I have never experienced
writer’s block
By THERESA ONWUGHALU
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
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Amenawon Odewade
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Having once worked with Julius Berger Nig. Plc, Chams Nig.
Ltd. Logic Sciences Nig. Ltd, and also the Federal Inland
Revenue Service until 1995, Mrs Amenawon Bridget Odewade is
a woman of experience and virtue.
She is the author of the book entitled, The Virtuous Woman
which has just hit the market. Mrs Odewale, who marked her
44th birthday while presenting her book to the public last
week, is the founder of Mustard Seed International Schools.
She is a serving Minister, the youth coordinator as well as
women counsellor at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries
(Caaso Zonal Headquarters), Alagbado. A graduate of Auchi
Polytechnic, Auchi, Mrs Odewade is happily married to Deacon
Adeleke Odewade and blessed with five children. She speaks
on how she writes.
Background
I am from Edo State and I was born in Ibadan 44 years ago.
My mum is still alive but I lost my father in 1984.
The book, The Virtuous Woman
The book is an extension of my ministration to women and youths
at different levels of womanhood. A virtuous woman as a young
girl, as a spinster, woman, as a wife, mother, mother-in-law
and as a grand mother. In a nutshell, the book is about how
a woman could relate with every other person in her environment.
Writing is my calling
It is a special callig from God. God ministered to me. He
also touched the lives of people around me. Also, my husband
encouraged me to write. He called me one day and said, "You
are a virtuous woman, I know you have a flair for writing.
Why don’t you put your experiences into writing?"
Writing The Virtuous Woman
To be able to produce a book of good quality, it is of utmost
necessity to get the assistance of distinguished people in
the appropriate fields. In the process of writing The Virtuous
Woman, I made extensive consultations with the Holy Spirit,
highly rated Christian authors, pastors and women leaders.
Other influences
The book is influenced by my experience as a wife, mother
and as a daughter-in-law.
How I write
I write as I am inspired to. I do not write progressively
from the beginning to the end. I write according to my thoughts-flow
at a particular time.
Writer’s block
I have never experienced writer’s block. The inspiration
doesn’t cease. In fact, right now, I am still inspired
to write. So, I have started writing another book about the
youth. I have never had a block. You know, when one has a
special calling, the idea will continue to flow .
References
Although I ws inspired by God, I still read other books and
I used them as reference materials writing.
For upcoming writers
You can’t say you want to write if you don’t have
the love for it. If the inspiration is not there, you would
not do a good job. But if you are inspired by the Holy Spirit,
you see it flowing and the Holy Spirit will direct you to
some books that under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t
have read .
When I read
The right time to write is when you’re inspired. You
would go ahead and write it. There are times, you would like
to sleep and the inspiration comes suddenly, to add to what
you are working on, quickly stand up and write. That is what
I have been doing. As a writer, you should always have a note
and biro with you. I carry them around.
Best place to write
I can write anywhere. There is no convenient place for me
to say it must be that place before I write. I write wherever
the opportunity comes to write. If you have your inspiration,
I advise you go ahead and write it anywhere and anytime don’t
wait for a convenient place. Whether it is convenient or not
just do the writing.
Writing hectic or not
I wouldn’t say writing is hectic. Because it is my calling.
I find it easy to write. It is quite exciting.
Militating forces against writing and production of a book
The writing and production of a book in an unfavourable environment
that is characterized by gross infrastructural inadequacies
is an uphill task. Epileptic power supply, dearth of relevant
research data and library facilities, poor reading culture,
coupled with high cost of production are few of the factors
that militate against the conception and birth of a new book.
Mentor
Mrs Bimbo Odukoya of blessed memory inspired me. Her books
and her way of life especially, with youth inspired me.
Books read
I love reading and I keep a library of books. I read anything
but I prefer reading Christian literature to any other.
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