On Saturday, July 27, 2019, Witty Writers’ World held the maiden edition of Writers Converge at CFTD/Alliance Française Ibadan. The event was created to bring writers and other creatives together to share ideas. It was open to poets, spoken word artists, authors, scriptwriters, fine artists, and everyone with an interest in creative work.
One of the ideas behind Writers Converge is that no matter how long we have been writing or what area of creativity we have chosen, there is always something more to learn. Sometimes, that knowledge comes from books. At other times, it comes from sitting in a room with people who share similar interests and listening to their experiences. Writers Converge 1.0 gave us that opportunity.
A Different Look at Writer’s Block
One of the major sessions at the event was facilitated by Mr Samuel Ayoade Amazing, and he shared an interesting opinion about something almost every writer has probably complained about at one point or another: writer’s block.
According to him, there may actually be no such thing as writer’s block. He suggested that what we call writer’s block could be better described as “thinker’s block.” A writer may become stuck while trying to develop a particular thought, but that does not mean the person has suddenly become unable to write. You may not be able to continue with that particular idea, but you can still write about something else.
In fact, writer’s block itself can become something to write about. It was an interesting way of looking at a familiar problem, and the session gave participants a lot to think about.
Making Poetry Easier
We were also privileged to have Mr Ebika Anthony, President of Poetry Enclave Ibadan, with us.
His session helped us approach poetry in a simple and relatable way. Poetry can sometimes seem complicated, especially to someone just getting into it. The session showed that it does not always have to be that difficult. Participants had the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and learn from people who have spent time developing their craft.
More Than Just Writing
Writers Converge 1.0 was also an opportunity for members of the creative community to meet one another.
Writing can be a very individual activity. Much of the work happens between the writer and a blank page. Events like Writers Converge give us the chance to leave that personal space for a while and meet other people who understand the process. There were conversations during and outside the sessions. People met other writers and shared experiences. For us at Witty Writers’ World, it was exciting to see creatives come together for something we had spent time planning.
And for our first Writers Converge, we could not have asked for a better experience.
Here are some moments from the event.
Witty Writers’ World – Where Writers Grow and Words Matter.