Chapter 31
Why The Hurry About
Writing An Autobiography?
(The 1992 Edition of Better Tomorrow)
I have a Story to Tell
I have always had a calling or serious inclination to write. I have had this feeling as early as when I was between the ages of 10 and 14 years. The powerful expressions in the Yoruba Bible (especially the stories of Joseph and Jesus) and such like other stories and text-books like “Alawiye”, by J.F. Odunjo, and “Ireke Onibudo”, “Igbo Irunmale” and some other beautiful works of D. O. Fagunwa whetted my urge to write as I grew up. Those books fascinated me a lot.
Again, as I advanced academically over the years and became exposed to the very powerful works of the likes of Prof. Wole Soyinka, “The Man Died”, and “The Trial of Brother Jero” , Ola Rotimi's “The God's Are Not To Blame”, Chinua Achebe's “Things Fall Apart” and, “A Man Of The People”; Lord Denning's writings in the field of Law, Kenneth Kaunda's “Zambia Shall Be Free', Thomas Hardy's “The Mayor of Casterbridge”, George Orwell's “1984”, Zainab Alkali's “StillBorn”, as well as “Tess of the Durbervilles”, “The Concubine”, “The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born”, “Animal Farm”, Camara Laye's “The African Child” and other works by the likes of Cyprian Ekwensi, Lord Denning's books in the province of legal profession, my love for writing became more and more deep-rooted.
I had also been amazed by the great works of the father of all writers, W.S. Shakespeare in “Macbeth”, “The Merchant of Venice”, “Romeo and Juliet”, and the inspirational and Christian writings of Dale Canegie, Mike Murdock, Pastor E.A. Adeboye and Pastor W.F. Kumuyi. In time, I knew I would become a writer, although I could not fathom the scope, nature or direction of it.
I Begin to Experiment
My first attempt at writing was between 1976 and 1981 when I tried to write a fiction. It was infact predicated on my own life experience as one who, though born into abject poverty, triumphed in the end through faith in God and by dint of hard work. But I failed to finish it because I was not yet versed in literary ways.
Realising that my venture into writing was premature, I decided to first equip myself through a sound education and literary exposure, so that when I returned to it, I had something useful and valuable to say expertly to humanity.
But the next opportunity I had to resume my avowed literary undertaking did not come by way of the anticipated logical development. Indeed, I had been taken seriously ill suddenly on 7th October, 1981 , and as I was being rushed to the hospital, I had a feeling of dread that I might die. If that happened, I would have missed the opportunity to leave a testament of my life for the coming generations, which would indeed be sad.
A Will, Regrets, Legacy?
But, funnily, what immediately came to my mind then to fill the vacuum was to write a Will, stating how my few possessions should be sold off at the nearby Oshodi market to enable my remains to be transported to its resting place in my birth-place and for the burial expenses to be met! Then two other issues troubled my heart. One, I took a stock of the number of single-subject examinations I had written with the various examining bodies (RSA, Pitman, etc), the results of which were still being awaited - 39 altogether. I then prayed that God would spare my life to see their outcome!
Second, I had always cherished the need to leave this world a much better place than I had met it. The only way to do that was by leaving something useful, inspiring and worthwhile behind for posterity, especially the underclass, the stressful and the desperate. I could write my own story which would cost me only time and writing materials. After all, I could myself type whatever I wrote and the product would add value to the lives of whoever read it. Such writing would expose readers' own shortcomings as well as induce them to similarly help other downtrodden people. There was the possibility too that such writing would get into the hands of some prosperous people who might thereby re-focus their minds to help the needy.
It was for these considerations that I started writing the first edition of my autobiography.
Autobiography, Not An Easy Book To Write!
Yes, I began writing my history mainly to inspire the young to catch their own vision and pursue it to fulfillment in the society. It was also to encourage those already in the struggle not to give up and for those already at the top of the ladder to lift more people up to where they are.
