50,000 words in 30 days!!!

Here is to 30 amazing days of writing!

Pen Voyage Liner Notes - Track 5

Monday is for MUSIC.. I hope you've been enjoying my Pen Voyage Liner Notes?

Track 5 on the record is the song I wrote and named "Taste of Freedom"

What does it really mean to be free?



I think FREEDOM is an important element when it comes to song writing, performance or any creative endeavor for that matter.

The first few lines of track 5 on the record, Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change goes...

"Walking down the road less traveled, asking myself 'why am I here?'
In this place I don't feel entitled, but somehow I love it here.
I don't want to be lost in a crowd, it's a path that is well worn..."


I once heard someone say that the bravest thing anyone can ever do is be bold to live their purpose. It takes courage to go against the grain and follow your heart to live what you believe is your purpose.

I wrote "Taste of Freedom" to express my journey into starting to understand one of the gifts I believe I have been blessed with my VOICE

I remember the first time I went out as a solo artist; my guitar on my back to play at "Spice of Life" a little live music bar in Soho, London. I was honestly taken back by people's response to my performance. I still get those moments where I ask myself, REALLY?



From singing in different choirs over the years, I find that there is an unwritten rule about how singers are meant to sound and for most choirs, unless a singer leads a certain way it really isn't deemed the best. I remember being in a choir and words like "Sing the song the way X sings it" being constantly thrown around.

I find that coming out from a collective or group of singers to going out as a solo artist can be a challenge but finding your voice and staying in your path is the best thing that can ever happen to you as a creative person. Everyone has a story to tell, everyone has a voice and I believe the journey to finding it is a lifetime.

Not only is a Voice "the sound produced by the vocal organs of a vertebrate, especially a human and the ability to produce such sounds." the American Heritage Dictionary also defines VOICE as The right or opportunity to express a choice or opinion

"...we've been placed here for a reason, finding out why, is our live's mission.."
From the song TASTE OF FREEDOM

Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pen-voyage-chapter-1-singing/id466810768

You can buy the physical CD here

Listen to tracks from the album here
Latest tracks by Lánre

Pen Voyage Liner Notes - Track 4

Good Monday to you and thanks for those who are still reading my blogs week in week out. THANK YOU.

The fourth song on my record Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is "INSPIRATION" this is one of my favourite song to sing and one of the ones I am proud I wrote. I know it's also a favourite for those who hear it.



A few weeks ago I was asked by a few people what the lyrics are so here is the link to it - http://lanrefajumo.blogspot.com/2011/08/lyrics-inspiration.html

I also wrote about the idea behind the song when I first put out the Radio Edit version in July. here is that blog http://lanrefajumo.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-song-inspiration.html

I looked up the definition of Inspiration in the American Heritage Dictionary of English Language;

- Divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind.
- An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.
- Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.

I wrote this song about our relationship with that thing called "CREATIVITY" and "INSPIRATION" some times elusive and other times you can't seem to get enough of it. I wonder why that is. I wonder what is responsible for those times when it decides to pay you a visit and why it stays away sometimes. Does it really stay away at those times or is it just hiding from us?

I am not sure I found the answer after writing this song.

Maybe it's one of those things we will never know why.

Jill Dawson in her article in the Guardian "How to write fiction" she urges new writers to dive in as there is never a perfect time to write a novel.

I see myself first as a story teller whether I am trying to write a song or a prose I just want to tell a good and engaging story. I however tend to write only when I am inspired. ie. feel that throb or pull it's the only way I can describe the feeling of being inspired.

In the month of November however I have decided to challenge myself and take part in this year's NaNoWriMo. For those who don't know, November is the National Novel Writing Month.

Thousands of people all around the world will attempt to write a novel of 50,000 words from the 1st of November to the 30th of November. As expected some will be successful and some won't. I plan to succeed

I am so nervous as already dreading what I'll do if the words and ideas aren't forth coming. I am however excited to see what I would have come up with by the end of November (wish me luck)

I think one line from Jill Dawson's article made me decide to challenge myself to write.

