Items by Storymoja Africa

Storymoja

• 7 Ways to defeat Writer’s Block

  Posted: March 15, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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. [...]

• Story of the Week – Daughter of Man by Alex Mutua

  Posted: March 12, 2010, 4:30 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Writing Science Fiction

  Posted: March 8, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• International Women’s Day 2010

  Posted: March 7, 2010, 9:00 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – Insect Conversations by Marvin Tumbo

  Posted: March 5, 2010, 4:30 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Simplicity vs Complexity?

  Posted: March 1, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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. [...]

• Story of the Week – Pains Shortlisted by Gideon Chumo

  Posted: February 26, 2010, 5:47 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Blow your reader’s mind away.

  Posted: February 22, 2010, 10:45 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – Chicken Crossing by Gideon Chumo

  Posted: February 19, 2010, 4:30 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Advice for the Young Writer

  Posted: February 15, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – Spilt Milk by Steve Mwangi

  Posted: February 12, 2010, 6:56 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: February 8, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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? [...]

• The Man and His Goat Contest Winner is…

  Posted: February 6, 2010, 11:01 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• The Learning Process

  Posted: February 1, 2010, 8:45 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – High Treason by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa

  Posted: January 29, 2010, 4:30 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Young graphic artists and art directors – Win a Scholarship!

  Posted: January 28, 2010, 5:31 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: January 26, 2010, 12:11 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Clear, Effective Writing

  Posted: January 25, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: January 22, 2010, 12:01 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Rich Possibilities

  Posted: January 19, 2010, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week: Mortifying Mona Lisa by Gideon Chumo

  Posted: January 19, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Learning from Yesterday

  Posted: January 11, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Crossover by Chege Muchai

  Posted: January 8, 2010, 9:35 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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! [...]

• All Time Favorite Story and Writer of 2009

  Posted: January 4, 2010, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – Invisible by Reena Shah

  Posted: December 21, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: December 14, 2009, 6:33 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Man and his Goat Picture Prompt Writing Contest

  Posted: December 14, 2009, 5:36 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Time…

  Posted: December 14, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: December 7, 2009, 10:27 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Picture Prompt Writing Competition

  Posted: December 7, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – Surly Sally by Denis Kabi

  Posted: November 27, 2009, 1:00 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Your Brand

  Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – I am Dust by Steve Mwangi

  Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:15 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• On this Day…

  Posted: November 17, 2009, 2:29 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:15 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Opinion Editorials

  Posted: November 9, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week -

  Posted: November 7, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Constellations

  Posted: November 2, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

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

  Posted: October 30, 2009, 6:15 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• The Man and His Goat – A Writing Competition

  Posted: October 26, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Style – Your Use of language.

  Posted: October 26, 2009, 8:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week of October 19th

  Posted: October 23, 2009, 4:14 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Your Theme

  Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week

  Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:17 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Point of View

  Posted: October 12, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week of 5th October

  Posted: October 9, 2009, 1:00 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• A MANUSCRIPT DOCTOR SESSION FOR BUSINESS WRITERS

  Posted: October 7, 2009, 8:48 pm by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Where your story is – Setting and Dialogue

  Posted: October 5, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• We are back, apologies and the winner is…

  Posted: September 29, 2009, 12:15 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Write What You Know

  Posted: September 7, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  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 [...]

• Story of the Week – Dirt Road By Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa

  Posted: September 4, 2009, 11:07 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… Dirt Road by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa 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 sure to [...]

• Wasee Wasee! 99 mchongoanos for your dissing pleasure – Review by Eudiah Kamonjo

  Posted: September 2, 2009, 10:56 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Book Title: Wasee Wasee! 99 mchongoanos for your dissing pleasure Publishers: Storymoja/Storyhippo Compiled by: Joshua Ogutu Muraya, Juliet Maruru, Millie Dok Art: Directed by Ciro Githunguri, Illustrated & designed by Lucas Wambaa Genre: Mchongoano collection Mchongoanos are very much a part of our culture today as they were all those years ago during my primary school days. And it’s not [...]

• Posted in Writing ...

