Nigeria Lockley
Author Nigeria Lockley is up this week (we’re in our fourth week can you believe it?!) here at the Teegarner Blog talking about her Writing Process and her Controlled Chaos. Here’s what she had to share about her writing process.
Tell us about your writing process. Do you use any productivity tools or apps?
I am a pretty simplistic writer. I don’t use any fancy tools or programs to get organized. My writing process is creative chaos. I begin with whatever I see and continue writing. Generally, I reread what I’ve written and then begin developing some type of organization for the story line. During the editing process I have found the program ProWriter’s Aid to be very helpful in tightening up my writing.
The middle portion of the story is exciting for me. Since I don’t
outline once I get to the middle I’m looking at characters like what are
y’all going to do now.
What’s the hardest part, for you, about pulling the book together? Do you have any writing rituals?
The hardest part for me is the editing stage. I hate revising. It’s a
necessary evil that drives me insane. In terms of preparing for
publication I’d say the blurb really trips me up–how do you shrink your story, tell all the good parts without giving it away, still make it
sound appealing. That movement always has me going urgh (with a twisted lip).
I write with a full face of make-up on when I’m at home or at the minimum lipstick. Generally, I choose bold, vibrant colors.
What’s your best advice for writers newbies or otherwise?
Don’t tell the story you think will sell or the story you believe others want you to tell. Write what is inside of you. Don’t deny yourself, your gift, or your God just for popularity.
Where do you complete most of your writing?
At this point as a mama mogul on the go trying to balance being an educator, run a company, and write books these books get written on my cell phone.
More about Nigeria:
Nigeria Lockley possesses two master’s degrees, one in English secondary education, which she utilizes as an educator with the New York City Department of Education. Her second master’s degree is in creative writing. Nigeria’s debut novel, Born at Dawn received the 2015 Phillis Wheatley Award for First Fiction. Nigeria serves as the Vice President of Bridges Family Services, a not-for-profit organization that assists student parents interested in pursuing a degree in higher education. She is also the deaconess and clerk for her spiritual home, King of Kings and Lord of Lords Church of God. Nigeria is a New York native who resides in Harlem with her husband and two daughters.
Visit Nigeria here at the following sites and 
check out her upcoming title release, Tempted to Touch:
Website
