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Items by Storymoja Africa

• March 15, 2010
• 0:30

  7 Ways to defeat Writer’s Block

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Everyone always gets to a point when they are staring at the blank computer screen, the cursor laughing at them in its blinky way, and they do know what to write next. That is where brainstorming is one of the lifesavers for writers.  As such, here are seven ways that may or may not help. 1. [...]
• March 12, 2010
• 7:30

  Story of the Week – Daughter of Man by Alex Mutua

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Daughter of Man by Alex Mutua Read it… Congratulations Alex! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. Go here to see submission guidelines. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors every month, so be sure to send [...]
• March 07, 2010
• 23:30

  Writing Science Fiction

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Do you harbor a secret desire to create alternate worlds like the Marvel Universe of Superman, Batman, Ben10, Heroes, The Rama Trilogy?  Are you an aspiring Science Fiction or Fantasy writer? Do you want to be the Kenyan or African writer who finally produces that really incredible SF or F novel or series that blows away [...]
• 12:00

  International Women’s Day 2010

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Each year around the world, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments and women’s groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues. Some [...]
• March 05, 2010
• 7:30

  Story of the Week – Insect Conversations by Marvin Tumbo

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Insect Conversations by Marvin Tumbo Read it… Congratulations Marvin! Would you like your story to feature here? Please  follow the rules below and you will be there! 1. Always double edit your work before you send it to us. 2. Use Times New Roman Font, with 1.5 spacing to make [...]
• February 28, 2010
• 23:30

  Simplicity vs Complexity?

   » ‎ Storymoja
  This Saturday, I read a piece in one local newspaper about a Menage-a- trois. I must admit that a few years ago, I would have felt completely confused by this; . How in the world can you possibly share the man or woman you love with anyone else and be absolutely comfortable with it. [...]
• February 26, 2010
• 8:47

  Story of the Week – Pains Shortlisted by Gideon Chumo

   » ‎ Storymoja
  It is a bit infuriating for this editor because she/he cannot compete for the story of the week! I would at the very least serve the role of the independent presidential candidate who caused a furore when George Bush jnr. stood(yes, direct from Kikuyu translation, arugamire ) against and won, who was it, the guy [...]
• February 22, 2010
• 13:45

  Blow your reader’s mind away.

   » ‎ Storymoja
  This editor has at certain times sworn never to read romance novels, the likes of Mill&Boon, Harlequin and so on. Truth be told the said swearing has been in the presence of a certain very harsh presence. Now I just admit to reading Bayou Murder Mysteries. But have you ever wondered why it is that [...]
• February 19, 2010
• 7:30

  Story of the Week – Chicken Crossing by Gideon Chumo

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Chicken Crossing by Gideon Chumo Read it… Congratulations Gideon! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors every month, so be [...]
• February 15, 2010
• 0:30

  Advice for the Young Writer

   » ‎ Storymoja
  The article below is borrowed from the Internet Writing Journal. It further stresses some of the things that we have discussed here previously. I am quoting it here just to demonstrate the wide resource of good advice and encouragement for the novice writer. As previously noted, not all advice is good for everyone. So, we [...]
• February 12, 2010
• 10:56

  Story of the Week – Spilt Milk by Steve Mwangi

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Well, there are 2 stories this week. The winner by vote is Spilt Milk by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa! Read it… But Spilt Milk has to share the limelight with the post that generated the most debate. Blogging in Kenyan Schools by Marvin Tumbo Congratulations Writers! Would you [...]
• February 08, 2010
• 0:30

  How to Apply Criticism and Not Lose Your Mind by Merrilee Faber

   » ‎ Storymoja
  How to Apply Criticism and Not Lose Your Mind by Merrilee Faber So you’ve sent your story out to impartial and honest readers for feedback.  The results come flooding in, and suddenly you are overwhelmed with pages of conflicting advice, comments, praise and condemnation, often all in the same critique.   How do you deal with this? [...]
• February 06, 2010
• 15:01

  The Man and His Goat Contest Winner is…

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Well, you have spoken, dear readers and fellow writers. So here, I am very pleased to announce the results of The Man and His Goat Writing Contest: The Second Runner-up is Paul Kariuki with Samuel Kinyanjui, Sammy to his friends. The First Runner-up is Peter Nena with The Goat from Hell. And the winner of The Man and his [...]
• February 01, 2010
• 0:45

  The Learning Process

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual. Arthur Koestler   The writer undergoes a learning experience with every piece of work they produce. The person who believes that they know it all closes himself off from the incredibly wonderful experience of learning, discovering, growing. And this [...]
• January 29, 2010
• 8:30

  Story of the Week – High Treason by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… High Treason by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa! Read it… Congratulations Stephen! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors every month, so be [...]
• January 28, 2010
• 9:31

  Young graphic artists and art directors – Win a Scholarship!

