![]() Onuigbo Rachael is a writer, natural skin-care consultant, and fitness coach. She won the 2015/2016 My Rainbow Books writing competition and is currently writing a memoir. She is an ardent reader and loves classics, young adult fiction, and thrillers. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found at the gym, sweating it out and coaching other people who want to lose weight or making tutorial videos to show how you can use natural products to treat a lot of skin issues. Rachael was also a mentee in the first cohort of the Sprinng Literary Movement Mentorship Programme. Connect with Rachael Below. I started writing at a very young age; little things here and there. I wrote animal stories on pieces of paper and sold them to my friends for ten naira: to buy sweets. I remember my mum getting angry at me many times because I was always tearing pages of paper from my books and asking her to buy a new notebook too soon. Writing was my hobby. When I was twelve, my dad, who meant the world to me, died from cancer. The pain I felt then is something I still hope to put into words, someday. I was devastated, and because there was no one I could talk to, I did a lot of internal screaming. I raged at God and the world and myself, wondering how the person I loved the most could leave me. ![]() On one of those days I felt as if the hole in my heart would grow big enough to swallow me, I cut out paper and wrote. I can’t remember how many pages of paper I used, but it felt good. It was like the paper was my friend; like it understood me and was saying “tell me all you want. I’m here. I’ll listen.” More than anything, that was what I wanted: someone to listen to me. I was tired of all my internal screaming and writing gave me a voice. Writing became my passion. Many people may never experience the peace that comes with laying your words bare on your paper, mobile notepad or wherever you prefer to write on. I’ve stopped trying to explain to people that writing is not just “that thing I do.” Writing has defined the person I am and each day; I rediscover a new nugget of myself that I tucked away for whatever reason. Facing opposition is common in creative professions. People that want to be writers, designers, painters, musicians, dancers or anything creative have to put in double the work for people to take them seriously. I can’t speak for other parts of the world as I’ve never been, but in Nigeria, a lot of people will take your creative work as a joke until you become successful (and this success is always by their standards, never yours). I have to admit that it gets exhausting trying to show everyone that you are not delusional for wanting to be an artist and yes, it is an actual job you love doing. My mother would always tell me that of course, I could write if I wanted but I should never forget I was going to be a doctor and that required more attention. So, I kept a lot of my literary achievements from her. I didn’t tell her when I started a blog, when I got featured in a literary magazine, when I won competitions, or when I wrote my first book. Maybe I should, but I’d be honest and say I’m not exactly ready for whatever reaction she may have. Often, I am asked: “Why do you write?” It used to be difficult for me to articulate my reasons, but now, I am armed with a response. Writing saved me; it was the one constant thing in my life at a time when everything else was falling apart. So, I write to let out all the voices in my head. I write to create, feel, and experience. I write to travel to different places, be different people and live a thousand lives. Writing gives me the opportunity to tell my truths, and because there is no judgment in words, I am allowed to let out all the things I am afraid of when I write. I bleed my thoughts from my fingers because like air, I need words to survive. To me, writing is a celebration of life. I pen down words and make my stories immortal so that when I’m gone, my works live on to show that yes, I was here. I lived.
24 Comments
Favour
3/11/2018 03:34:03 pm
This was such an inspiring read. I love the truths the author shared and really hope to be able to speak my truths one day❤
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:31:09 pm
I love that you were inspired by the post. And one day, you'll definitely speak your truths ❤
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Sanni Oluwatimileyin
12/11/2018 11:27:34 pm
This is more than inspiring!
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:33:49 pm
I'm humbled you think so. Thank you!
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Alewi Aderonke
15/11/2018 01:13:47 am
"Writing gives me an opportunity to write my truth" what a great statement and what a great writer. This is really awesome.
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:35:49 pm
I learnt to speak my truths when I decided to make my fears alive through my words. Writing is a gift I'll always cherish. Thank you for your kind words😊
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Simi_words
15/11/2018 07:31:05 am
As a writer, I can totally relate. Writing is me but becoming successful in Nigeria is pretty tough but I am not going to stop because it's either writing or nothing at all. Great post.!!
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:36:55 pm
It might be tough but don't you ever let that slow you down. We keep writing, we keep creating!
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Seunayo
15/11/2018 07:37:05 am
I bleed my thoughts from my fingers because like air, I need words to survive. I totally get this. ❤️
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Rachael
1/12/2018 10:01:33 pm
It's not everytime someone gets my writing so I really appreciate this!
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Ifeoma
15/11/2018 09:23:59 am
I have always been shy and introverted. Writing gave me a voice when I thought I didn't have any. I love her story!
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Rachael
1/12/2018 10:02:53 pm
When spoken words fail you, written words come to the rescue. Thank you for reading and loving my story!
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Gabrielina
15/11/2018 03:37:34 pm
I must confess that this is beautiful. I was moved at every word. Writing is one of the most powerful tools that exists in the world. Just like you Rachel, I write to stay alive. I pen down my thoughts and I feel relieved whenever I do so.
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:43:03 pm
And one word at a time, we'll live a little better, shine a little brighter as our words set us free. Thank you!
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Alozie Evans
16/11/2018 06:22:50 pm
At times life willl do all in its care to make you wanna back out. It will make feel laid back for making a particular choice to your career path. But this Racheals experience has just helped me to trust the process and not people. Now i can keep being in writer for legacy sake and not just as an addition to my title or achievement. I will keep doing this because it a calling. It's a gospel I must preach with every ounce of my blood until these muscle cant move a pen.
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:45:29 pm
Excatly! Most of us don't write because we want to but because we need to. And we continue to preach our gospel through the stories we tell. Don't stop writing!
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Uduak
17/11/2018 12:44:36 am
Reading Rachel's piece has done two things for me:
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:50:39 pm
Hello Uduak,
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Rachael
1/12/2018 10:06:13 pm
*Thank
Kaosisochukwu Aghadinuno
18/11/2018 11:42:04 am
Inspiring read.
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:51:17 pm
Thank you!
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This is very inspiring and I know exactly how it feels. I have always written to release thoughts I don't want to tell others and those I believe people around me would not understand. Every word in rachael's piece had me nodding and I am glad writing healed you. Well done and keep writing.
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Rachael
1/12/2018 09:52:49 pm
I'm really happy you could relate to this piece. I don't stop writing, not anytime soon. Thank you so much for your kind words🖤
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13/1/2019 03:34:16 pm
Wow. This is amazing. I love how you explain what writing is to you. It sounds poetic in itself.
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