Talking about excuses by new writers..

"Not beginning protects you from disappointment; no shame of reading what you have written and finding it rubbish. It also prevents you from an equally disturbing possibility; discovering that you can write.... success and failure can both be avoided."



SO I WILL WRITE.. whether inspiration decides to knock on my front door to pay me a visit or hides in my back garden. hehe

Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pen-voyage-chapter-1-singing/id466810768

You can buy the physical CD here

Listen to tracks from the album here
Latest tracks by Lánre

You are not alone

As a writer you can sometimes feel like you are alone in your struggle to finish a book. I have never been to any workshop specifically for writers until today.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I booked my place at the Insider Guide to HOW TO GET PUBLISHED organised by Writers and Artists’ Yearbook a few months ago but when I walked through the ‘Free Word Centre” doors at a few minutes past ten in the morning, I was a bit nervous about being in the midst of established writers and sticking out like a sore thumb.

After the introductions, Richard Charkin, the Executive Director of Bloomsbury spoke about the publishing industry and the many phases that it’s been through. He laid out some not so encouraging statistics but informative all the same. It was good to see from the publisher’s view point and he did a good job at reminding us that at the end of the day, publishing is a money making industry and making profit for shareholders is their goal.

Jo Herbert, the editor of the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook took us through the steps towards getting published, a reminder that your work as a writer does not end when you finish writing your 80,000 words. With most literary agents receiving nothing less than 20 manuscripts everyday! You have to stand out from the pack… no pressure at all ;)

When it was time for lunch, I got talking to some of the writers and realised there was no reason for my initial worry. Although some of them are on their second novel, they still have pretty much the same struggles as I.

Alison Baverstock, a writer, publisher and MA Publishing tutor amongst other topics touched on inspiration and what she said which I thought was so spot was that ‘inspiration finds you when you are working.’ She further said; You have to stick at your desk.

I know what it is like sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper or PC screen and waiting for one word to come… one sentence, and nothing worth writing seems to come. It was so refreshing to know that even seasoned writers go through the same challenges I go through.

Listening to Katie Hickman, a best selling author of both fiction and non fiction tell her own story of how she went through rejections and being dropped by her agent further drives home the truth that Carole Blake, one of UK’s top literary agent said in closing…

“There are as many exceptions as there are with rules.”

I walked out of today’s conference feeling revived and more determined to keep writing, to keep showing up everyday. So help me God!

Get Caught Reading - The Shack

I had heard a lot about this book months before I finally got my hands on a copy. I think because the subject matter is something I can now relate to, I have to say I was enthralled right from the first sentence.

‘Who wouldn’t be sceptical when a man claims to have spent an entire weekend with God, in a shack no less?’

I tell you what, I would have loved to have an entire hour with God right after I unexpectedly lost my dad a few months ago. I desperately needed answers and for some reason my Sunday school classes and my stint at regular bible study was not helping me understand the whys, hows and the what ifs? So, as I read through the pages of The Shack, I had my ha! moments.

‘Nobody wants God in a box, just in a book. Especially an expensive one bound in a leather with gilt edges or was that guilt edges’

The truth is that one cannot limit God to the good book, or the four walls either. He can reach out to anyone whenever and however he pleases. Thankfully I found some my answers in this fiction written by WM Paul Young to help explain to his kids, his perspective of God. I know this book is not for the legalist or traditionalist.

In his own words…

‘The institutional church doesn't work for those of us who are hurt and those of us who are damaged.’

I have been touched by Mr. Young’s book and wanted to share but not give away the story and spoil it for those who have not read it. What I would say is this, depending on where you’re at, The Shack will either help you to see things from a whole new perspective or be a stumbling block.

The story of how this book got published is also an encouragement for yet to be published writers like myself. All he had was $300 and a few family and friends that believe in him.

I need to get back to writing!