The Writing Journey
Every writer has a writing journey, which has many mini-journeys. For many writers, the writing journey does not end unless the writer has transitioned to the land of yore.
The Journey Question
Many people have asked me (like any other writer) about my writing journey and why I still write even in mid-life. Sometimes I do not know the reason or reasons. But there are many reasons I write. Can we summarise the reasons into one? Yes, we can. The single most important reason is that writing affords me space and freedom to be myself and express my ideas, beliefs, and convictions (uninhibited) about how I see the world.
My writings are the gateway to my soul, spirit, and me.
Writing is about expressing oneself through creativity. That is why writers speak to people through their writing. affords
Many people have an exciting writing journey. But like with every journey, there is always a beginning, the journey, and the end.
The journey starts somewhere.
Start of the Journey
I have been writing since I was a small child (like many other writers). First in my mind through imagination, and then translating the images into words. This was way before I started school. My maternal grandfather (God rest his soul) kept a diary he wrote every day, and I wanted to be like him.
As a small child, I was mesmerized by what he was doing without fail every afternoon. He did explain what a pen was and what paper was, and later he showed me how to write and the importance of writing.H
He was keen on my education. He did not want me to be like my grandmother, who could not read or write. A situation that frustrated him when he was away from home in Burma (today Myanmar) fighting for the British Empire in 1945. He could not write any letter, including a love letter to his wife, without other villagers knowing the contents. Someone had to read for her, hence, as long as he was away, there were no secrets between the two.
When he came back to Kenya, he moved and lived in Mombasa. But whether in Burma or Mombasa, home is home. He returned home, joined the liberation movement — the Mau Mau — the movement agitating and struggling for Kenya’s independence, and later became the political representative for our local region.
My grandfather could not fathom a situation where I would live a life dependent on other people. He emphasized that dependence was enslavement and freedom is essential in all aspects of life: political, economic, thought, action, etc. He knew there were no negotiations about freedom. He wanted everyone to be free and insisted education played a significant role in one’s freedom.
So my writing journey had started.
Also, like in most rural African homes, story-telling was a way of life in my home. In the evening, as we gathered around the hearth waiting for food to cook, our parents and grandparents told stories, mainly traditional folklore. These were the evening classes mostly meant for instilling cultural values. Parents and grandparents took such opportunities to be bold with their offspring.
Stories from beyond the writing journey
It was not only folklore; I also had the advantage of other stories. My grandfather was a great storyteller—stories about the war in Burma, Mombasa and the Great Ocean, Nairobi (city in the sun), and all other places he had traveled to while not at home.
He told me stories about the Mau Mau Liberation War. Occasionally, he allowed me to sit next to him as he and other freedom fighters reminisced about their experiences in the jungle fighting for freedom and the course the country was taking. These were not ordinary people. These were the high-ranking Mau Mau leaders.
My grandfather was a political representative and held many discussions with the other political leaders in our home. During such meetings, I was the uninvited guest. Today, when I think about those opportunities, I shudder. I am eternally grateful for that.
In all the meetings, my grandfather took the minutes. He wrote the names of those in attendance, the discussions, and the agreements. This inclusion was impressive to me. Probably, that is why I write.
The newspapers
Every day, my grandfather bought a copy of the only Kiswahili newspaper, Taifa Leo. He read the newspaper for me. Also, we had newspapers in English. My uncle was an ardent reader of the Daily Nation, Times Magazine, Reader’s Digest, etc. The old newspaper copies found their way to our village from Nairobi. Since in the early years I could not read, I enjoyed seeing the pictures. A habit I still maintain to date, I first scan through a newspaper, enjoy the images, and then read the written text.
Books to read
I had access to books from a very early age. It was during the Cold War, the USSR (today’s Russia and others) and America were at loggerheads. My uncle had attended university in America, and the Kenyan political leadership policy then was primarily pro-Western; we were non-aligned. However, he had books on communism and socialism. Since it was a criminal offense to have any material on the two subjects, they were brought to the village, probably for safekeeping after reading the books.
There were many books, but there is one book I still remember vividly: The Autobiography of Mao Zedong. I could pronounce the name Mao Zedong, but not the word ‘autobiography’ then. In later years, I read the book when I could read, but somehow, the book got lost (can’t trace it). Such a loss!
The reading seed
I grew up on a diet of stories and story-telling, oral narratives, and written books. And the story-telling seed in me was planted then and has been watered over the years. I have many stories to tell.
Later in primary school, we were introduced to written stories as part of classwork. According to the education policy, children had to read and write using their mother tongue. My first book was Wirute Guthoma (Learn how to read). Mr. Gakaara Wanjau, a writer and book printer in Karatina Town in Nyeri County, Kenya wrote this book.
By reading this book, the myth of book writing was demystified. A person from my area had written books! I, too, would write books, and from then on, when I grew up, I would write a book.
Images to book
But when did I start translating my imaginary books in my head into words? Can I remember? I think I can. I started writing my first book after completing my O-levels as I waited to join my A-levels. I had exactly two months of free time: December and January. What can a girl do with some free time?
What had happened? In the previous four years at O-Levels, I had gone through very intense study sessions, culminating in the O-Levels national examination. There had been a lot of reading and writing (storybooks and course texts) as part of the curriculum. There was also a lot of writing. I loved all subjects, but my favorite subjects were mathematics, history, and Christian religious education (CRE).
After the examinations, I found myself bored at home with no more mandatory reading or writing. Since I loved reading storybooks, I continued reading any materials that I found. One day, as I watched the tropical sunset, I realized it was time for me to write. As the tropical sunset that day began, my writing journey was born. I rose from the seat and walked into the house. I picked up a pen and paper and started writing my first book.
I had finally found my passion — my life’s purpose!
After school
I have worked for many years. I write to demystifies some contents:
a. What to do about tax non-tax business, etc.
b. Solution to tax and non-tax business problems – information products.
Where are we today?
It has been a journey, but here we are. Many years later, I have published here on this website and elsewhere many complete and incomplete manuscripts. So far, I have published:
- Novels and novellas
- Short stories
- Children’s books under the Sahara Series and other children’s books.
- Self-help e-books
- Information products
- Tax e-books
- Tax question volumes
I am still writing. YES! Writing affords me the space and freedom to escape and just be me.
That is my writing story.
I encourage others to write theirs too.
Remember to visit our store and purchase an e-book, information product, etc.!
Thank you for your support.
Dr. Wakaguyu Wa Kiburi
(I.AM.I)
This is my book … among many other books …