I was supposed to write a great book. Everyone was counting on it. I’d raised the money to travel to seven African countries and I’d told everyone I would write a book about it. All I had to do was sit my ass down and write the book.
So after traveling, I started writing. I even got an agent in New York and a book deal with a solid publishing house in Lagos. The inspiration was heavy on me and I produced what I thought were two amazing chapters. And then, nothing. I tried to write. My agent asked to see some more chapters. The Lagos people gave me a six month deadline to complete the book. I felt guilty for not writing after receiving over $10000 in travel donations. But even guilt had stopped being a strong motivator.
Bottom line was, I simply didn’t want to write anymore. I just didn’t like the book I was writing even if the agents and publishers liked it. Of course no one was forcing me to write this way, but after submitting the first two chapters, I could sense that the book I was writing and the book they were expecting were as similar as Koreans to Papua New Guineans. Yes, I’d titled the book Solving Africa but let’s be serious, were they really hoping I’d provide solutions to Africa’s problems? All I wanted to do was jabber on aimlessly about my travels around Africa. Sure, I’d slide gems of wisdom in there if they somehow lost their way and strayed onto the page but it seemed I was expected to tell fun stories and come up with ideas based on my many interviews with young Africans. If I kept trying to write that great book, I would end up not writing at all.
So to save myself from becoming an utter failure (my biggest fear in life), I’m going to write another book. Of course I’m secretly harboring hopes that I’ll write brilliant stuff and become wildly successful. But this time, I’m working hard to keep my neuroses at bay. I’ll just keep writing as stuff about the trip comes to mind. I’ve also decided to write from my blackberry. If it feels like I’m sending a text message, I might actually keep writing. It seems to have worked this far.
So let’s talk about this new book. It won’t have pithy nuggets of wisdom. It will probably be riddled with very lame attempts at humor. It will be honest. It will be short. It won’t be heavily researched to show you just how much I know about the countries I visited. Everything you read in these pages will be what I learned on the trip. Disclaimer: I’m a big wuss. I didn’t go after any major adventures. I don’t drink much if ever so clubs and bars aren’t my scene. I am desperately extroverted (under the right circumstances) and I love hanging out with sober people. I consider a good conversation quite intoxicating and will gladly forgo sleep, food, or other such prudence if a good conversation is at stake. So, you will find that several scenes in this book consist of people talking. Fortunately or unfortunately, there will be a lot of me doing the talking. If you’ve already tired of hearing me talk, now would be a good time to put down this book. If you’ve decided to stick it out here’s a map of the next hundred or so pages: I’ll tell you how I decided to go on a trip around Africa; how I got the money to do it; and some of the best stuff I learned from visiting Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria. In that order.
Here goes….
Mate, go ahead with it. Let’s judge after you’ve written it. It’s still a noble & interesting plan. It would be great to hear about your travels and the views the people you’re meeting around the continent, to then give a conclusion or a leading into the possible ways of solving or reducing the innumerable problems that Africa faces.
Dear Jr, this “New map” is what I was expecting all along! I’m glad it didn’t take you too long to realize what we are waiting to read is your personal account and not some research theories. The title “Solving africa” is one to keep I think…
All the best!
Warm regards,
*One of your fans and cheerleaders*
Hi Junior,
All I can say is, DONT GIVE UP. If necessary, read up again on some trusty bible passages of Faith (i.e. Exodus 4). The fact is, God has brought you to the point and place that you are now, and you can be sure He will get you through it. But first and foremost you must trust in what He demands of you (not your agent or your publisher).
If I could share some of my own perspective, I have always felt that a critical purpose of the SolvingAfrica project was to bridge the gargantuan divide that seperates the western world, and perspective, from the “African country”. In a sense (as well as essence), my expectation was that your journey would give voice to the millions of personal and oftentimes tragic stories that are lived by so many Africans, and yet, because of their particular positioning and ethnicity, a realm of narrative that would perennially escape the most entrenched western journalist. In my mind, I envision you making a similar journey as Coehlo’s Santiago who searches out seeking truth and through the stories he encounters AND the risks and adventures he takes (from listening to his heart), discovers the ultimate treasure of his personal legend, the pride and prosperity of his people’s collective voices and empowered solidarity. I don’t think people expect to see a laundry list of proposed solutions, but I think the most valuable insight you can provide to the non-African world is an honest and sincere portrait and personal narrative of the true diversity of the souls and spirits of “the modern black folk” and allow the audience to become receptive to true alternatives to Solving Africa by first challenging their unquestioned assumptions about “helping” others versus empowering from within. If you are unsure of specific goals, questions, or objectives, consider the possibility of using this experience to develop what you might view as specific “cases” as in The African Case Study, or feel free to email me again when you have a chance so that we can have a more detailed discussion about your journey. Until then, I wish you a safe passage with all of God’s Blessings my brother.
Take care and Godspeed,
Keith
kmartinez915@gmail.com
O Jr,
Don’t worry, it will be great, i firmly believe this(like i told you when we spoke in Lagos). There is a way you get your reader to experience what it is you are feeling or seeing. You create a palpable vision in you descriptions. I am really looking forward to reading anything and everything you write!
I have found that when I focus too much on winning or succeeding, i don’t. But when focus on giving it my best, and enjoying myself in the process, although i may not necessarily win(most of the time I do though), i feel the certain peace that comes with contentment, and i feel happy.
That said, know that God did not bring you this far to leave you…so DO NOT give up!
I for one am looking forward to read this book!
Looking forward to the book! I write too in my blackberry and ipod – so thats a great start….just keep writing as things come to mind…you will finish and it will be great!!