an assignment with Fox TV and a number of modelling contracts. So much for some one who is 'just average'.
What one can learn from this and many other such stories ( Nelson Mandela's, Surgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson, Lakshmi Nivas Mittal) is that you are the one that determines the direction of your life. No one has the power, but you to change your destiny. The choices you make determines your future. Remember, whatever discouragements or negative words your friends, relatives or any other person tell you cannot bite you. Negative things never last. They are just temporary. And in any case, they make your resolve stronger.
Her husband told her she was 'just average' and that she couldn't do it. She was distraught for sometime but that did not stop her from pursuing her goal of participating in a beauty show. Despite the discouragements and low self esteem (initially, atleast), she went on to become the winner in a tight beauty peagant. Yes, she is Rachel Love Fraser, a 27-year-old construction company clerk who was crowned 'The Swan', after a four month long competition. On top of the crown, she got $50,000 cash, a new car, a $30,000 diamond necklace, two vacations and a $25,000 full-length mink coat. As well, she got an assignment with Fox TV and a number of modelling contracts. So much for some one who is 'just average'.
What one can learn from this and many other such stories ( Nelson Mandela's, Surgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson, Lakshmi Nivas Mittal) is that you are the one that determines the direction of your life. No one has the power, but you to change your destiny. The choices you make determines your future. Remember, whatever discouragements or negative words your friends, relatives or any other person tell you cannot bite you. Negative things never last. They are just temporary. And in any case, they make your resolve stronger.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Call
Feel free to call Mr. Simbowo for any public speaking engagement, writing training or development strategy and organizations skills courses.
He is available just for your personal development. There is always a future. It may take time. But keep pushing. You will get there someday soon. Nothing beats resistance better than persistence. The belief that there is always a way. No matter the circumstances. Mr. Simbowo is here to help you push on. So feel free and call.
He is available just for your personal development. There is always a future. It may take time. But keep pushing. You will get there someday soon. Nothing beats resistance better than persistence. The belief that there is always a way. No matter the circumstances. Mr. Simbowo is here to help you push on. So feel free and call.
About Mr. Simbowo
Mr. Simbowo has been development-conscious as long as he can remember. He remembers writing regionally (school-wise) award winning literature as far back as elementary school. His skills however took a sharp turn when he started pursuing his undergraduate training at Maseno University in western Kenya. Officially, he has been the East Africa Coordinator and Correspondent for the EuroAfricaCentral Network, and Orato Magazine Special Correspondent among other writing engagements. Similarly, he has participated in the research and reviewing of the United Nations Youth and Millennium Development Goals report produced by a UN-mandated Ad Hoc Committee. He has co-authored some journal publications and book citations. He is also a columnist for a Kenyan design publication.
As someone who believes everyone deserves a chance to maximize their potential, he avails his unique public speaking, writing and development strategy consultancy services to you.
His greatest inspiration comes from such quotations as:
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race".
-Calvin Coolidge
"The tragedy of life is what dies in the hearts and souls of people while they live".
"It's not that I'm so smart , it's just that I stay with problems longer".
"Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly".
-Albert Einstein
"If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done'.
-Benjamin Franklin
As someone who believes everyone deserves a chance to maximize their potential, he avails his unique public speaking, writing and development strategy consultancy services to you.
His greatest inspiration comes from such quotations as:
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race".
-Calvin Coolidge
"The tragedy of life is what dies in the hearts and souls of people while they live".
"It's not that I'm so smart , it's just that I stay with problems longer".
"Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly".
-Albert Einstein
"If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done'.
-Benjamin Franklin
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