Armed with nothing but a pen, a jotter, and a wealth of personal stories, a new generation of writers at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) discovered the power of their voices during a Creative Writing Workshop held last Thursday. The event was dedicated to helping students transform inspiration into publishable prose.
Hosted by the AUN Writing Center on October 17, 2025, at the 24-Hour Library Auditorium, the workshop brought together students from various academic disciplines who share an interest in storytelling, creativity, and authorship.
The facilitator, Mr. Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiga, a renowned writer and literary coach, captivated the audience with an insightful lecture on the art of creative writing. He explained that creative writing is driven by imagination, emotion, and personal experience. According to him, writers can find inspiration by reading widely, observing everyday life, traveling, and exploring diverse cultures and perspectives.
Mr. Mudiga elaborated on the major genres of literature, highlighting prose, drama, and poetry as the foundational forms of creative expression. He also introduced participants to the Five Cs of Creative Writing — clarity, coherence, creativity, consistency, and connection — emphasizing their importance in crafting engaging stories.
A key takeaway from his session was the reminder that “Creativity has no guidance but depends on personal experiences.” He urged aspiring writers to always carry a jotter and pen, noting that creative ideas often arrive spontaneously and without warning.
The facilitator cautioned against the excessive use of complex or cumbersome words, stressing that simplicity often strengthens expression. He described prose as a narrative form composed of sentences and paragraphs that flow naturally from left to right. Mr. Mudiga categorized prose into different forms — the novel, novelette, novella, and apologue (or fable) — and encouraged participants to explore each to expand their storytelling techniques.
Beyond the craft of writing, he discussed the process of book publishing, explaining the various routes available to writers, including mainstream publishing, literary agents, vanity publishing, and self-publishing. He particularly highlighted the opportunities offered by Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), which enables writers to publish and distribute their works globally.
During the interactive session, students asked questions, shared their experiences, and expressed appreciation for the insights gained. Mr. Mudiga also recommended several of his publications for participants to read and draw inspiration from.