Poetry is life and words make it more thrilling - Adesegun Adefeyintola Adejoke

 

SYNW INTERVIEW SERIES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 2020

 

POETRY IS LIFE AND WORDS MAKE IT MORE THRILLING - ADESEGUN ADEFEYINTOLA ADEJOKE

 

Adesegun Adefeyintola Adejoke is a budding poet and a member of SYNW UNILAG Chapter. She is currently studying Philosophy at the University of Lagos. In this brief interview with Wole Adedoyin, the author of an upcoming collection of poems titled “Love’s Encore” shared with him some facts surrounding her life and writing career.

 

SYNW: WHY ARE YOU A POET?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: First, I will say it is about the Expression, there are so many things I come across in my daily activities- right at home or anywhere I go to, so being a poet stems from expressing my thoughts about things that happens generally. Poetry is life and words make it more thrilling.

 

SYNW: WHAT POETS DO YOU ADMIRE?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: Well, literature is diverse and gives room for exploration of different concepts. So I mostly read randomly and find some development that fascinates me but I love those of Maya Angelou

 

SYNW: WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: Everything inspires me, environment, my life and especially music too.

 

SYNW: TELL US ABOUT A NORMAL WORKING DAY?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I am still a student of University of Lagos, Department of Philosophy. So I stay at my mum shop now due to the strike. I am also an active online user and spend time downloading novels and music.

 

SYNW: HOW DO YOU WRITE?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I write anytime muse comes, most times, my poetry is defined by what I am thinking about and there are times I might start a piece and leave it for sometimes before I continue and other times I usually call it " The Midnight Snack" I get most of my ideas at night.

 

SYNW: WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND A POEM?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: There is a specific form of expression that strikes when I have an idea for a poem and the next process is defining what the poem is about before I find words that convey the actual intent and they are most times difficult to find. It is what makes Poetry distinct.

 

SYNW:  DESCRIBE YOUR ROUTE TO BEING PUBLISHED

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I am not yet published. The first thing a poet should recognize and do is building an audience- very important, and internet has made it easier to submit your works to different online literary magazines.

 

SYNW:  WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO AN ASPIRING POET?

Making money should not be your first priority. Write and be consistent with it even if it can be frustrating and always let your readers connect with your work.

 

SYNW: WHAT (IF ANY) SORTS OF EDITORIAL CHANGES DID THE MANUSCRIPT GO THROUGH? DID YOU WORK THROUGH YOUR AGENT AND /OR EDITORS WITHIN THE PUBLISHING HOUSE?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: No I didn't go through any of this means, but I have friends who are also poets and writers ( Expegbue Stanley"leystan" and Olarinoye Jamiu" epiphany”) and also Akinola Tosin, who has a flair for Arts who I usually send my poems to for reviews.

 

SYNW: FINAL QUESTIONS (PROMISE); DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YET TO BE PUBLISHED WRITERS READING THIS?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: Well, all I can say is that just keep Writing and Reading and never relent. Consistency is key.

 

SYNW: TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR WRITING ROUTINE, WHAT'S A TYPICAL WRITING DAY FOR YOU?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I write anytime as long as the place is quiet enough for me to Pierce through every muddled thought. Sometimes I use WPS on my phone to save ideas, makes use of creative writing apps and I also have a book where I write my poems.

 

SYNW: WHERE DO YOU WRITE FROM?

 

I write from anywhere I am. Either at home, shop or school just about anywhere that is comfortable for me to do so.

 

SYNW: ON THIS TOPIC WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BUILD A PLATFORM AND GAIN READERSHIP?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I share my works on social platform like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

 

SYNW: WEBSITE?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I have a blog on which I haven't really posted much. It can be located at 

https://ww181428069.wordpress.com

 

SYNW: FAVOURITE MOVIE?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: My name is Khan, the fault in our Stars, Like stars on Earth, Titanic and currently Clouds.

 

SYNW: BEST PIECE(S) OF ADVICE WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED?

ADEFEHINTOLA: There are times when we might not have inspiration to write even when we want to, I recommend that the best thing to do is take a stroll, listen to music or sleep- whatever catches your fancy. Poets should also enter available competition.

 

SYNW:  SOMETHING PERSONAL ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: I am very shy and mostly quiet

 

SYNW: What's next?

 

ADEFEHINTOLA: Right now, I am looking forward to graduate and getting my works published.