Emerging writers are literary orphans

A friend recently expressed his frustrations over failure to get his work published.

Expecting the usual bashing of publishers, I was pleasantly surprised when he turned his ire on established writers! He argued that the dearth of new books in local literary scene should be blamed on likes of Ngugi wa Thion’go, Meja Mwangi, Majorie Oludhe Macgoye among other authors for failing to endorse emerging works by young writers.

His view is that if a writer like Prof Ngugi endorsed a new book, publishers would fall over themselves to publish it.

I have read excellent novels from young Kenyan writers who are not known but to a few readers. I have not seen our seasoned writers recommend such books to readers.

Endorsing or rubbishing literary works is left for critics and reviewers.

In literary circles, authoring a blurb is basically an endorsement.

That is what is lacking in Kenyan works. That established writers in Kenya have let down literary sector is not in doubt.

Unlike in sports where retired legends are often found in the pitch coaching children, our literary giants have abandoned new writers in the wilderness. Probably the unique nature of writing as a profession results in this situation.

Some people argue that the absence of blurbs by our veteran authors might be a pointer to two possibilities.

One, that the books being churned out locally are sub-standard that no reputable author wants to risk his reputation by endorsing them. The jury is still out on that matter but the truth is that efforts go get a much-needed boost from Ngugi et al have largely come a cropper.

In 2013, Mike Duran, the author of Subterranea, wrote an insightful piece on authoring blurbs.

While writing on blurb etiquette, he notes that most writers are reluctant to endorse a book for fear that it might turn out to be dull and jeopardise their brand. Ironically, though he unsuccessfully sought endorsement from other writers.

A writer who writes a blurb for a novel places his name and reputation on the line for a book that is not their own. But that does not mean veteran writers cannot assist young ones.

In Decolonizing the Mind, Ngugi admits attending a language workshop in Makerere to have Chinua Achebe approve his draft on Weep Not Child. I can imagine the elated feeling young Ngugi had when Achebe agreed to go through the draft.

But that was then.

Currently, it is easier to find the Holy Grail than to have our established writers give a book a discreet endorsement.

I know that because I have been there.

In 2010, I accompanied a friend to a leafy Nairobi suburb to attend Kwani Litfest. Among the guests were Ngugi, his son Mukoma, Miceere Mugo, Oludhe Marjorie, Rebecca Njau and Okey Ndibe. I had a raw manuscript of a novel I had dared to write. I hoped Ngugi would look at it. What folly!

Find agreeable themes

In retrospect, that was a foolhardy move on my part but I didn’t know any better. Suffice to say, my mere existence and intention at the event never made a blip in Ngugi’s radar. I skulked in one poorly-lit corner waiting for a break so that I could pounce on the great writer and give him the manuscript.

It never came to pass.

The author was mobbed by hordes of literary wannabes who justifiably felt that having invited Ngugi at the vent, they owned him.

Properly chastised, I trooped back home with my untouched manuscript, disappointed but wiser.

The lesson from my aborted mission is simple. Young writers in Kenya are on their own. Writers like Kinyanjui Kombani of The Last Villains of Molo and others got to where they are today by hard work, talent and sheer luck.

Perhaps I am being too harsh to foundational writers. Maybe they have done enough to nurture second and third generation of authors.

That, I won’t bet on.

As expected Ngugi’s children have taken after their father. Mukoma has Nairobi Heat and Wanjiku wa Ngugi has The Fall of Saints. I am not speculating on the hardship the two might have gone through to publish but I believe Ngugi’s name and reputation was a welcome boost in their publishing endeavours.

The prolific David Maillu declares that he is the most published author in Kenya but is he a literary godfather to any writers we know?

Some critics argue that intertextuality — a writer influencing the themes, characterisation and plot line of another writer’s story — is an attestation that veteran writers have helped other writers find agreeable themes to work on.

Innate joy

Nicole Wolverton, author of the psychological thriller The Trajectory of Dreams, admits that a blurb from established writers is a major boost for new writers. Apart from giving one innate joy, the book also has prospects of flying off the shelves once it has solid endorsement.

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development even decided to adopt a new book as set book for schools because Ngugi said it was great.

That just shows how powerful a nod from a world literary icon can be.

Celebrity endorsements also gives a book much-needed publicity. In US, the hugely popular Oprah Winfrey’s show spawned Oprah’s book club.

Oprah would select a book and have people read it for discussion after a month. With her millions of followers, the selected books instantly became popular and virtually unknown authors became overnight celebrities. Books that no one had heard of were suddenly on everyone lips as they sold millions of copies. In its 15 years of existence, the show recommended 75 books. In total over 55 million copies of assorted books were sold during that time.

Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire owner and founder of Facebook, has also adopted the idea of book endorsement. He created a page A Year of Books where he posts the titles of books he is reading. He invites people who have read the books to participate in discussions about the books.

Such an arrangement has the potential to massively enhance the profile of writers for books selected and lead to sale for millions of copies. Zuckerberg has a cult following that is willing to buy his identified books to connect with him. That shows the might of endorsements.

I am not in any way advocating that any aspiring writer should harass the publicity-shy Meja Mwangi and try to wring a colorfully-worded endorsement from him. I also know that not all books will get glowing recommendations but for the beautifully written ones, why not?

Ultimately, lasting legacies by our veteran writers might not be pegged on how many books they wrote but on how many young writers they made great.