LetterMan Welcome 2024

The First Despatch for the Year

Dear Fellow,

I officially welcome you to 2024! Even though today is the thirty-fourth day of the leap year (February has 29 days this year). I am glad to resume this adventure and commitment, writing to you every Saturday about events worth sharing in this part of the universe, hoping to show you another perspective to look at life. As in previous years, these stories will comprise simple, random, everyday experiences that call for wonder.

I would like to set some guidelines and objectives for this newsletter. I promise not to go too technical, thus losing you to boredom in the process. Setting out the guidelines and objectives is to help me build the virtue of consistency as a writer (or as one who thinks of writing as a craft). Consistency here, for example, refers to writing a maximum of 1,200 words in every despatch on this space.

This picture was shot on a road trip from Jos to Badagry last week. You can be sure that I thought about this despatch on that trip, as I read this biography of C. S. Lewis written by George Sayer.

A brief disclaimer. I am not a “professional” in this craft of writing. And if you remember clearly, this newsletter was set up to hone my craft—to improve my ability to tell stories through writing. Hence, the description: “this adventure and commitment, writing to you every Saturday.” This is indeed an adventure because I will be figuring things out here. And a commitment because I am pledging to show up every Saturday in your inbox. Certainly, and obviously, this is not just about me; if you agree, you and I will be figuring out the path this newsletter will have us tread. Long and short, I am a learner just like you in life and therefore assume no professionalism in this conversation.

This year, I will yet stick to writing in these categories: narrative essays and book reviews. A narrative essay next Saturday, a book review the subsequent Saturday, a narrative essay the next, and a book review the subsequent Saturday, and it goes like that to the third Saturday in December. Book Essay will be an additional category. Recall I mentioned in a previous despatch that I will be writing about the various parts of a book, explaining a bit extensively what each part of a book is. Thus, the categories of content for this year are narrative essays, book essays, and book reviews. All three will be written as letters to you.

In addition to cultivating my virtue (of consistency) as a writer, I will be abiding by a writing style guide. (I will show you what a writing style guide is in the next despatch.) This means that there will be a certain way I will show you how and where I got certain information; there will be a certain way I will even abbreviate names or titles, among several other tiny bits comprising a body of writing on this newsletter.

There are three ways you can be part of this adventure, and to help my commitment. One, read the pieces. Two, engage the pieces—like/dislike and leave a comment. Three, share the pieces with whomever you think will find them helpful. A fourth will be financial aid, as I have resolved to not monetise this newsletter yet. However, when I figure out how to accept your donations, I will add the button to the subsequent despatches.

Good Fellow, if you were not there to read from me, I would likely stick to writing only in my journals. So far as I am convinced this craft of writing is a way for me to live through this lifetime, I am thankful for this opportunity to carry you along. I wish you an adventurous ride as we explore territories, uncharted or not, together.

Once again, welcome to a new year, good Fellow!

Are you ready for a new adventure? Let me know in the comments section, please.

Your LetterMan,

Tongjal, W. N.