Wole Adedoyin interviews Esther Adelana: The Drive to Provide Solutions Motivates My Writing

WA: TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR WRITING BACKGROUND- WHAT YOU’VE WRITTEN, WHAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY WRITING:
EA: I am a creative Writer focused on non-fictional books, like self-help books on leadership, personal development and business growth. I have written 6 books. My first book, "Glorious Adventure: You Can Change Your World" was published in 2017 and launched under the Chairmanship of Prof. Benjamin Egede, a Dean of Faculty of Arts in Ambrose Alli University.
Although, I wrote some plays, short stories and novels, before I wrote my first non-fiction. I decided to publish the non-fiction first, because of the need to provide real life solutions to real life experiences. I prefer writing impact and social change. Art for art's sake may be beautiful, but I am of the opinion that whatever art we create must be relevant and valuable to humans, otherwise it will be a burden and a waste of time. Writers can pass a message through comedy, satire and tragedy. The most important thing is that our message is passed.
I started writing as a child, I can't get my hands on the short stories I wrote when I was six, but I have the manuscripts of the plays I wrote when I was 13. I launched my first nonfiction novel when I was 20 years old.
I'm currently working on completing a play, I started writing when I was 13. The more I grow, the more I keep increasing in knowledge and this made me keep rewriting the story. The masterpiece is titled, "IBALE". The play will reveal a lot about African culture, especially the culture of the Yoruba people and their festivals. Writing this play has been fun for me. The ideas contained in the story are mostly about the lifestyle and culture of people in pre-colonial Yoruba land. Of course I wasn't born in  the pre-colonial era (Laughs). However, growing up as a child, I'd dream about the story and write it down. Till date whenever I pick my pen to continue the story,  I still dream about the events to infuse in the story. Whenever I wake up, I check online to check if something of such ever happened or ask questions from older people. Also, as one who didn't grow up in a Yoruba land, writing the story has helped me learn more about the Yoruba people and culture.

WA: WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT A PIECE OF WRITING?
EA: I'm most excited about writing, because of the opportunity it gives to share knowledge, and build a legacy. The best way to preserve your life is through writing.

WA: WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS AND WHY?
EA: My favourite writers are Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Femi Osofisan. I have been influenced by their writing. I like the way Osofisan tells his story using traditional songs, chorus and rhymes. I read "The Women of Owu" more than 5 times, because I like the structure. In fact when I met Femi OSOFISAN physically, I asked to use his surname 'Osofisan' as my pen name, just as he uses 'Okinba Launko' as his pen name. Of course, as expected he laughed at the idea. I'm still contemplating using the name for my fictional works.
Also, as one who is more established in writing non Fiction, the works of John C Maxwell, Brian Tracy and others. As a child I was influenced by the works of John C Maxwell.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW WRITER STARTING OUT?
EA: I'd encourage those who are just starting out in their writing career to write for social change. Leverage on the challenges around you, they are opportunities to create a story. Writer's like Ken Saro Wiwa of Yellow Yellow, Chinua Achebe of Things Fall Apart and a host others wrote to reveal social ills, and correct the misconception of Africans and African Culture.

WA: WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?
EA:The desire to give solutions to problems inspires me to write. The experiences around me inspire me to write too.

WA: DO YOU HAVE A WRITING ROUTINE? A PLACE THAT’S SPECIAL?
EA: Yes, I have a writing routine, just like I have a reading routine. I read at least one book every month, and ever since I became deliberate about my writing career, I write at least a poem or critical essay in one week. I'm still looking at improving my writing routine.

WA: HOW, WHEN AND WHY DID YOU FIRST START WRITING?
EA: I started writing as a child, because I like books. My mom told me that whenever I am told to sweep or clean the house as a child, as soon as I find a piece of paper in the dirt. I'd take it and start reading it, until I'm scolded to continue with the cleaning. (Laughing). It was really fun growing up. My mom owned a school, while we were growing up and she studied English, so we saw her writing a lot, although she never published any of her manuscripts. Writing was more of a habit we imitated from our mom.

WA:WHAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE YOU EVER HAD PUBLISHED?
EA: My first published work is about 150 pages. It's a self-help book on life and success. It discusses life as an adventure - a glorious one, and the need for man to change whatever he sees in the world that he's not satisfied with, hence the title and sub title; Glorious Adventure: You Can Change Your World.

WA: DO YOU ADDRESS PARTICULAR THEMES OR ISSUES IN YOUR WRITING?
EA: Yes. My non fictional books are on Leadership and personal development. While my Fiction focuses on issues around Gender, Politics and other contemporary themes

WA: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SENDING YOUR WRITING OUT INTO THE WORLD?
EA: I felt excited that people could read my story and become inspired. When I launched my first book, I distributed 250 copies for free. So, many people did not know that I was the author, however they did share their experiences about how the book influenced them. A public speaker from Edo State told me how he taught with the book, another person, a law student, was excited to share his experience in how he took some of the quotes I used in the book for his spoken word presentation.

WA: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM?
EA: As discussed earlier, I am inspired by the happenings around me and sometimes meditation.

WA: TELL US WHAT KIND OF RESPONSES YOU GET FROM AUDIENCES\ERS.
EA: Apart from writing books, I also share my articles on social media platforms. People feel encouraged and motivated to act whenever they read my works.

WA: HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU?
EA: Apart from writing, I'm a public speaker and a leadership coach. I share ideas on social media. My works can be found on online book platforms like Amazon, Selar and Okada books. Also, people can read more about me https://about.me/adelana. I can be reached via adelanaesther924@gmail.com or (+234)9079524754, Instagram: @adelanaesther1

WA: TIPS, TRICKS, THINGS TO PASS ON TO DEDICATED WRITE?
EA: Writing is a discipline. You can have so many ideas, but if you don't develop the discipline and habit of writing it will be wasted. To write more, read more, give yourself a target and write anywhere.

WA: ANY TYPICAL/COMMON MISTAKES THAT NEW WRITERS TEND TO MAKE?
EA: These days people are more concerned about writing to win awards. So, they get the tips and write in that line. I want to encourage all writers to write good books with or without the intent of winning awards.

WA: WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?
EA: I find the play I'm currently working on enjoyable. It gives me the opportunity to research the history of African culture, especially Yoruba culture.

WA: WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
EA: My works are on Amazon and Okada books. I can be reached on Facebook, and Instagram.

Esther Adelana holds executive roles in both the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja, and WEOG, Abuja. Additionally, she is affiliated with the World Innovation Alliance, a global organization headquartered in Spain. This alliance collaborates with entities and professionals across over 200 countries to address worldwide challenges in leadership, education, health, and poverty. Esther's engagements as a public speaker have seen her collaborate with renowned international figures such as Dr. Victoria Burse and Dr. Joy Morgan from the USA, among others. In an interview with Wole Adedoyin, she delves into her fervor for writing.