Graciano Enwerem (Grrraciano) set to release two spoken-word Audios

Tables are set for the 21st of this month as Graciano a household name in Nigeria spoken-word industry will be severing everyone with two spoken word audios.

In case you don't know Grrrraciano; Graciano Enwerem {Grrraciano} is a Spoken Word poet, writer and teacher. A graduate of English and Literary Studies, Imo State University. He's the winner of War Of Words 3, YouPoetry Slam, 9 times winner of Sea View's Poetry Challenge, Winner Of War Of Words Online slam 1 and cofounder of Figures Of Speech {F.O.S.}, the first online creative group on whatsapp. He's been proffered so many awards which include the SPIC Most Outstanding Achiever Of The Year, 2014, IFA's Atonisona Of Poetry Award, 2015, Creative Writers' Association of Nigeria's Literary Critic of the Year and was also voted the number 1 poet 2016 at the EGC rankings.
He's that poet that will get laughing that your own stupidity. With his hilarious yet thought provoking works.

On the 21st of this poets all over the world will be celebrating World Poetry Day, that same day, Graciano will be dropping two poetry Audios: "12 Million Nonsense" and "What Nigerians Want".



"What Nigerians Want" by Graciano Enwerem is one of the most hilarious satirical poems of all time. It ‘mimics, yet reminisces’ almost all the very funny kind of prayers most Nigerians say. Nigeria, being a very religious scene that hollas, like the proverbial Cinderella, is captured in this poetic audio as a country whose sense of humor is limitless as it extends on to the kind of prayers her citizens most likely say. This poem amassed 10-10-9.5 points in the first round at War Of Words 3, a poetry slam organized by i2x Media in Nigeria. Veekthur the LyricPoet, one of F.OS.'s finest lyricists is featured in the audio content.


"12 Million Nonsense" by Graciano is one of his most popular poems that made waves in 2014. The poem is a satirical spoken word piece that explains the uselessness of National Conference held in Nigeria as at March, 2014. The poem, "12 Million Nonsense" got a perfect score (10-10-10) in the final round at War Of Words 3, a poetry slam organized by i2x Media and till date has remained one of the fans' favorite of all Graciano Enwerem's poems. We gathered that MTN subscribers can SMS 046502 to 4100 to get it as their ringback tunes.

17:49   by Unknown ·   0

How To Start A Blog For Writers (continued)

This post is the continuation of the post How To Start A Blog For Writers

*Improve discoverability:
Make sure each post is categorized and tagged, at minimum. If your blog platform allows for it, adjust what title, description, and keywords are attached to your post for search engine optimization (SEO).
To Grow Your Readership
Update consistently and on a regular schedule.
Frequently link to relevant blogs, resources, and sites.
Try out a series or weekly feature.
Interview people who interest you. Run Q&As.
Comment on blogs/sites that have some relevance to your own blog.
Allow readers to sign up for e-mail or RSS delivery of your posts. (Try Feedburner if this functionality is not already baked into your site.)
Always post links to each new post on your Facebook page, Twitter, etc.
Offer to guest blog for others. Provide them with even better content than usual.
Be patient.
The No. 1 Rule to Grow Readership
Offer great content. Period. Check this post for a wake-up call on all the advice I’ve just offered you: Are Blog Best Practices Bullshit?

Now back to what today is about.


You must have asked yourself this question, 'Where You Can Start a Blog for Free?'
*Though i use Blogspot but I'll recommend WordPress. You can use WordPress.com (with limited functionality) for free. When you’re ready to have your own URL/site, you can install the WordPress content management system onto your site, and seamlessly import your WordPress.com content.
*Tumblr: I heard this one is Great for visual and multimedia stuffs
*Blogger. Owned by Google and still very popular.

Here is the summary of each Blogging platform and the goods and bads of each one :

WordPress.com

Price: Free
WordPress.com allows you to store your site’s content for free on their servers. However, this means users receive a limited version of the WordPress software. Still, it’s a nice choice for hobby bloggers who don’t want to invest money. It’s also a good option for people who plan to upgrade to a self-hosted WordPress blog in the future.

Goods:
No set-up costs.
Simple to use; no coding or design knowledge required.
Hundreds of themes to choose from.

Bads:
Functionality is limited unless you pay for upgrades.
It looks less professional.
You do not technically own your blog, which means you have little control over advertising revenue. It also means WordPress can suspend your site at any time.
Your site comes with .wordpress in the domain.

WordPress.org

Price: Free software;just $3 per month for hosting.
A self-hosted WordPress blog is one that uses the WordPress software on a third-party server. With it, you can install plugins, edit your HTML code, and more, giving you full control over your website while making it look more professional. A self-hosted WordPress blog is usually the best way to go for anyone willing to invest a couple of dollars per month. It’s ideal for business owners, professional brand builders, and any blogger looking to expand their site’s functionality and professional appearance.