   » ‎ Storymoja
  After getting a ton of amazing entries, the winner of the first Rethink Scholarship was Jim Balakshin. He won a full two-year scholarship to Langara’s Communication and Ideation Design program as well as an internship with Rethink. Thanks again to everyone who entered. Rethink Scholarship at Langara is now calling for 2010 entries. We’ll be judging the [...]
• January 26, 2010
• 4:11

  Come and discuss Cut-off-my-tongue at Dass Tonight

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Cut-off-my-tongue rants, sweats and breaks into song and dancee as it explores the truth that shape us Africans; our beliefs, the way we behave and why.Woven with music and dance, Sitawa Namwalie’s dramatised poetry is moving and frighteningly honest. It is politics – and love – that bites as it teases. Come and discuss Cut-off-my-tongue [...]
• January 25, 2010
• 0:30

  Clear, Effective Writing

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Whether you are a new writer, or a seasoned one, it is always good to find out how other writers have fared before you. The internet is an incredible resource in this regard. True, you should not take every piece of advice as the gospel truth, but [...]
• January 22, 2010
• 16:01

  Story of the Week – 4 wheels good, 2 wings bad…

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… 4 wheels good, 2 wings bad and one ferry despicable by Waga Waga Congratulations Waga! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our [...]
• January 19, 2010
• 1:30

  Rich Possibilities

   » ‎ Storymoja
  The world of writing has always been full of rich possibilities. You can take the ‘rich’ in possibilities to mean either income, or opportunity. Now, as the world opens up with technological advances that have merged our world into just one global village, the possibilities have multiplied. True, there are limitations, time, money, ability, but [...]
• 0:30

  Story of the Week: Mortifying Mona Lisa by Gideon Chumo

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week, with an incredible record breaking 148 reader points: Mortifying Mona Lisa by Gideon Chumo! Congratulations Gideon! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our [...]
• January 11, 2010
• 0:30

  Learning from Yesterday

   » ‎ Storymoja
  We are back! I hope all of you enjoyed the holidays. For most of you it is back to the grind of being alive, in Kenya, with responsibilities. Truth be told, no matter what challenges we face, we love being alive, in Kenya, with our responsibilities. Sure things could get better, we could wake up [...]
• January 08, 2010
• 13:35

  Crossover by Chege Muchai

   » ‎ Storymoja
  As we await the Writers’ Blog of January 11th, 2010, here is a story to celebrate the Journey to real manhood. Crossover by Chege Muchai (<– Click on title to read it) There will be plenty of opportunities for all of you to showcase your work, as well as win Storymoja books, event tickets and even cash! [...]
• January 04, 2010
• 0:30

  All Time Favorite Story and Writer of 2009

   » ‎ Storymoja
  2009 was a great year was it not? In spite of some hard, and sad times that we all went through, personally or as a country, 2009 was a good year, and 2010 will be a better year! It seems that the larger number of readers at the Storymoja Writers’ Blog seem to be in agreement [...]
• December 21, 2009
• 0:30

  Story of the Week – Invisible by Reena Shah

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Invisible by Reena Shah. Read it here… Congratulations Reena! Storymoja Writers’ Blog is going on break for the holidays. We will be back on January 4th, 2010. Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work by January 1, 2010, in word 97-2003 [...]
• December 14, 2009
• 10:33

  Kwani SLS Reading With Storymoja Performance Of ‘Living Memories’ by Al Kags

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Summer Literary Seminars is happy to be returning to Kenya for the first time since 2006. SLS is a truly unique experience, a one-of-a-kind literary program that has hosted some of the world’s most celebrated and progressive writers (www.sumlitsem.org/kenya/). As part of the week-long events, Kwani? will host a reading/ performance for SLS Kenya [...]
• 9:36

  Man and his Goat Picture Prompt Writing Contest

   » ‎ Storymoja
  We had promised you that we would announce the winner of the Man and his Goat Picture Prompt Competition tomorrow Tuesday 15th December 2009. However because of the absolutely bad quality of the submissions we are – without shame because we represent the very best and are convinced that there are really talented writers out [...]
• 0:30

  Time…

   » ‎ Storymoja
  I’ll begin with a short piece I received titled ‘Kenyan Time’  from one Timothy K. Ndegwa. Najivunia kuwa Mkenya (I’m proud to be Kenyan) but this time I am a little embarrassed to associate myself with Kenyans. Fellow Kenyans, there is one way of telling time, by using the universal clock. But it has been proven through out [...]
• December 07, 2009
• 14:27

  Book Club Meeting – Every Day is for the Thief by Teju Cole

   » ‎ Storymoja
  On December 14th, 6-8pm, we are discussing “EVERY DAY is for THE THIEF“, by TEJU COLE- who is a Nigerian author currently based in New York. Teju has been a cartoonist, a dishwasher, a lecturer, a gardener etc. This is his first novel, which is based on a young Nigerian man who visits his country [...]
• 0:30

  Picture Prompt Writing Competition

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Just to let you all know that the judging is ongoing for the Man and His Goat Picture Prompt Writing Competition which closed on November 3oth. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, 15th December 2009, and you will all have a chance to read the 3 best stories. In the meantime, please go back and read [...]
• November 27, 2009
• 17:00

  Story of the Week – Surly Sally by Denis Kabi

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Surly Sally by Denis Kabi Read it here. Congratulations Denis! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors every [...]
• November 23, 2009
• 11:58