But I was concerned about where and how to say whatever needed to be said, even in the first edition of this book. That was beside my wonderment about what could then be so unique and remarkable in my life of just 24 years that would constitute a useful material to humanity! Myriad other considerations invaded my mind, which I thought would dissuade any publisher from accepting my manuscript for publication. But I was convinced that I would be missing and wasting the opportunity if I failed to tell my story.
I developed the content of my writing gradually, researching along the way! In the process, I had to read whatever books came my way, which helped my so-called uncertain project. One such book is written by a lady, Jones by name, the details of which I cannot relate here. It said in part and I quote:“It is never too early nor too late to write autobiographies. People are interested in reading about other people…”
A big and recurring challenge was having to write and re-write many times whatever I wrote. Initially this effort was in long-hand and it was certainly tedious for me. Later, I had access to manual typewriters with which I typed the hand-written scripts. Then through my Secretarial occupation, I was relieved with electric typewriters, which gave me neater copies. Then came the early Word Processors, which, for the first time ever, helped to save my scripts as well as make editing easy.
After eleven years of toddling efforts, I thought I had produced an acceptable draft (as adjudged by all those who read it). The big question was who would publish it? As I contemplated this in 1992 or sometime earlier, I saw a newspaper advertisement by the Ilesanmi Publishers in Akure, inviting good scripts from prospective writers. I quickly dispatched mine to them by registered mail, which they promptly acknowledged with a promise to get back to me after scrutiny. When this promise was not forthcoming, I made a follow-up trip to Akure but unfortunately, Chief (Mrs.) Ilesanmi who had the final say was not available.
I came back to Lagos
That was how I accomplished my publishing goal. But I gave the books as tokens to all those I knew would benefit from it. The feedback I received from them encouraged me very much and it gave me the greatest booster which spurred me to publish this current edition in 2005.
Chapter 32
The Emergence
Of The Current Edition
Updating my Scripts
While I guarded jealously the diskette containing my original drafts, I kept updating them as I gained more experience in life and it made my story better and better by the day.
The Calls to Print This Edition
At a time, I gave a copy of an updated version of the 1st edition to a new acquaintance, one Mr. Fagbohun, a Law Lecturer with the Lagos State University
This was not the end of the story. One day, he called me unexpectedly on phone and our conversation, as far as I can recollect, went thus:
Fagbohun: Please sir, do you still have a copy of your autobiography which you gave to me sometime ago?
Yemi: I have exhausted my stock sir.
Fagbohun: Can you lay your hands on even the script? I don't mind having that for keeps.
Yemi: I do have the script and can still print it on the computer for you but what happened to the copy I gave to you earlier?”
Fagbohun: I loaned it out to somebody who was passing through a difficult period in life and on the brink of giving up. After reading it you will be surprised about what he has achieved for himself since then and how transformed his life has become; you will marvel that it was your life history that actually did the miracle! God bless you immensely for giving hope to those who are in dire need of it.
When I later asked for your book to be returned to me, this guy would not do so. He rather advised me to go back to the author for another copy. That's why I'm calling you now to request for a new copy.
Yemi: God bless you sir. I am happy that the book has achieved (and is achieving) my desired purposes in peoples' lives. I will surely send you another copy very soon.
To me, that was a major call to produce this (2nd) edition.
Again, here is another call and testimony by Kazeem Ojo Olanipekun who had the double fortune of living with me and reading the first edition of “Better Tomorrow”:
'About his book “BETTER TOMORROW” (the 1992 edition which I was priviledged to read when I lived with him) the book revealed to me that only fools do not believe about tomorrow for each day past; the future keeps every one in suspense, hence the journey to tomorrow. This book is a Fountain of Life. It charted a good course for my life. I was doubly blessed because I witnessed him live what he preached, and he personally taught me day and night: the fear of God, hard work, and the appreciation of people. Today, his appreciation of personality is embedded in my person'!
As I said earlier, what also led to this qualitative revision, both in substance and print, was the contact I had with a prolific Nigerian writer, Bisi Ojediran, who has become my literary mentor.
Bisi introduced me to his own Editors and ensured that they edited the book to make it worthwhile for the larger market place. Gladly enough, the modern technology came at the right time the e-edition of this book is being published side by side with the paper covers! I appreciate this personal touch very much.
