“Stretch your limits, but don’t promise what you cannot deliver” – Olamide Aturu

Olamide Aturu, who likes to call herself Pietrina is a part shrink and part Hr Practitioner. She loves to write, in fact, she once told someone that she has no idea where her mind goes to when she writes, but wherever that is, she is grateful. 

Olamide sees writing as a means to create, excite, and build up. She also sees writing is an opportunity for her to explore the world in its entirety.

Enjoy our interview with her!

1. How long have you been writing?

I think I wrote my first piece back in school around 2007, but I will say I started taking writing seriously about four years ago ( 2013)

2. How long have you been freelancing?

A little over three years

3. In the course of your freelancing, what are some of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

I think for me, it will have to be writing about a topic that I am not interested in or not familiar with. For instance, writing about politics or aliens, horror stories… How to overcome them? Just do it… I put myself aside and I just write.

4. What are your favourite tools for working?

Oh wow… Inkpad, Textgram and of course Microsoft Word

5. Tell us about your works.

I like to say that I write about everything and anything.  My works sometimes reflect my environment, the thoughts of an average Nigerian. The feelings of love, sadness, fear, joy and happiness.

6. How do you motivate yourself to write?

Hmm… different ways, Sleep, sometimes I read, sometimes I watch a movie and the strangest one…flipping through a dictionary

7. What is something you’ve learnt about freelancing that others can learn also from?

Stretch your limits, but don’t promise what you cannot deliver

8. Tell us about one of your works you consider as your favourite.

Wow… that is a tough call. There is one called “A tale of Numbers”. It is basically a sequence of events from a child’s point of view about abuse. I think the piece embodies a lot of issues in the society and I like the flow with the numbers.

9. What is your best writing tip?

Just keep writing…no matter what

10. What is your best freelancing tip?

Break the box and use the pieces to create a new masterpiece

11. What advice would you give to a budding freelancer or writer?

I think it will still be stretch your limits, but don’t overdo it. Never be afraid to ask for help or advice and most importantly keep improving your skill ‘cos talent is never enough.