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Essays, Writers

Chronicles Of A Pen Journey by Chukwuemeka Mbam.

  Just as Shakespeare wrote, “to be or not to be that is the question”, it is what we’ve chosen to become that defines us from what we are not. A fair repose, a tranquil imposed. It is a fact that our objections do place a chain on our feet and cause us to stumble. Day after day we recoil into our souls, as gloomy as we perceive the weather or blossom like pollinated flowers as bright and wide as we perceive the weather. It was just about October in the conflicting year 2020, just on the third day. I had a brief conversation with the convener of the Cmonionline weekly contest. It was a hearty discussion punctuated with understandable discussion and occasionally paused for civilized but merry laughter. The man on the other end of the phone struck me as unique – spectacular if you chose to say. He spoke with great knowledge, his manner of speech gave him away as enlightened, optimistic, philanthropic and naturally tough (the finesse of an Igbo business tycoon) We spoke at length about an initial matter and then he swung his lamp upon the essay competition. I am not a sucker for most online competitions and I sometimes feel most online contests are mere tools for popularity and grandiose by ambitious conveners, but the manner with which he spoke made me feel convinced that he wasn’t just any convener. Sifting through his words later that night, I perceived a man that was passionate about raising the next generation of the finest African wordsmiths He was ready to beget anything, ready to work without earning anything, ready to give without asking anything in return and ready to help without being heard – a trait rare amongst regular Africans. On the 9th of October, drunk in high hopes and a sprinkle of scepticism, I submitted my very first essay to the mail of the admin of the platform. Two days later, my essay was published on the social media handle and the judges gave my work a good review, though I didn’t win. I plunged in on week seven like a kingfisher would upon a fish. My fingers punched keys angrily and my mind sped in and out of quarters, trying to meet the deadline by all means. Well, perseverance won and I was crowned champion of the week, a fair result with great reviews from the judges about my piece and others. I was elated. Though I don’t submit my essay consistently as the weeks roll by, I have been able to steadily register my presence whenever I created time to be a part of the honour. Truth be told, the platform the Cmonionline contest has created is a legacy that must be upheld. Great succour to budding writers, consenting to provide nutritious ink to the famished pens of writers that have come across the platform. When I sit in front of my PC, straight-faced and optimistic, running my fingers like marching soldiers on my keyboard, trying to conjure into words my feelings, hurt, joy or opinion (depending on what the occasion demanded) into the acceptable form, I silently give thanks to God for a platform of this kind. Before I write on any topic, I take out time to reminisce over them. I let the questions come to my head. Do I feel a personal connection with this topic? Do I think I have a story that befits this topic? How does this topic affect me as a person? Which side am I on? Questions like this immerse me into the rivers of researchers, clearing my doubts, learning and relearning. Fanning my hunger… For knowledge and truth. Parching my thirsty throat… To be satisfied with the waters of premium and enlightening content. Then, when it did write, I read my essay to myself. I don’t know why. I have a feeling that I wish to reaffirm to myself if I truly believe and accept what I had penned down. If my writing would speak up like me on a sunny day, or seal the truths, just like me still, on a rainy day. I write and I win. I write and I still win. No, I never lose. Just as my grandmother made me know when she held up my hands to her face and traced the lines on my palms. “Heaven has made you big Nnam, you are never to fail because you don’t know what failure is like.” I take in with gratitude the resolve of the judges and celebrate in my little way the winners of each week. I teach people how to pen their thoughts too and I am glad to see young persons falling in love again with this legendary art – the stuff that created nations and dissolved chains. Cmonionline has been a most consistent platform. Growing from rewarding one winner weekly to generating a space for one more weekly winner with the same award. As a participant in the contest, it would be ungrateful of me to keep myself away from writing unless I wish to earn. Every ink upon paper leaves a legacy Every scribble tells a story. Of the blissful and of the distasteful sides of life. Just as we write to win the contest, we should also write to win posterity to our side. Tell our own story, birth books and leave a mark. Every writer on this platform should strive to write more aside from the contest and read much more to attain versatility. The blog should make provision for a comment box at the end of each published essay so that readers can bear their minds after every read. I equally beckon all participants to endeavour reading through the essays of another, that you might add more ink to your pen and understand more about your view but from a variant perspective. This contest can touch more lives if we decide to as well form a community on Facebook, where

Essays, Writers

A Passion For The Pen by Mene Precious.

