Students of Alliance High school were excited to participate in a creative writing workshop for budding writers held on the final day of the Thika Book Fair.

The workshop on 2 February at the Ananas Mall was the culmination of the three-day book fair that attracted various exhibitors that included  eKitabu, the Smart Mind, Nuria Books, the Presbyterian University, St David’s schools, African Ink, and S3 Education. The workshop aimed at instilling in the students the necessary skills of writing and business.

The afternoon workshop had several speakers lined up, including Tony Mochama, Martha Oyuma and Muthoni wa Gichuru. They did not disappoint as they made the event successful and fun. Tony and Martha focused on the topic of business and how to invest, together with how to manage finances, while Muthoni focused on the tips to become a good, professional writer.

What made the workshop more interesting was the curiosity of the students and their eagerness to learn. There was active participation, with students standing in front of their peers to present a poem they had composed or a story they had written. From the presentations, the speakers corrected the students and gave them key pointers to help them make their stories and poems better. Every opinion from the students was accepted and they were given the platform to express themselves.

Muthoni explained what the students needed to do to become good writers, spicing her talk with her personal experiences as a writer. Her main emphasis was what makes a story unique. She advised writers to conduct enough research and infuse empathy into their stories, in addition to avoiding clichés and preaching. In order to use rich vocabulary, she advised the students to become good readers. She also advised them to consider inclusion of everyone in society, for example people living with disabilities. 

“It was very interesting for me to learn about what inspires people to write and the thought process behind writing, and basically how to deal with various challenges that face writers in Kenya,” said Brian Musau, a student.

Financial discipline

Tony’s and Martha’s speeches emphasized financial discipline as well as awareness, the importance of seeking knowledge, the channels of wealth, and money markets. It was an eye-opening session for many of the students and teachers. 

“I learnt about finances and I am certain that the knowledge will be of help in my life as an adult. I’m almost turning 18 and I am going to have to look for money at the end of the day,” said Shadrach Towett, a form four student at Alliance.

TThe excitement of the students was evident as they exited the venue to go back to their school. As they went around the stands to buy books later, it was clear that they knew exactly what they needed following the guidelines from the workshop. “I assure you they have a lot to put into practice and implement. They know the value of writing and it is not in vain as they will be able to express themselves through writing,” said Benedicta Kimalel, their Writers Club patron.

At the end of the day, it was evident that everyone was looking forward to more events of the same nature for the students. The future looks bright and hopeful in encouraging young upcoming writers.

Edith Temba is a correspondent for Books in Africa. Email: editemba5@gmail.com