Goods:
User-friendly with full control and customization options.
Access to over 1,500 free themes and 20,000 free plugins.
S.E.O friendly options.

Bad:
Hosting on a third-party server can require some technical knowledge, but most hosts (like Bluehost or
iPage) offer quality technical support.
Due to its popularity, WordPress is vulnerable to security threats.


Blogger

Price: Free
Blogger is owned by Google, you’ll have access to Google tools like AdSense, Analytics, etc. However, Blogger is not nearly as flexible as WordPress.org. This platform is great for hobby bloggers and brand builders who don’t want to invest any money but may want to make some money through ads. Since it is easy to use, it is also a great platform for beginner bloggers just learning the ropes.

Goods:
Completely free and easy to use.
Can place AdSense ads.
Access to HTML code, so there are more customization options.

Bads:
Fewer themes and storage space than WordPress.com.
You cannot self-host, so your blog is dependent completely on Blogger’s current offerings.
Your site will have .blogspot in the title.
To make it look professional you need basic html knowledge

Tumblr

Price: Free
Tumblr is easy to use and is a very social platform. This is the perfect place for bloggers who like the idea of “reblogging” posts. Its platform is best for microbloggers, so it’s perhaps not the best place to start if you are looking to develop long-form content.

Pros:
Unlimited storage.
Approximately 1,000 themes to choose from.
HTML and CSS access for customization.

Cons:
Backing up your blog and importing your content from other platforms is difficult.
There are very limited plugin options.
It is tough to monetize.


TypePad

Price: $8.95+/month
TypePad is a good platform for business professionals or brand builders who don’t mind investing some money every month into their blog. That price can pay in delivering more features and a more professional-looking site. However, most people will still tell business bloggers to choose a self-hosted WordPress platform due to its large community, but TypePad does have its advantages.

Goods:
They host on their servers, but you own your blog.
Unlimited storage space.
Easy to use.

Bads:
It costs a few dollars more per month than a self-hosted WordPress site.
Customization options is somewhat limited.


The free options are ideal for novice or hobby bloggers who is not ready to invest any money while the paid options are better for business blogs. Choosing the right one depends on how you want your site to function. Which platform do you think you’ll choose? Tell us in the comment box let help you get started!

02:21   by Unknown ·   0

1 Day Drama Workshop for Community Artists and Social Workers in Lagos

March 5, 2016
Saturday 10:00 AM
Lagos
Etal Hall & Hotels,Opp. John Holt Plc,Kudirat Abiola way, oregun,ikeja
Lagos, Lagos

EVENT DETAILS
1 DAY DRAMA WORKSHOP FOR COMMUNITY ARTISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS

Playback Nigeria's CEO and Social Artivist, Oluwadamilola Apotieri-Abdulai (@damilola_a) recently concluded 3 professional certification courses in Playback Theatre organized by the International Centre for Playback Theatre in the USA. During his stay, he worked with 2 major leading Playback Theatre organizations in the United States, True Story Theatre (Boston) and Playback Memphis where he was privileged to share experience and skills with different communities in the US. On his next visit to Nigeria, Damilola who is the first Nigerian Applied Drama practitioner would be facilitating a drama workshop for 20 upcoming and interested community artists, esposing them to his unique type of theatre which is new and rare to the Nigerian community. Major focus at the 3 hours workshop would be on ‘Learning through Play, Drama Games, Improvisation and Playback Theatre’. Participants are encouraged to come with flexible outfits to move freely and may bring snacks to share. Venue would be sent to shortlisted participants


LINKS:
Event details at http://eventbrite.com

Event details may change at any time, always check with the event organizer

06:56   by Unknown ·   0

How To Start A Blog (for writers)

Today's post is for writers totally new to blogging, about to start a blog, or feeling uncertain with their current blog.

Questions to Ask Before You Start: i said this in yesterday's post)

*What will distinguish your blog? *What’s your unique angle? Most successful blogs have a very specific angle, topic, or audience.
*What is your purpose?
*What are your goals?

(The more time you spend blogging, the more value you build for readers over time)

There is one problem: You need patience; you must be willing to commit to blogging for more than a year ( I told you i started Blogging in 2013 I regret not taking it seriously then It took me this long to find my voice and the niche that I felt most strongly about, where I believed I had a unique contribution to make.)
One more thing before you start a blog, you need to think about who’ll send you traffic. Identify the notable community players, the people who you’ll build relationships with.


The important Components of Your Blog
Aside from the blog posts, there are other things you need to put into consideration. your blogs needs to have the following:

*Header/banner + tagline:- This will tell new visitors what your blog is about and what they stand to gain from it.

*About page or bio:- i will not advice. A writer who cares about fame to blog like i do( Anonymously,I am sure not every of my readers knows my true i dentity) it is always good to tell your readers more about the person behind the writing. Don’t make them search for this. I recommend creating a separate and detailed page that also includes contact information.

