Wole Adedoyin interviews Aisha Aminu Bello: Writing is a Journey that Needs Consistency, Perseverance, Motivation, and Patience

WA: AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK SOMEONE SHOULD CALL THEMSELVES A WRITER?
BELLO: A person should call themselves a writer when they consistently write and truly embrace writing as a part of who they are.

WA: WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU SEE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR?
BELLO: The difference lies in publication. An author is someone who not only writes but also publishes their work, whether it’s an article, book, or other formal publications, making it public. A writer, on the other hand, writes for personal, professional, or creative purposes. This includes journalists, bloggers, screenwriters, and even poets, whether their work is published or not.

WA: WHAT DO THE WORDS “WRITER’S BLOCK” MEAN TO YOU?
BELLO: It means sitting for long periods, staring at a blank page or screen without a clear idea of what to write. It can also happen when the ideas are there but figuring out how to begin or how to put them together is unclear.

WA: HOW DO YOU PROCESS AND DEAL WITH NEGATIVE BOOK REVIEWS?
BELLO: I haven’t published a book yet, but receiving negative reviews on my writing is something I don't enjoy. Though it can sometimes be demoralizing, I take it as a challenge to write better. Sometimes, I choose not to care because I know the effort and thought that goes into writing, especially poetry.

WA: WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR WRITING PROCESS?
BELLO: The hardest part is when I need to write about a theme or topic I’m not familiar with, especially with a deadline looming. It can be challenging to generate the right ideas and frame them properly.

WA: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING, OR WHEN DID YOU START?
BELLO: I started writing when I was around 9 or 10, which means I've been writing for over 27 years. My first published poem appeared in 2009 in my school’s magazine, and it was about "Water."

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A WRITER WORKING ON THEIR FIRST BOOK?
BELLO: Although I haven’t published a book yet, I have plenty of unfinished manuscripts lying around. My advice would be for the writer to have confidence in themselves and be determined to finish the book. Writing is a journey that requires consistency, perseverance, motivation, and patience. With these, one can successfully publish a book.

WA: WHAT, TO YOU, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF GOOD WRITING?
BELLO: Good writing should be simple in a way that it is easily understood and absorbed by the reader. It should be inspiring and captivating, sparking curiosity or provoking thought. Writing should also have the ability to calm the reader, allowing them to connect with the message. Ultimately, a writer must relate to their audience through their words.

WA: WHAT COMES FIRST FOR YOU — THE PLOT OR THE CHARACTERS — AND WHY?
BELLO: The characters come first. They drive the plot, not the other way around. In reality, stories are shaped by the people whose lives and actions create the events that unfold.

WA: WHEN DID YOU FIRST CALL YOURSELF A WRITER?
BELLO: I first called myself a writer when I realized I could express myself best through writing.

WA: HOW DO YOU USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN AUTHOR?
BELLO: As an author, I use social media to share excerpts from my published works and connect them to everyday activities. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn are great for sharing content and engaging with people.

WA: WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN ABOUT WRITING?
BELLO: The best advice I’ve received is to be myself when writing. Whether poetry or prose, I can only write well when I am truly comfortable in my own skin.

WA: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILLS?
BELLO: The best way to improve writing skills is by reading more, engaging with the literary world and its people (other writers), and being a keen observer of the world around you.

WA: WHAT HAS HELPED OR HINDERED YOU MOST WHEN WRITING A BOOK?
BELLO: I have tried to write a book, and as much as I advise other writers to be consistent, I find that I am not as consistent as I should be.

WA: HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE?
BELLO: As a poet, I write when I am triggered or inspired, so it’s not a daily routine for me.

WA: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS OR WEBSITES FOR WRITERS?
BELLO: I enjoy reading Medium, WordPress, and Substack.

WA: AT WHAT TIME OF THE DAY DO YOU DO MOST OF YOUR WRITING?
BELLO: I usually write at night.

WA: WHAT’S YOUR WRITING SOFTWARE OF CHOICE?
BELLO: I prefer using Google Docs and Grammarly.

WA: HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH CHARACTER NAMES FOR YOUR STORIES?
BELLO: I often use common names that I know from my own experiences.

WA: DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN WRITING CHALLENGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA? DO YOU RECOMMEND ANY?
BELLO: Yes, I do participate, mostly in Poetic Wednesdays, though I’m not always consistent.

WA: WHEN YOU’RE WRITING AN EMOTIONAL OR DIFFICULT SCENE, HOW DO YOU SET THE MOOD?
BELLO: I haven’t had the experience of writing an emotional or difficult scene yet.

WA: WHAT BOOKS DO YOU ENJOY READING?
BELLO: I enjoy reading mystery, romance (but not cliché romance), books about women or the female gender, and Nigerian books that reflect typical Nigerian society, often with elements of politics, moral decadence, history, and culture. I am open to reading anything that is well-written.

WA: ARE THERE ANY BOOKS OR AUTHORS THAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?
BELLO: I admire Chimamanda Adichie and have always wanted to write like her. I am also inspired by Khaled Hosseini, Zaynab Alkali, Jojo Moyes, and Niyi Osundare.

WA: WHAT BOOKS HELPED YOU THE MOST WHEN YOU WERE WRITING YOUR (FIRST) BOOK?
BELLO: I haven’t written a book yet.

WA: WHAT BOOKS DID YOU GROW UP READING?
BELLO: I grew up reading African stories from books like Hop, Jump and Skip, and I read classics like Christopher Columbus, Purple Hibiscus, and Hausa stories (Magana Jari). I also read various books in my primary and secondary school literature syllabus, including works by Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, Chimamanda Adichie, and Chinua Achebe. I’ve read many books, some I remember and others I’ve forgotten over time.

WA: WHAT AUTHORS DID YOU DISLIKE AT FIRST BUT THEN DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION FOR?
BELLO: Chinua Achebe.

WA: IF YOU COULD BE MENTORED BY A FAMOUS AUTHOR, WHO WOULD IT BE?
BELLO: I would love to be mentored by Zaynab Alkali, Chimamanda Adichie, and Khaled Hosseini.

WA: WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU READ MORE THAN ONCE IN YOUR LIFE?
BELLO: I don’t typically read books twice. I take my time with books, and once I finish, I’ve absorbed everything I need to from it. I enjoy discussing the book with someone who relates to it, and that’s usually enough for me. However, the Qur'an is a book I have read more than once.

Aisha Aminu Bello is a young woman from Kano State, Northern Nigeria. She is a poet, storyteller, and copywriter with a passion for tea, the arts, and reading. In 2017, Aisha was published in the Arrows of Words Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology. As a spoken word artist, she had the honor of performing in front of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. While studying at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Aisha was actively involved in the Creative Writers Club and the Editorial Team. She also enjoys graphic design and often reads as a hobby. Through her work, she blends her love for the arts with a deep passion for storytelling. Aisha also has a personal blog where she shares her stories and poems. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, she discusses her journey and passion for writing.