Hello everyone in the wonderful hive family. I hope you’re all doing well. Once again, I’m grateful to the hive learners’ community for their wonderful and educative initiatives.
Everyone on this wonderful blockchain is a writer, and each one of us has a tale to tell when it comes to what writing means to us. So what can I say writing is to me? Writing is my superpower! Just as Hulk has super strength, with writing, I can also be anything I want to be. But before that, let's start from the very beginning.
The journey of my writing life
My journey as a writer didn’t start yesterday. No! Growing up, I was the type of person who enjoyed reading. I have always been that gentle guy who loved to express my ideas, and since I was not good at talking, I resorted to putting down my feelings on paper.
Right from when I was in primary school, I loved reading a lot of novels, especially fairy stories and fables. I find them exciting. My best fairy story of all time is Animal Farm by George Orwell. My mom knew I loved reading novels. So, she’d buy one for me every week. Gradually, I started writing stories of my own. Honestly, I don’t remember what I first wrote. But I do remember it was a story about animals.
I remember I wrote my first book (not published) at the age of ten when I was in a boarding school. I was so glad when a lot of my hostel mates read my book and they were pleased. Even my hostel guardian complimented my writing skills. Unfortunately, my storybook got stolen. It was so painful because it was the first book I wrote and I spent a lot of time on it.
I didn’t write any other book until I got to SS1 (Senior Secondary School ). My Literature teacher asked us to write a poem. Before that time, I had never written a poem before. But I still tried my best. My teacher loved it. He called me out and encouraged me. This motivated me and I started writing again.
When I got to SS2 (11th grade), I came across a platform called Post Now (Scooper). My cousin introduced me to the platform and told me I could start blogging. Blogging? Not that I had never heard of it before, but I always thought it was meant for professional writers; well-known people like Wole Soyinka until I learned otherwise.
I didn’t waste any time. I took interest in it. I started blogging and writing articles. I got paid monthly. What made it even more fun was when my cousin and I started competing for who’d write the most articles. He was a very fast writer, so he always won.
I also wrote short stories for a WhatsApp group. They all enjoyed it and kept asking for more. Writing short stories made me more creative and practical, but writing on Post Now gave me so much more. Unfortunately, I stopped all this when I gained admission into the university. I didn’t have enough time to spare, so I had to stop writing and focus on my studies.
The ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) started an indefinite strike a few months ago. Students who attend federal universities were affected. My school was also affected. Students had no choice but to go to their various homes. When I got home, I had nothing to do. I didn’t want to go back to writing for Post Now, I wanted to try something new. It was then a very good friend of mine introduced me to hive; one of the greatest blockchains I’ve ever known. I started my hive journey about two weeks ago, and I must tell you, it has been exciting. When I wrote short stories for the WhatsApp group I talked about, I barely sat down to carefully proofread and edit my works, I didn’t do it thoroughly as I should. That completely changed when I started writing for hive. I started writing and editing my works carefully. Having my works go through other users and moderators has helped me in a lot of ways. I started proofreading all that I wrote.
How important is writing to me?
As I said earlier, writing is like my superpower. When writing, I feel I’m using my superpowers, just like Thor. Imagine Superman without his superpowers. Yes! That is me without my writing skills. I have become so attached to it that it has become a part of me. Writing has really shaped me. I transformed from someone who struggled to write 350-word essays for school essays, to someone who could put together more than 1000 words, not to mention how I’m able to write on any given topic and stories I make up in my head when I’m doing dishes.
Writing is like oxygen to me. I need it to survive. I’m used to writing, I’m always thinking about the next time I’ll write again. It makes me feel fulfilled.
Writing is very important to me because I know it will pave the way to my greatness and give me everything I’ve ever dreamt of as a child. When I wrote my first book, I promised myself that I’d publish a novel someday. I am already working on it, it’s a biography that will be published when I am 40.
I intend to take writing as a profession; to work as a ghostwriter. Sounds cool, right? I also intend to take courses in writing, copywriting, and content creation all of which will give me the opportunity to work with big companies.
Writing has become a form of escape to me; it has helped my mental health
Life is filled with many tribulations. Everyone has different ways of escaping from life’s disturbances. For me, it is writing. When I am going through challenges, all I have to do is to write it down; a poem or a short story, and then I will feel better. Hive learners’ community has even made it better with the great topics they give. I have been able to offload some of the things bothering me. Writing makes me feel better. It helps me get the burden or weight off my chest. And when I see people's comments, it makes me happy.
Writing has helped develop my writing skills
Writing isn’t a skill you’re born with; it has to be taught and practiced. The more you write, the better you get. If you ask professional writers, they’ll tell you one thing; practice helps a lot when it comes to writing. Writing an article every day has helped to develop my writing skills.
It makes me smarter
Writing makes you smart. To write a good article, you have to pay attention, write carefully, and use words wisely. Most times, when I write an article, I do a little bit of research. The more you research and write, the more your knowledge and vocabulary will expand. Growing up, I always had the idea that writing would make me smarter. As I started blogging daily, I saw changes in the way I construct sentences, use punctuations, and express myself clearly. Writing helps me reflect on the past, think more deeply about the present, and visualize a better tomorrow. I am always thirsty for knowledge and I love to always challenge myself to be a better person and writing helps me with this. This is why it is also very important to me.
I feel like I have accomplished something
Have you ever sat down after a productive day and felt on top of the world? Proud of yourself? Yes! That is how I feel after writing an article. Imagine the feeling once you complete your writing task; it's just so beautiful. I love it when I finish writing an article, and I go over it again. Trust me, I am always smiling from ear to ear.
If you write every single day; you’ll be happy with yourself at the end of the day, knowing you have achieved something. How can you be creative or do what you need to do if you are sad? Since I have been writing a lot lately, I have been very happy and that makes me very productive. I have been able to achieve my daily and weekly goals; all thanks to writing!
Writing made me grateful to my creator
In all truth and sincerity, writing is not easy. You need to be inspired before you’d be able to put something down. Sometimes the inspiration just comes out of nowhere and I start writing. That made me realize how much I should be grateful to my creator for giving me such a beautiful talent.
In conclusion
Anybody can write! Anytime you’re bored or feeling down, just write. Don’t worry you don’t need to be perfect, you don’t need to write a 3000-word essay, just start from somewhere. Nobody is perfect, just express yourself and let your words flow freely. Cheers!