"WHAT I SAW AS MY RESULT WAS THE BIGGEST SHOCK OF MY LIFE" - IFEOLUWA

 

NCB: I'm Eniola. I'll be the one to conduct tonight's interview.By the way, how was your day?

FYB: It is nice to meet you Eniola, I am Ifeoluwa. Let’s have it then, my day was fine, how was yours?

NCB: I like the "let's have it" energy. My day was good, not so much activity. Let's get to know you, miss or Mrs Ifeoluwa

FYB: No problem and by the way, it is Miss and not Mrs. I am Ifeoluwa Olalere, a part four student of the department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University. I am a storyteller/ writer. Also, I am a big fan of novel.

NCB: Wow, a writer. For someone like me who is fascinated by the art of creative writing but has never been able to pen down anything. I'm really interested in having this conversation with you. How did you start this journey of storytelling?

FYB: My storytelling journey is actually funny. It started last year around June. I have always known that I have a lot of imaginations going on in my head but on that particular day, I decided to write something down and weirdly enough, people liked it so I then decided to make something more out of this hobby of mine. I think you will make a good writer though.

NCB: Really? I’m actually interested, its not just happening.

FYB: Let’s make it happen o, it must happen by force.

NCB: Amazing, So far, what's your take on creative writing. Also, what are the things you didn't know before but now know about ? I'm more than ready to glean from your experience.

FYB: I will be glad to share a bit of my experience then. For me, creative writing is not as easy as people make it seem or look. Yes the imagination is there but it takes more than that for you to be a good creative writer. 

In fact I would say creative writing equal consistency and perseverance, learning and relearning along the way but in all, it is life itself. Imagine getting to pen down your though in a realistic manner!

I wish I knew about how much preparations I should have made when it comes to consistency and battling writers block. Also knowing information on how to go about it so that my work would reach more people would have been really nice also.

NCB: Hmm! Consistency and perseverance, learning and relearning. In summary, creative writing may seem like some fun thing to do on the surface but it's deeper than it seems.

FYB: Yes, much deeper than the normal thought of it even though at the same time, it is simple

NCB: Hmm, I love this, " ... though at the same time, it is simple." We'll get back to this in a bit. Let's talk about writer's block. Can you recount a particular time you had to battle it?

FYB: Writer's block for me is not really a regular occurrence but I can remember a particular time I had one. It was not funny.

I had to complete a particular story I was writing, there was deadline and then, sitting down with my pen and paper, there was nothing to write about. 

From morning to evening, I didn’t even get an idea of how to continue since it was a continuation of a story I had written before. It felt funny but it wasn’t at all. I missed the deadline by the way and it was awful. I didn’t get inspired until two days later.

NCB: Omo, that must have been quite sad.

FYB: Very sad in fact but we move right.

NCB: I want to know, how come creative writing is simple and at the same time tasking. Seems like some complicated stuff.

FYB: Simple because after the block, I started to study more and then realized that in fact, although I wasn’t getting any inspiration to write, everything around me at that time could have been picked up by me to be a source of inspiration down to the tiniest bit.

Tasking because when you don’t know the right way to go about it, it is like en endless fog. No beginning, no end. You will know you have it in you but still you will find it difficult to know your way around it. I won’t say I have my way around it that much yet but at least, I am not where I was before. Everybody can imagine but how you put those imaginations down is what makes a difference.

NCB: Wow! With these few points of yours, I think I will consider not giving up on creative writing .

FYB: No problem, the sky is the starting point.

NCB: Let’s leave the subject of writing for now. I have a feeling you’re from Ibadan. Am I correct?

FYB: I am. I didn’t mention it.

NCB: Ei...Eniola, you’re too good.

FYB: How did you know?

NCB: Leave that one just make sure you attend my services. I'm opening a church soon.

FYB: The Lord is your strength but me, I have church already. I will be praying for you in the spirit. 

NCB: How was growing up in Ibadan?

FYB: Growing up in Ibadan was fun at the same boring kind of actually. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed growing there but being there all my life made me tired kind of at one point.

NCB: I get that feeling. Did that in any way contribute to choosing to study in OAU?

FYB: Yes it did. I never wanted UI for any reason! I wanted to at least leave and see what's in store in other places. You are doing like you are from Ibadan right now.

NCB: I'm from Lagos actually. How has OAU been so far? Give us a glimpse into your experience on this campus.

FYB: OAU is great; I love the fact that I have been able to create permanent bonds and memories. Coming here has made me have a lot of interactions with people for someone that sees communication with others as a hassle.

Also, I have learnt on various occasions here that things can’t always go your way and that all you have to do is just pray for grace. My experience so far has been worth it but still, I am actually tired and just want to leave already. Enough is enough!

NCB: Ahahan, don't be tired o, E for Energy. I know you'll love to come back here for your masters degree.

FYB: You and who? please leave me alone for now, the Lord has not said anything for now. Energy is gone.

NCB: Ah! Gone too soon Energy. Do you have any fond memory of when a particular thing didn't go your way and do you mind sharing it with us?

FYB : Well, there are a lot but I don’t mind sharing one. It was a result this time😂. After reading like my life depended on it and then writing the exam very well, what I saw as my result was the biggest shock of my life but we move sha—that’s all I will say.

NCB: Do you think it was the "English department effect" that happened there? I hope you get what I mean.

FYB: Well, that I can’t say but all I know is that God is in the story regardless! ‘They wan shame us, he no shame us’.

 NCB: Thank God. What are you most favourite and least favourite courses?

FYB: Anything grammar, my hatred knows no bound but anything phonology, I love till eternity.

NCB: Wow! When some of my classmates see this interview, they'll question your choices. Na only us fit understand. 

FYB: I know it is funny but phonology for me is the best! It won’t stress you or confuse you!

NCB: Nice, I was going to conclude that you chose English because you're a writer but I realized that you started writing not too long ago. Why did you choose to study English?

FYB: Very simple, I wanted something with no mathematics so I could get my peace of mind but no one told me that I was deceiving myself.

NCB: Do you know that sound like "it will do you like a dream"?

FYB: In fact the dream refused to end at one point but by force, it will!

NCB: Apart from writing, what other extra curricular activity do you engage in?

FYB: I like to dance even though I am a terrible dancer but who cares right? Also, I run a confession community. Does sleeping count too? (lols)

NCB: Wow... looks like we have a lot in common but I am sure you are better than I am, trust me.

FYB: We are in sync then, we are the best

NCB: What does that confession community entail?

FYB: People confess(tell a secret or what is bothering them) whatever it is anonymously while I post it for my community members to give a piece of advice. Nothing much.

NCB: Nice. What do you think of your classmates, especially the male counterparts?

FYB: Truthfully, I do not know most of them but the few I know, they are amazing people. Even the guys are cool people, at least, the ones I have talked to.

NCB: Okay

Are you in a relationship?

FYB: I am not.

NCB: Hm! First FYB to be straightforward with answering this question. On a lighter note though.

FYB: I am straightforward. No cap.

NCB: That's a good one.

NCB: What would be your advice for junior colleagues in the department?

FYB: Read and leave the rest to God abeg, it isn’t that deep.

NCB: Noted ma'am 

Any shoutout?

FYB: To my parents for supporting me so far. To my friends for being amazing. And to my classmates, we all made it.

NCB: I love the positivity. We've come to the end of this interview session.

FYB: Thank you.

NCB: Thank you for making out time to talk to us.

FYB: Wow, it was really a nice one.

NCB: We at NCB wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

FYB: And thank you for your time too, it was really nice conversing with you. Thank you NCB, for having me.

NCB: Thank you.