  Posted: August 31, 2009, 10:32 am by Storymoja Africa

  Posted in Writing

• Aspects of your Plot.

  Posted: August 31, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  Let us define plot. We have defined a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time sequence. A plot is also a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality. ‘The king died and then the queen died’, is a story. ‘The king died, and then the queen died of grief,’ is a [...]

• Story of the Week – Dear Mr. Death, Hurry Please by Julius Rutere.

  Posted: August 28, 2009, 11:25 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… Dear Mr. Death, Hurry Please by Julius Rutere. 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 [...]

• How Serious are You?

  Posted: August 24, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  Good writing allows the writer to be taken seriously, and being taken seriously is always important in communicating ideas. If a person’s writing is awkward and clumsy, readers get the mistaken notion the person is that way, too. (”Seriously” doesn’t have to mean “serious” though, so you shouldn’t feel compelled to make things sound [...]

• Story of the Week – Mirages by Mercy Ojwang’

  Posted: August 21, 2009, 11:09 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… Mirages by Mercy Ojwang’ . 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 sure to vote for [...]

• Deliver Your Impact

  Posted: August 17, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  Short stories are designed to deliver their impact in as few pages as possible. A tremendous amount is left out, and a good short story writer learns to include only the most essential information. – Orson Scott Card A lot of the writing that is published online should ideally be very short. Online, readers get [...]

• Story of the Week – A day in the Life of a Weed Head by Stephen Mwangi

  Posted: August 14, 2009, 5:00 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… A Day in the Life of a Weed Head by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa  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 [...]

• Taking Applications: Kenyan Visual, Literary and Performing Artists’ Mentorship Program

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 10:28 pm by Storymoja Africa

  The Imagine Company, publisher of KenyaImagine.com, introduces Next Level, a two-month mentor-ship program aimed at improving the quality of Kenyan visual and performance arts. The project will include a similar program for writers of commentary/critique of art in Kenya. Support will be provided for the purchase of materials and for transportation. This support is intended for [...]

• After The SHFK – Time to write, learn and grow, again.

  Posted: August 10, 2009, 9:30 am by Storymoja Africa

  I truly hope that you attended enjoyed and benefited from the Storymoja Hay Festival. If you did, and would like to share some of what you experienced, your pictures from the festival and so on, please send in your stuff to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke I was very pleased by the response I got from you during the period [...]

• Tabitha Mwangi’s day at the Storymoja Hay Festival.

  Posted: August 6, 2009, 10:13 pm by Storymoja Africa

  I arrived at the airport when the program was just about to start so I really did not mind that the taxi was going a bit fast. At the Nyayo stadium round about, the driver took the wrong lane and most foolishly tried to evade the traffic policemen when they waved him down. They seemed [...]

• Stella Riunga’s day at the SHFK

  Posted: August 6, 2009, 10:05 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Painting There was an artist displaying some of his artworks, and the best part of it was being given brushes and an opportunity to paint. It was fun! The bad news is –I CANNOT paint to save my life. My human looked more like an alien – sad! Kenya Burning I think this was the most [...]

• My thoughts on the Storymoja Hay Festival by Reeves Sinei

  Posted: August 4, 2009, 12:22 am by Storymoja Africa

  A wise horse once said, “Make hay while the sun shines.” I wonder if it was ordering its keeper or just being wise. Whatever the case, those who attended the three-day StoryMoja hay festival definitely ‘made hay.’ Not only did they use the opportunity to meet up with friends, they sampled the various displays that [...]

• Storymoja Hay Festival Pics courtesy of Kenyanpoet

  Posted: August 4, 2009, 11:51 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Look at the SHFK pics here More SHFK pics here And more here All pics courtesy of Kenyanpoet Posted in Writing

• The winner of the Storymoja Hay Festival Story of the Month is…

  Posted: July 30, 2009, 2:14 pm by Storymoja Africa

  The judges scores. Writer Marvin Tumbo Scores out of 20 Storymoja Judge Scores out of 20 Average Scores Nancy Biwott 13 13 13 Tabitha Mwangi 18 14 16 Titus Kaloki 11 8 9.5 Stephen Mwangi 16 17 16.5 Denis Kabi 12 16 14 Ndago Ebenea Odhiambo 8 16 12 The winner is Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa who will receive two Full Festival Passes. CONGRATULATIONS! I trust that you will make the most of this opportunity not only to network with other [...]