*Calendar or archive. New readers on your blog may want to look around in your blog. Make it easy for them to do so. I'll advice you to create a sidebar that tells readers what your most popular posts are.

*Comment box: With an easy-to-use comment system you will grow your blog and build strong relationships. Major blogging platforms (like WordPress) can help your comment system with an automatically eliminate spam activity.

*Sharing functionality. Make it easy for people to share your posts on Facebook, Twitter (or just about anywhere else) through plug-ins like
AddThis.

*Readability. If your blog or site is meant to be read, then don’t make readability hard by making the text too small, too tight or white type on a black background. Also Be aware that to many pop-ups, ads, or bad layout can also block readability and drive readers elsewhere.

Now For Each Post (put these suggestions into consideration)

*Improve your headlines. Ask yourself this questions:
"If people
saw ONLY the headline (On Facebook or Twitter), would they feel compelled to click on it? Is it specific?"
Is it intriguing or provocative?
Does it offer a benefit?
Is it timely or relevant?
Why will people click on the headline?
Remember, Sometimes that is only thing some people see when they’re surfing online.
Improve your readability. Consider adding more paragraphs,
*bulleted lists
* numbered lists
*images
*subheadings
*quotes or whatever it takes to make your posts more attractive. Reading online is not the same as reading offline. If your post is very long, consider breaking it up into a series. [This “rule” gets broken all the time successfully, but it requires the right readership and great content, among other things.]

(I was gonna say to be continued when that came up) So tomorrow we will continue with "How To Improve You Discoverabilty" And How To Chose Your Blogging Platform"

Thanks for reading :)

remember to comment and share.

www.aboutfreelancewriting.com

04:38   by Unknown ·   0

Why Every Writers Should Own A Blog

I started blogging in the year 2013. Then i started it because i just want to own a blog(not a good reason) then i was not sure if i should take writing as a career. In 2014 created another blog Then i just want to own a writer's blog(a good reason with a bad approach) then i was sure writing is what i want to do. The blog failed in 2014 because all i do is post my works without sharing the posts(lack of marketing strategy)

Now before you start a blog there are few questions you need to ask yourself:

*What will distinguish your blog? *What’s your unique angle? Most successful blogs have a very specific angle, topic, or audience.
*What is your purpose?
*What are your goals?

(The more time you spend blogging, the more value you build for readers over time)

There is one problem: You need patience; you must be willing to commit to blogging for more than a year ( I told you i started Blogging in 2013 I regret not taking it seriously then It took me this long to find my voice and the niche that I felt most strongly about, where I believed I had a unique contribution to make.)
One more thing before you start a blog, you need to think about who’ll send you traffic. Identify the notable community players, the people who you’ll build relationships with.

Now back to the topic. Why every writer should own a blog. I will be using myself as a case study

Blogging helped me find my calling. If I had started earlier, I would’ve gotten published in magazines faster and would’ve written more books by now.
Reason? Because blogging taught me how to practice, how to edit, and how to write for a deadline. But even if it didn’t launch my writing career (which it did), I wish i started Blogging earlier.

Here are the reasons why I wish i started Blogging earlier
1. Blogging teaches you discipline. Having to sit down once a day or once week and write is an important skill.
2. Blogging teaches you self-examination . Blogging has helped me understand myself and my place in the world.
3. Blogging gives you a voice. We all have something to say, even if we don’t think of ourselves as writers or speakers. A blog gives you a place, free from censorship and criticism, to express your mind and find other people who connect with what you believe.

In this generation where we can reach the world without having to open our front doors. When we can publish ourselves and share our best thoughts with the world: when we can step onstage at an open Mic event (Arthub, chill and relax and many more) and reach a lot of people or post a video on Youtube that gets shared on another continent or write a blog post that touches just one other soul.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level start a blog now.

Ok you need help starting you blog don't worry i will be dropping post on Blogging (strictly for writers) for the next few month

Image:
www.verticalresponse.com

01:56   by Unknown ·   0

Artwork For Sale

Artist: Temidayor Ayeni

Title: Light in life

Size: 38x35 inches

Medium: Oil on canvas

Date: 2016

Contact: 08066600122, 08175558689

Price: will be discussed

13:36   by Unknown ·   0

Call For Submission

THRESHOLDS International Short Fiction Feature Writing Competition seeks non-fiction submissions (750-2,000 words) exploring the life of a single short story writer or personal recommendations of a particular collection or short story. 

1st Prize of £500
 2 x Runner-up Prize of £100.

Entry is  free. 
The winning and runner-up feature essays and shortlist will be published on the THRESHOLDS Forum during 2016. Submit by email to thresholds@chi.ac.uk.

 Full contest details can be found here.

 Deadline: March 6, 2016

01:35   by Unknown ·   0