The world of Possibilities

We make this statement quite a lot, but I am constantly reminded of it now more often than not — what do I want from life, excellence or success?

And my first thought is, "Why can't I have both?"

If excellence is to seek to have perfection in everything, then great success is guaranteed at the end of that long and hard road.

Is it not?

You may be wondering what I am on about today.

It still feels so surreal that I am a writer. Me, Queen Maranatha Abutu, a writer? How?

If someone had prophesied this to me several years ago, I'd have blown it off as something so inconsequential. But here I am after two years since I started using storytelling to advocate for issues that I hold dear to my heart, and I have two published short stories; Leila Khalid and At Eight, and a novel; Friendship Illusion.

I am still in shock every time I see copies of these books, and I touch them often to remind myself that this is real. I am not in a trance or a dream.

I am a writer.

I am an author.

People read my work and reckon with these stories regardless of how little that community is.

Life is taking a possibility with me.

I woke up today in awe of God. In awe of this journey because I had no formal training. No knowledge of book cover design, book interior formatting, book setting or anything regarding the craft.

Yet, I delved into this world grasping at everything all at once with only excellence as my watchword. I didn't care how many times I re-published Leila Khalid because it wasn't perfect. I did that again and again and again until it was. The work you see in my current book is because I choose to always do everything I can to produce the best quality there is no matter how long it takes me. And I learnt with my first work.

I am proud to tell you that the fulfilment I feel right now is from putting in my best and producing this art.

And you can do it too.

It doesn't matter what your craft is.

It doesn't matter that you never got a formal education.

It doesn't matter how many times you were told you didn't belong in that scene.

It doesn't matter how many times no one recognises how much of yourself you put into your work and it still doesn't bang as much as you would have wanted.

Choose your best thoughts and keep improving.

Choose excellence.

Keep choosing excellence over the world's view of success.

Choose your self-fulfilment.

Success will come or not (see next newsletter).

Here to scream into your ears today that you are doing enough.

You are enough.

Your work is valid.

You are on course.

Remain undaunted but seek excellence.

Even when nobody thinks anything of it, pat yourself on your work.

You deserve the love.

Your being here is a wonder and there is a world of possibilities just waiting for your grasp.

I have written a book that allowed me to express some of the prejudices in our society due to our established social constructs and the effects that various friendship dynamics have on us as adults.

Get a copy of Friendship Illusion via this link on Okadabooks

And on Amazon via this link

With love;

Mara❤️