  Story of the Week – I am Dust by Steve Mwangi

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… I am Dust by Steve Mwangi Read it here… Congratulations Steve! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors [...]
• 0:30

  Your Brand

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals. (Don DeLillo)     That said, I concede that each one of us has his [...]
• November 16, 2009
• 0:30

  On this Day…

   » ‎ Storymoja
  This week’s blog is dedicated to Boniface Gachugu; writer, poet, friend and brother, who left us this Saturday 14th of November 2009. May he rest in peace, and may we celebrate the life he lived, by being ever stronger, ever better, ever truer, by writing more and more, because he was a man who loved [...]
• 0:15

  Story of the Week – Dear Mr. President by Denis Kabi

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Dear Mr. President by Denis Kabi Read it here… Congratulations Denis! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors [...]
• November 09, 2009
• 0:30

  Opinion Editorials

   » ‎ Storymoja
  I am going to begin this week’s reading by sending you all to an article that I thought was quite interesting. Please read it and keep the information you gather in mind as you submit your artistic pieces in future. Also feel free to share any such material that you find and feel would be [...]
• November 07, 2009
• 0:30

  Story of the Week -

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week comes from acroos the borders in Tanzania. Again. Sandra, you seem to be giving us quite some competition over here! Twas the Devil Read it here… Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more [...]
• November 02, 2009
• 0:30

  Constellations

   » ‎ Storymoja
  On Sunday night, when the entire country was plunged into a darkness that lasted five hours, I got a chance to go back to something that was my favourite past time when I was just a little girl. My mother did not believe in TV, and we lived in rural home that was quite secure back [...]
• October 30, 2009
• 11:15

  Story of the Week of October 26th- The Plate of Ugali

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week comes from acroos the borders in Tanzania. The Plate of Ugali Read it here… Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blog@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our [...]
• October 26, 2009
• 2:30

  The Man and His Goat – A Writing Competition

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Take a look at the image below: Write a 500-1000 word story inspired by the picture and send it to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. Storymoja will pay Ksh 1000 prize by M-pesa or Zap to the  most interesting story. Please mark in the subject of your submission email: Man and his Goat Picture Prompt Writing Competition, and attach in Word [...]
• 1:30

  Style – Your Use of language.

   » ‎ Storymoja
  What is style and how do you acquire it? Writing style is the manner in which a writer addresses a matter. It is the result of the choices the writer makes in syntactical structures, diction, and figures of thought. We all have a natural style. Style is simply the way in which you put words together [...]
• October 23, 2009
• 8:14

  Story of the Week of October 19th

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is … Judge Not by Munga G. Read it here. Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors every [...]
• October 19, 2009
• 1:30

  Your Theme

   » ‎ Storymoja
  When you are writing technical or business pieces, your theme is already quite defined. However, when it comes to works of fiction, a writer might find it a little tricky to define the theme of their work. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the literary term theme is “the subject of a piece of writing.” You [...]
• 1:17

  Story of the Week

   » ‎ Storymoja
  This week’s Story of the Week comes all the way from a Kenyan living in Germany. The first part of his story about learning how to drive was posted last week. The story continues in this week’s blog. Driving License 2. Look out for it. To read the Driving License 1, go here. Do you have [...]
• October 12, 2009
• 1:30

  Point of View

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Point of View (POV) is whose eyes the story is told through. First Person First person is the most intimate POV, because you experience the story from only one person’s POV. Since you are hearing the story through only one person’s POV, you will not know about any events this character does not know of and [...]
• October 09, 2009
• 17:00

  Story of the Week of 5th October

   » ‎ Storymoja
  This week’s story of the week comes from Malawi. Allow me to present Tears of a Mother by Nixon Mateulah Read it here Do you have any ideas about how to make your weekly reading more fun? Please send your suggestions to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke today. Join us here on Monday for the next batch of stories and be [...]
• October 07, 2009
• 12:48

  A MANUSCRIPT DOCTOR SESSION FOR BUSINESS WRITERS

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Business writers, this is for you! Business books are best sellers around the world as well as here in Kenya. What makes a good business book stand out from the rest? What can you do to make your own manuscripts grab a publisher’s attention? The first step is to attend the Storymoja Manuscript Doctor Workshop [...]
• October 05, 2009
• 1:30

  Where your story is – Setting and Dialogue

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Setting is the physical time and place in which the story takes place. Dialogue is the spoken words of the characters in the story. To a very large extent the setting of your story will dictate how your story works out, your plot, characters, dialogue, and very likely the genre your story will fall into. Consider [...]
• September 29, 2009
• 16:15

  We are back, apologies and the winner is…

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Well, we are back, after three weeks of an unexpected hiatus. We know you have missed us as much as we have missed you. We will make up for the absence. The Writers’ Blog will be back next Monday, 5th October, 2009. In the meantime, I would like to keep one promise. That is to reward [...]
• September 07, 2009
• 1:30

  Write What You Know

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Readers of fiction want to find the writer’s work to be believable. It is the task of the writer to develop a story that does not jolt the reader into recognizing that the narrative is just the writer talking, just fiction. The writer should write about what he or she already knows through experience or [...]