Compared to previous years and previous years shortlists, this latest commonwealth shortlist for both the story prize and the book prize is a slap in the face of Nigerians. I really don’t want to believe [...]
Apr 242012
Myne
Oct 202011
“So did you miss me?” he asked. Dunni studied him for a moment and then thought; what the hell! She didn’t know why he was here at this point but she probably wouldn’t see him [...]
Oct 182011
Dunni couldn’t remember when she’d had to creep around like this. She’d thought her job was stressful, now she couldn’t wait to get back to it and leave this Nigerian drama behind. The memorial service [...]
Sep 222011
“Stop this, mama. I can’t listen to this anymore. Stop it!” “You stop it!” Her mother snapped, springing to her feet. “I can’t believe how ungrateful you’re being. So many single girls of your age [...]
Sep 192011
The sound of the switch as the light came on woke her. Dunni stretched, blinking blearily in the harsh fluorescence. The sound of music playing in the background did not help the small scrimping at [...]
Sep 072011
“Monty is the byproduct of war, not the actual occurrence, but the usually silent yet brutal aftermath that haunts freely as it achieves untold mental damage. The initial setting is a picturesque refugee camp where [...]
Aug 162011
“You never answered my question,” Mary said as she took one of the beef rolls. “What was that?” With images of a toothy, mischievous grin filling her mind, Dunni couldn’t remember what question Mary was [...]
Aug 152011
Loud music and the smell of dried fish filled the air, and Dunni tried not to sneeze as she hopped over a pothole the size of a ditch. They were on their way to what [...]
Aug 132011
As the group waded across a shallow stream filled with rocks in the climb to the pool, Dunni missed her footing and nice smile was suddenly beside her. Forced to take his hand to keep [...]
Aug 122011
Dunni had to stop herself from turning and glaring at the aggravating man again. It galled her that he had managed to find out her name when she didn’t know his. What an oaf! She [...]
Aug 102011
A bent-over, rounded female was the first thing he saw once he entered the clearing, as the owner arched her back, about to dive into the Olumirin pool. Babs walked closer, bounced once on his [...]
Aug 092011
“D-a-m-n,” Dunni said in wonder and regret when she noticed that the rudimentary ascent to the Erin- Ijesha Waterfalls was beginning to level out. Covered in moss, the broken up blocks that made up the [...]
Aug 082011
I have started writing my third novel and will be sharing excerpts here for your incisive feedback. I would appreciate comments on how realistic the characters are, do you like them, are they sympathetic? And [...]
Jul 192011
Hey Myne, I know someone who is self-publishing a novel and I was wondering if you have any advice for her? I would classify her book as “teen fluff”, and I mean that in the [...]
Jul 052011
INTRO These posts are reproductions of some emails and FB messages I’ve received since being published. I hope you find my replies useful and I’ll take further questions in the comments. I’ll also appreciate those [...]
Jun 192011
Book Title – Ada’s Daughter (356 pages) Author – Jacqueline Maduneme Publisher/ Date – Pointed Arrows (May 2011) Genre – Memoir (Dysfunctional Families) Reviewer – Myne Whitman Source – Review Copy from Author The memoir [...]
Jun 172011
August 2010, Dear Myne, Congrats on your one year anniversary, it actually looks like I’ve been reading Myne Whitman for like 3 years, I have been meaning to ask, how do I go about being/learning [...]
Jun 112011
Hello Myne, I’m a fan of your blog and your writing. Lately, I realise I have many ideas that I’d like to write down but can’t seem to be articulate. I remember a previous post [...]
Jun 062011
So I often receive emails from various people. Some of the mails are just to say congrats, ask where they can get my books, and so on. But a lot of the emails are usually [...]
May 172011
First Published in the Vanguard Newspapers, Sunday May 15, 2011. As the Nigerian International Book Fair began in Lagos, Nigerian born but United States of America based writer and book promoter discusses how the new [...]
May 102011
“When did you start writing?” A Heart to Mend had been published, reviews were trickling in and the interviews quickly followed with their questions. The easy answer is that I started writing as a child [...]
Apr 212011
I had friends who texted, emailed, and called me all the time. My mother and my sisters also visited and stayed with me at different points in those first six months. They were my support [...]
Apr 192011
Four days after we broke up, my ex moved out. That was three days earlier than he said he would. That day I had come back from work to see that he had started moving [...]
Apr 172011
My ex was my first real boyfriend. I met him when I was twenty-one and in my third level in university. I was doing my internship with a bottling company and he was an Engineer [...]
Mar 022011
“Zube, come on, it’s break time.”
“I don’t want to go.” Twelve years old Zube shrank in his seat and looked up through the corner of his eyes at the person standing above him and gesturing. Ike was turned sideways, one leg already turned to the direction of the door.
Feb 042011
This was one of the recurring questions at the last meet up. Every story you write needs to be edited before they will be published here. This also goes for other material you may want [...]
Jan 302011
Before you start writing your novel, do you outline? How do you work in your characterization, especially for the main characters? This worksheet was developed by Jody Hedlund, an author herself, to help novelists visualize and realize the protagonists, in order to have, not only a well rounded MC but also a consistent one.
Nov 262010
Listen to a review of The thing around your neck, and The Road Home, two books about the immigrant experience. KUOW Seattle interviews Myne Whitman on her thoughts about leaving home and settling in a new place.
Nov 212010
In my experience of writing, especially the way it is done these days, being a writer is not such a solitary work anymore. Previously, a writer suffered over their books alone and when it was [...]
Nov 142010
Writer’s Block is something that we as writers frequently pass through. You’re writing and suddenly, the words stop coming. These are words that seemed to flow from the tip of your pen earlier, rushing through [...]
Nov 042010
As most of you know, Naija Stories was set up based on my experience writing my blog and publishing my book, A Heart to Mend online. I felt I had something to offer as a [...]
Nov 012010
Our Featured Writer for the month of November is TheBeautifulTruth. Her story, Nnamdi, got the highest views in the month of October. TBT has also previously won Best of the Month in July with her [...]