Chapter 33
Publishing
My Scripts
But having related what good works could achieve, it must be stated that having them published had become a problem. Most publishers only consider scripts that would yield them instant profits. In the same spirit, they would rather solicit for and publish the life histories of highly successful people like the Bill Gates of this world, the Rotimi Williams, the Soyinkas, the Lord Dennings, the Chinua Achebes, The George Bushes, The Bill Clintons and a host of other renowned public men whose names ring a bell. They will go to the graves of Williams Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Abraham Lincoln, and a host of other past but very successful leaders to re-echo their works to the present day generations. Those are where the immediate profits lie for every publisher who will not accommodate the likes of the yet-to-be-known Yemi Omogboyegas of this world, even with riveting manuscripts and interesting stories.
Of course it makes good business sense to take such route, for no business wants to put its money where the chances of making a tidy profit are uncertain.
But, to new writers, this is a hurdle to jump before they can come to limelight. That is the challenge before me.
However, I have always seen opportunities in adversity. Since I believe in myself, I should be prepared to invest in myself. I do believe my stories carry substance, for which, I stake my all to get them to the target audience!
Therefore, this has been opportunity to turn a seemingly unfavourable situation to my own advantage. That's why I resolved that I would not only publish and market all my works myself, with my own resources, I will continue to do so until reputable publishers will run after my scripts! Meanwhile, if I lose, I lose; if I gain, I gain all! As I write, I strategise simultaneously as to how to finance its production. That was how I have published “Better Tomorrow” (1st Edition in 1992) followed by “This Thing Called Marriage” in 2001/2003 “A Gallery of Positive Thoughts” in 2003 with the financial assistance of friends (names I have acknowledged somewhere in this book), “Family Budgetting, A Must for Your Home” and now, this - “Better Tomorrow” (2nd Edition) in 2005.
But, keeping the publishing pace with the rate at which I write had begun to pose some problems because my literary capability had enabled me in the past to sustain the writing of different books at the same time, apart from putting some two or three other completed books in reserve. I had to consult friends and relations for a way out.
Recently, I met a topmost Executive of a multinational company who confirmed that he has been seeing (unknown to me) my works in the marketplace.
He wanted to know how I had been able to publish my books and whether I have been covering my costs. I explained to him what I have just said but emphasized that in the past, what mattered to me was reaching out to people whose positive feedback had been quite encouraging and inspiring. He gladly told me how to find local and international publishers who would relieve me from the financial burden. Indeed, he promised to always supply me the necessary information about the international do-gooders whenever it was available to him!
Such attitude has been a fountain of inspiration and encouragement to me to continue to write but also a relief in knowing of an existing opportunity out there that would undertake to publish my works without further stress to me.
Meanwhile, I am developing enterpreneural skills through my self-help efforts in the publishing industry which are invaluable assets to me in other spheres of business.
I Got Sponsors/Publishers!
When I was to publish the book “Family Budgeting” in December, 2004, I sent the draft to my nephew who voluntarily undertook to foot its printing after being captivated by its contents. I owe him a deep gratitude.
The same fate of happy circumstance befell the publication of “Better Tomorrow”. I coincidentally mentioned to a good family friend, Miss Osa, that the book was the next in queue for publication while we discussed “Family Budgeting”. Surprisingly, she promptly offered to cosponsor its printing to the whooping sum of N80,000. This money was released to me approximately eight months before I actually went to the press! I pray that her own dreams would not die pre-maturely in Jesus' name!
Recently, I read in one of the issues of the Success Digest Magazines, an opportunity for an electronic publishing. As I write, the (on-line) publishers have already accepted to publish “This Thing Called Marriage” on-line! (I appreciate through this medium, Mr. Sunny Ojeagbese' for his personal interest in the project.) I am glad about all these developments!
Of course, chances are that this book (Better Tomorrow) will be published on-line even before the hard copies are out! That is my realisable target.
People who don't read books tend to find life boring, dull and their lives are static. So cultivate a reading habit! Yemi Omogboyega
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