The Interview - E. K. Ndanguzi

When I was eleven I started writing a story, planning to complete a whole children's novel. Midway I gave up, overcome with the fear of failure, not knowing if I could ever get it published and if anyone would ever bother reading it. As an adult, I learned that fear is the only thing standing between me and my dreams (and that I can publish books independently on digital platforms). I decided to write this novel (my debut) even though the idea terrified me.

I think you should write all ideas down for future reference but stick to the project first.

I like writing about characters who come to their own and overcome something that is holding them back.  I believe the most important thing an individual can achieve in their life is breaking the shackles of conditioning and trauma to achieve their purpose in life, Often, the heart nudges one in a direction that is perhaps scary and unconventional so I enjoy exploring characters that eventually gather the courage to face their demons and say, "bring it on!". I think any main character requires attention to give the reader a realistic mirror of what goes on in the hearts and minds of different types of people. Human beings are complex creatures with "good people" doing bad things and supposed "bad people" doing good things.

1. I write one sentence summarizing the story
2. I expand that sentence to four sentences which effectively  summarize acts 1, 2, 3, and 4
3. I expand the 4 sentences to four paragraphs
4. I then expand the four paragraphs to four pages. At this point, I have a good idea of the main characters
5. I write a summary of each main character, describing their physical features, their aspirations, what is holding them back (what they fear), what they need to do to heal, etc. The characters then help me write the story
6. I write a summary of the scenes in Excel following the structure of Goal-conflict-disaster and then reaction-dilemma-decision. The average length of each scene is one thousand words so I can also roughly plan the length of the novel based on this
7. At this point I can start writing the 1st draft guided by the scenes summary. I may change things in the story based on what my heart (or any character) is telling me at any point.

I like to read novels by Fyodor Dostoevsky and Teo Tolstoy to learn. I love the depth of the writing, character arcs, as well as their understanding of human nature

I enjoy explaining the source of pain because shining light on it is effectively the start of healing. I imagine the aha moment a reader gets when provoked to reflect. I find this very satisfying. This is the fuel.

Yes I did. I have managed a satellite internet company overseeing marketing, admin, and strategy in Tanzania. Jonathan, the protagonist, works in that industry  and the story is based in Tanzania

In many ways, I identify with the main character. The story is fictional but the lessons in it are lesson I learnt through different experiences

Jonathan faces his demons to become his best self

The specific takeaway I would like readers to have from my book is the realization that most decisions we make in life are based on unfounded fear. We have a survival mechanism that focuses on "what can go wrong", "what has gone wrong in the past", "the worst case scenario" etc. This survival instinct served our forefathers well when we lived in the jungle but now it's creating illusions of danger, to keep us "safe". These illusions limit what we can achieve and the quality of life we can lead. Your best life is truly outside your comfort zone

I am not sure if this is unusual but it's my writing process. I got it from a writing coach's blog (he came up with it) and it was the first time I had ever heard of it. It resonated with how I like to think so I grabbed it. It's called the snowflake method.

1. I write one sentence summarizing the story
2. I expand that sentence to four sentences which effectively  summarize acts 1, 2, 3, and 4
3. I expand the 4 sentences to four paragraphs
4. I then expand the four paragraphs to four pages. At this point, I have a good idea of the main characters
5. I write a summary of each main character, describing their physical features, their aspirations, what is holding them back (what they fear), what they need to do to heal, etc. The characters then help me write the story
6. I write a summary of the scenes in Excel following the not-so-unusual structure of Goal-conflict-disaster and then reaction-dilemma-decision. The average length of each scene is one thousand words so I can also roughly plan the length of the novel based on this
7. At this point I can start writing the 1st draft guided by the scenes summary. I may change things in the story based on what my heart (or any character) is telling me at any point.

I always like to view criticism as "the universe" sharpening my skills and teaching me to become the writer I was supposed to be. That said, I also know that what I write may not be for everybody so I look at criticism as objectively as possible and pay attention to what I feel is constructive. One of the first things I did when I started writing was to constantly remind myself to EXPECT criticism as much as praise and not take any of it personally.

If you want to become a writer and you are struggling with what to write, write your story. It does not have to be exactly what you have experienced but you can create a plot and characters that explore similar pain, lessons, and triumphs.

1. "We then become like mirrors reflecting to each other illusions we have created, which we act and react upon."

I believe creativity comes with relaxing the mind. The mind needs to shut up for inspiration to pass through so I may take a walk or practise mindfulness

Yes I did. Fireflies represent self-illumination, transformation, attraction, positivity, simplicity, and self-awareness. This aligns with the main message in the book

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Another novel. I cannot give a timeline

No I do not

I have always wanted to be an author. I put it aside because it looked like an impossibility to me until I gathered enough courage to go for it.

Nature or the beach silences the mind allowing inspiration to flow, so those two places are my favourites. I was lucky to live near the beach when I wrote this novel. I sometimes wrote at home because of the time of day (very early morning when it's quiet)

I prefer silence when writing.