Posts Tagged ‘#validation’
A tweep and blogger called @EGichomo has began a blog, and by extension, a reading appreciation campaign called My 5 Links. A blogger basically shares a lists of his/her own 5 posts in 5 pre-determined categories. They then nominate 5 other bloggers to do the same. So far @EdGicovi @Wamathai and @Woozie_M have tagged me.
Therefore in keeping with my crazy fear of ‘chain mail curses’ *ahem*, here goes nothing…
My Most Popular Post:
This is a tough one because I gauge a post’s popularity by (of course) comment love etc but also by the feedback that I get outside of the blog. By that measure, One day I wrote for the LA Times Magazine ranks the highest. As the title suggests, one day I did write for these very cool guys. It was really short, 30 words but getting my byline in a major publication was humbling and a huge pat on the back. And when I met the band members after and they said how happy they were with the ka-review I was satisfied that I had indeed ‘told their tale’ in a fitting manner, 30 words notwithstanding.
Post that Didn’t Get The Attention It Deserved
For selfish reasons I have decided to thrust my list of Best.Beloved.Books up in your faces because my birthday, August 30th is exactly 30 days away! Ha! And also to highlight the fact that literature has that amazing quality of ‘ever freshness’ and longevity. The written word shall never die and shall never run out of style. It will continue to heal, mend or break (where need be) and I just want to share once more some of the books that have stayed with me over the years….Also the birthday thing 
Post Whose Success Surprised Me
I can vividly recall the day I wrote this. I was in my office with some free time on my hands and on the final leg of a break up. I’d just gotten around reading The Little Prince, a gift from a wonderful friend of mine when I opened a Word doc and just started writing this silly little story. The result was Twinkle & Shine, my first, and honest to God, unwittingly written children’ story. I though it was a silly little post but people actually liked it! I’m glad. Interestingly, making the illustrations was the fun and therapeutic bit.
My Most Controversial Post
Ha! That’s an easy pick. Sweetie my %$#@^&* was me and my maddest! It caused trouble that post, but in the aftermath I still stand by my words. I hope they reached the right ears.
Post I Am Most Proud Of
Quick info bit. This blog is now 1 year and 6 days old. Yaaay.The truth is, for years I hated the idea of blogging. I thought it was too self-absorbing and very confusing (to a great extend both remain true) however, I have come to enjoy it immensely. The post I am most proud of is my first one Hello World which until I dug up from my archives I had assumed I had saved as ‘M.A.P’ *face palm*. Thanks to the hidden hand of Fate that led Buddha Blaze and Wamathai enter my life that one year and probably 2 weeks ago, I have a place to share my wacky thoughts over the Interwebs. Reading through that post again reminds me of how far I have come and all the enthusiasm, fear and love I still hold in my heart.
Thank you for being witnesses of My Ambitions and Perspectives.
I hereby tag
@anyixbaby
@soul_fool
@wambuiwairua
@edwinbaru
@wanjikumwaurah
This is how it happened….
Last month LA Times Magazine requested UP Magazine to recommend a Kenyan band and track for their June 2011 music issue. They wanted between 30-50 words describing both the band and the song. My boss felt that this was right up my alley since I handle all things Arts & Entertainment at our lovely magazine 
As soon I got the assignment I visited their website to see what ‘vibe’ they go for, their house style and to fulfill my curiosity. A few clicks in and I was taking huge gulps…this was a big deal. These guys don’t play! My best writing had to come through.
I tend to be long-winded so banging out 30-50 words and being absolutely accurate is quite the challenge. So I sat down and listened to the song ‘Forever People’ and wrote down the emotions and catch-phrases it brought to mind.
They wanted the review ASAP and I remember coming into the office on a Saturday morning to get the work done. So about five drafts and lots of dictionary checks later, I sent the article off to my boss then proceeded to bite half my limbs off.
He finally got back to me in the evening and gave me his tweaks in person as the team was running around trying to put up a stand at an event we were co-sponsoring. I went home, sat my tush down and sent my boss a text telling him I’d email the article the next day. He sent back a reply saying that I should send the article to the LA Times peeps that very night.
Walalala!
But buoyed by the confidence of two frantic phone calls made to friends and a small Hail Mary, I wrote the article on my message box then attempted to copy-paste it into my work email. Yeah, I don’t have a personal computer, well I did, bit it went bust 
then it was too late to go to a cyber, so a girl had to be resourceful!
For some strange reason I could not access my work email so I had to send via my personal email address beginning with a long intro explaining who I was etc. Then just as I click to send, the email bulks, refusing to accept the CCs I added. SMH.
Well, suffice to say I did eventually send my 30-50 words and here they are…slightly edited though, but because they kept everything I wrote, I am doubly-proud.
Read the post here
I’m expecting a few visitors to my blog this week. It’s my turn to host the lovely writers, poets and great thinkers mentioned here. Be kind, read twice hehe and have great discussions with them about their work. The theme is ‘alter ego’ and if they paint insane images of themselves, forgive them then dash to their blogs and see what they are really like!!!
Anyway I have some exciting news to share. A few months ago I responded to a request for submission of works of poetry, prose or other writings for a special issue on JENdA, a peer-reviewed journal on culture and African women studies. The editors were seeking submissions that focused on African women and their experiences. Well a while back I had shared on Wamathai‘s blog a short story I wrote called ‘I SHALL NAME HIM HAWI’, a story about a pregnant teen coming to grips with her situation.
I’m very proud and humbled to share that my submission was accepted and can be found here…
There is a subscription charge of $25 to access the particular issue and archives. JENdA journal is not a magazine. It is an academic, peer-reviewed e-journal that is widely read by professors, scholars, and students in universities and colleges around the world.