• Judges need more time

  Posted: July 29, 2009, 1:17 am by Storymoja Africa

  Dear Writers, The judges seem to be caught up in the decision making. Just goes to show the possibilities of Kenyan writing. The winner of the Full Festival Pass will be announced before the end of the day. While the judges rangle, I am pleased to announce that all who have so far registered for the Friday [...]

• 5th and 6th Winner- Register for your free day pass for Friday

  Posted: July 29, 2009, 3:07 am by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in! The winners of the 4th and final Round of the Competition are Where is the racist? By Tabitha Mwangi and Diary of a disillusioned soul by Nancy Biwott. These two stories will be entered into the Storymoja Hay Festival Story of the Month and stand to win their writers a Full Festival [...]

• 3rd and 4th Winner, Seven More Stories and Register for your complimentary tickets.

  Posted: July 24, 2009, 9:01 am by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in! The winners of the 3rd Round of the Competition are Dignity my foot! By Titus Kaloki and Elevation by Ndago Abenea Odhiambo. These two stories will be entered into the Storymoja Hay Festival Story of the Month and stand to win their writers a Full Festival Pass. Remember everyone who has ever [...]

• Apologies

  Posted: July 23, 2009, 12:49 am by Storymoja Africa

  Due to international commitments, Shailja Patel will not participate in the Storymoja Hay Festival. We had been so hoping to have her share her illuminating poetry with our festival audiences. Storymoja apologises for the disappointment this will cause her many fans. Posted in Writing

• 2nd Winner, and Complimentary tickets for all Storymoja Writers.

  Posted: July 22, 2009, 12:40 am by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the 2nd winner of the Storymoja Story of the Week is… Sale of Kenya Oriji by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa. Read it here… Stephen’s story is the second one to be entered into the Storymoja Hay Festival Story of the Month, after Denis Kabi’s story from last week. The winner of the Story [...]

• 2nd Winner, and Complimentary tickets for all Storymoja Writers.

  Posted: July 22, 2009, 12:40 am by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the 2nd winner of the Storymoja Story of the Week is… Sale of Kenya Oriji by Stephen Mwangi Ichungwa. Read it here… Stephen’s story is the second one to be entered into the Storymoja Hay Festival Story of the Month, after Denis Kabi’s story from last week. The winner of the Story [...]

• The Storymoja Hay Festival 2009

  Posted: July 22, 2009, 11:38 pm by Storymoja Africa

  What is the purpose of the Storymoja Hay Festival? The festival hopes to encourage Africans to ‘own’ their problems by exploring our situations/stories, and search for solutions by generating platforms for discussion and debate. To achieve our 2030 vision, Kenyans need to read widely, discuss ideas, and exploit our diversity of stories/backgrounds for the greater good.  It [...]

• Seven Stories and a festival like never before.

  Posted: July 20, 2009, 9:12 am by Storymoja Africa

  The Storymoja Hay Festival is drawing ever closer. As you may have noticed, I am dedicating this month’s blogs to informing you of what you can look forward to. Already one of you, Marvin Tumbo, has been rewarded with tickets to the festival, and one other writer will be rewarded before the festival begins. The festival [...]

• New Book Releases from Kwani Trust

  Posted: July 18, 2009, 2:56 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Kwani Trust is pleased to announce the release of 5 new titles; ‘Kwani? 05 Part 2 – Revelations & Conversations’, ‘The True Story of David Munyakei – Goldenberg Whistleblower’, by Billy Kahora, ‘The Life & Times of Richard Onyango’, by Richard Onyango, ‘The Life of Mzee Ondego’, by [...]

• Kenyan poetry goes North?

  Posted: July 18, 2009, 2:51 pm by Storymoja Africa

  The literature magazine Komma is based in Lulea, on the northern coast of Sweden and not far away from the Arctic Circle. Komma publishes newly written poems and prose. Among those who contribute the readers will find both established writers and those who are in progress. It also happens that Komma reviews foreign poetry. We [...]