From the chirping of the birds to the lion’s  roar, from the swaying of trees to the walking of people, from the rising of the sun to its setting and from the colour of the blue sky to the colour of the green grass; there is always something to write about. I have come to realize that I have  been captivated by the pen. When I sit, I write,  I stand, I still write. It has become and is my biggest motivation in life. I watch the television and I really have to inscribe what I have heard and seen in a book. I let my emotions flow through those white, blank pages. You can tell my mood from my writings. Even in school, I have made it a routine to write on almost everything I see; from the buildings, to nature, to lecturers and their attitudes, to fellow students, life in the dormitory. I have this special book for my write-ups that I call, “Mene’s Cornucopia of Ideas”. Sometimes, my parents and siblings are annoyed  and agitated.They ask, “Must you write everything” Well, it falls on deaf ears because I strongly feel I was born with a pen in my hand. It is my passion. It is my life. On my part, I have always admired Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie and many others who accomplished great feats by writing. I so much love Chimamanda Adichie in particular because she is a female (like me). To become like these great writers, I have made it a point of duty to improve on my writing skills by reading a ton of books. (I can consume a library!), listening to audios on different subject matters and by writing and writing and writing. I also follow different writers-both home and abroad via social media and I follow pages that inspire and motivate writers. I particularly have a liking for pages that groom young, upcoming writers. Talking to my friend on this fateful day on Facebook, she asked if I write essays. Wow, I was thrilled and I could feel a chill of excitement run down my spine. I told her I could, but in essence, I did not just ‘can’ write esays, I love it. She then introduced me  to cmonionline.com which I believe is a stepping stone to greatness. Interestingly, I began to follow all their updates and wrote on some essays which disappointedly, I never got to submit. The essays are nice, detailed and structured in a way as to bring out the best in a writer. The fact that you choose a topic in line with the one outlined is mind blowing. It breeds and enhances creativity in writers and for me, it helps me play with words. To be honest, I commend the cmonionline.com team for their unwavering efforts to bring out the creative and  writing genius of every writer. Cmonionline.com is a praiseworthy platform and the benefit they give their winners is horrific. As an upcoming writer, I like to pour out my ideas and watch them connect together. Cmonionline.com has given me the liberty to do this and I am grateful for that. I also enjoy trivial games and questions posted on the page which open my mind and improve my reasoning capabilities and capacity. The platform has been doing quite well and in my opinion, I would suggest the following to further better the platform I suggest that the Cmonionline.com team should create more awareness on their contest via their platform and also through the media. This will go a long way to reach the unreached and open the eyes of the blind concerning their writing contests. I know that there are a lot of ignorant people out there who will like to participate to develop their skills in writing. Also, it can keep individuals busy; rather then chatting on social media, they could be pre-occupied with the task of writing. This will go a long way in improving the literacy of our nation especially the youth. The fact that there is a monetary bonus attached to it will surely, in some way persuade them and boost their morale. I also suggest that the site on the platform (especially  for submission) be improved and updated owing to the fact that many people do write but never get to submit probably due to subscription issues. As a writer and also a contestant, I believe everyone desires to be acknowledged for the efforts they have put in and to this end, I suggest that consolation prizes be given to writers of essays that were deemed good enough but did not attain the rank of “the best” Who does not love a little competition for a much bigger prize? I believe everyone does and to this end I suggest that previous winners on the Cmonionline.com contest be engaged on a wider platform to compete against themselves and the media (television, radio) can be involved in this. This will encourage the writers and also push and motivate others to write too. It is my earnest desire that these suggestions will go a long way in making Cmonionline.com a new haven for young, great, inspiring writers. To every writer out there, I would like us to know that we are all winners; chosen or not. They say, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step”. We have just taken a step, well may be a few and Cmonionline.com has been a laudable platform so far. As we have begun, let us keep marching to greatness as we imprint our footmarks in the sands of time. Furthermore, I wish to appreciate the Cmonionline.com team for all their relentless efforts towards writing. These efforts are indeed to be appraised and commended. By not just encouraging writers, you also ignite the spark in them to write more and be the best they can be. I sincerely hope and pray that your goals as a team will be accomplished

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