Archives: O3W

Here’s something I wrote way back when…

Author’s Note:
A bit of context. I stumbled on this creativity class thing in 2020 (yh, that year) and we were given a challenge — to write a creative piece in exactly 300 words.

Tbh, reading it again, there’s some mistakes in there, and I’d probably craft something a little bit better now, but I wanted to keep it exactly as I wrote it.

This write-up got me invited to write for a little competition later that year.
I didn’t win it 🥲, but it was fun to try out, and I’ll drop that write-up next.

Have fun.

:::Overthinking 300 Words:::

So, FJ asked me to write a 300-word article for an assignment and well…it wasn’t easy.

First off, who demands exactly 300 words?
What if it’s 298 or something?
What do I do, add a mic drop?

Anyway, the write-up could be about anything, anything at all. It was like a no holds barred match between me and my thoughts. You’d think that would make it easy, and I could just whip something up and be all “Mama, we made it” by lunch, right?

WRONG!

I was instantly thrust into a torrent of topics and themes; every idea I thought to try dumped a deluge of what-ifs and how-abouts. There were so many options I was crippled trying to chase the perfect one.

To find some sense of direction, I checked FJ out on IG and saw this two-paragraph piece he wrote. I was actually impressed. He managed to beautifully relate the potential and limitlessness of writing, within the limitation of two paragraphs.

Perfect wording!

So, here’s my 300 words, telling the struggle of 300 words, because as a friend might say; sometimes you gotta be a Nike brand ambassador and Just Do It!

I’m not gonna allow myself to run off overthinking, cause all that does is cripple me of the potential of my writing. It’s like I’m trying to perfect the finished product before I even allow myself to start making it. Of course, planning is important, but c’mon, don’t cripple yourself into losing the thrill of spontaneity.

“Thinking is NECESSARY, while overthinking paralyses you with fear”
- @thelagosajebo

Look, circumstances won’t ever be perfect, so stop waiting. Don’t wait for things to fall into place, push them! Quit overthinking that thing you should’ve started 11 months ago and become a Nike brand ambassador.

Just Do It!

Mic drop!

Author’s Note (Hi again):
Yes, I literally wrote about writing the thing I wrote, while writing the thingy.
I’m so meta😎.

Jokes aside, this one still nudges me to lean more into enjoying the flow of artistic pursuits, rather than trying to come up with the perfect thing on the spot. This post itself was started during the week, and I’m finishing up at 3:40AM on a Sunday morning, jamming an album I stumbled upon tonight, just cause I happened to be up right now (don’t ask me why abeg, I no sabi).
BTW: Consider checking out the Era of Light album by Jo Deep, if you like choir-style, alternative-ish vibes. It’s a vibe.

I know this wouldn’t be the greatest thing I ever write.
I hope this wouldn’t be the greatest thing I ever write. God abeg.

But I think it’s worth retrieving anyway. It’s part of my story, as a multi-talented hooman bean, and the act of writing is worth it in itself, even if I’m doing it mostly cause it’s a good thing to try.

PS: This thing has a sequel btw. Check out After the War