• Sincerest Apologies

  Posted: July 17, 2009, 5:04 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Dear all, We experienced trouble with the Storymoja webmail recently, as a result of which some of you sent mail and submissions which we never received. The problem has been sorted out and we have been able to recover some of your mail, including some submissions for the ongoing writing contests. All submissions will be considered [...]

• 1st Winner, 2nd Round – Read and vote

  Posted: July 15, 2009, 1:05 am by Storymoja Africa

  Well, then your votes are in, and the 1st winner is…. My Wife is a Tomboy by Denis Kabi. Read it here. This story will be entered into the Story of the Month Contest and the final winner will get tickets to the Storymoja Hay Festival. To whet your attitude, here are a few more highlights that [...]

• Send in your story NOW

  Posted: July 14, 2009, 10:36 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Dear Writers, Thank you for being part of the Storymoja Community. Last week, you read the three stories submitted on the Story of the Week. I hope you have voted for your favorite story. Remember voting closes on Wednesday at midnight. The winner will then be announced on Thursday, at the same time that the next round [...]

• This Week’s Readings

  Posted: July 10, 2009, 1:36 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Dear Writers, The Storymoja Hay Festival Season is here. As part of this great celebration of literature and books, various activities have been scheduled. You will not only get a chance to rub shoulders with great African and international writers, but you will also get a chance to fellowship with them in forums and discussions that [...]

• Write, Judge and Win- And the Winner is…

  Posted: July 9, 2009, 3:11 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Marvin Tumbo has won the chance to be a guest judge on the Storymoja Hay Festival Story of the Month with this article. He gets tickets to the Festival. Thank you to all of you who sent in your articles on time. If you would like a chance to win another pair of tickets, please [...]

• Can you Speak Like Obama?

  Posted: July 6, 2009, 2:09 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Do you sound like Obama? Tell me! We have seen the look alikes on TV and we have heard the sound alikes everywhere, now we want to know if you can talk like Obama! If you have what it takes to sound like Obama, send a 2000 word audio script to nureen.velji@storymojaafrica.co.ke Shortlisted applicants will be called in [...]

• Story of the Week and the Story of the Month Contest

  Posted: July 3, 2009, 3:51 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Updates The deadline for the Story of the Week has changed to Thursday 9th, 16th and the 23rd of July. These stories will be published on the Storymoja Blog and then entered into the Story of the Month Contest. The winner will get two tickets to the Storymoja Hay Festival. Enter now by sending in your [...]

• Write, Judge and Win tickets to the Storymoja Hay Festival

  Posted: July 1, 2009, 10:01 pm by Storymoja Africa

  How would you like to judge the Storymoja Story of the Month contest as well as win tickets to the Storymoja Hay Festival? All you have to do is send in a 600 word essay on the importance of reading and literature for economic development of Kenya. This essay must be submitted by Wednesday 8th, [...]

• Long live the King – Michael’s lesson for the artist

  Posted: June 29, 2009, 4:19 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Death, the death of a popular celebrity is shocking even to people who hardly knew the man behind whatever success the celebrity stood behind. I suppose that because the media, mainstream and junk, feeds us so much information about the celebrity – some true, some false, either way we can’t tell – we attain to [...]

• Story of the Week of June 22nd, 2009

  Posted: June 29, 2009, 1:28 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… Mannequin by Simon Mukali  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 sure to vote for the [...]

• Get familiar

  Posted: June 22, 2009, 2:18 pm by Storymoja Africa

  I have been saying this a little too often so I went off and found someone else to say it. Unfortunately, I could not find someone from home to say it but, oh well… One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper patterns at [...]

• Story of the Week

  Posted: June 19, 2009, 8:10 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… A Fateful Day in Paradise by KK  Read it here Join us here on Monday for the next batch of stories and be sure to vote for the Story of the week June 22, 2009. If you would like your story to compete for the Story [...]

• Your Professional Writing Career

  Posted: June 15, 2009, 3:10 pm by Storymoja Africa

  I must admit that I quite enjoy the experience of reading, editing and publishing the pieces that are sent in to the Storymoja Writer’s Blog every weekend. Not only do I get lost in some extraordinary works of art, but I also get a chance to watch some of you grow in your writing skills. [...]

• Story of the Week – May 8th, 2009

  Posted: June 12, 2009, 7:11 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… Jezebel by Cliff Oluoch… Read it here Join us here on Monday for the next batch of stories and be sure to vote for the Story of the week June 15, 2009. If you would like your story to compete for the Story of the Week, [...]

• The Exhibit

  Posted: June 8, 2009, 1:46 pm by Storymoja Africa

  I have my own opinions – strong opinions – I just don’t always agree with them. George W. Bush A friend of mine wrote that on a piece of paper and handed it to me on his way out of my room. I didn’t want to, but I did laugh. I don’t think George [...]

• Story of the Week, June 1, 2009

  Posted: June 5, 2009, 11:09 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… The Pain of Silence by Chrispus Githae Kimaru… Read it here Join us here on Monday for the next batch of stories and be sure to vote for the Story of the week June 8, 2009. If you would like your story to compete for [...]

• The Writer’s Profession

  Posted: June 1, 2009, 9:48 pm by Storymoja Africa

  A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a friend that revolved around the artists’ responsibility as defenders of human rights. For very many years, art was not considered a respectable profession. Once, when I told my aunt that I wanted to be a writer, she told me that I had the brains to [...]

• Story of the Week – May 25th, 2009

  Posted: May 29, 2009, 6:18 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… Cooking in the Halls of Residence! Read it here Join us here on Monday for the next batch of stories and be sure to vote for the Story of the week June 1, 2009. If you would like your story to compete for the Story of [...]

• Global crisis, Cooking, Getting there…

  Posted: May 25, 2009, 1:30 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Last Friday, someone asked me how I can tell what is good writing and what isn’t. Okay, that is a scary question. I come across many pieces of writing in the course of my work. Some is absolutely great. Some isn’t. Some does not appeal to my personal taste but still makes it into the [...]

• Story of the Week, May 18th, 2009

  Posted: May 24, 2009, 12:29 pm by Storymoja Africa

  Your votes are in and the story of the week is… The Diary of a Fat Black Woman! Read it here Join us here on Monday for the next batch of stories and be sure to vote for the Story of the week of May 25th, 2009. If you would like your story to compete for the [...]

• The Writer’s world – Words, Humour and a bit of politics

  Posted: May 19, 2009, 5:56 pm by Storymoja Africa

  This editor admits that after a few weeks not working on the blog, I felt rather rusty, and a bit terrified. Rusty because I had forgotten some of the codes for maintaining the writers’ blog, and terrified because this blog represents the creativity and love for words of many writers in the Storymoja community, and [...]

• Women Mentoring Women: Our panel on mentors for 16th May 2009

  Posted: May 15, 2009, 12:59 pm by Storymoja Africa

  On our mentor panel this Saturday 16th May 2009, we have the following remarkable women. Anja Koenig, currently the director of Reformconsult, is an entrepreneur in economic consultancy and investment research infrastructure sectors. Her past experience includes being a manager in Advisory Services at Price Waterhouse Coopers Kenya, task manager and AG Programme Coordinator at German [...]

• Do You Know Who You Really Are?

  Posted: May 13, 2009, 11:21 am by Storymoja Africa

  Imagine sitting in a group with people you don’t know and sharing what is unique about you. Scary, right? Well, it definitely was a new experience for me, but also very liberating; it was the perfect ice-breaker. This was how a session on ‘Life Audits’ began, part of Storymoja’s Women in Leadership forum. Anyone who [...]

• Books are fun, Reading is cool – A time to share the books we love and loathe

  Posted: May 9, 2009, 1:15 pm by Storymoja Africa

  This month, we celebrate books …any kind of book, from anywhere, a Storymoja publication, or not, it’s entirely up to you. Before I scare you off telling you I want you to write a review for the blog, let me speed through to what we are looking to see: A quote from any book that you have [...]

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Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes