Petlwana makes open call for Independence poems and articles
Writer Cheryl Ntumy encourages writers to keep pushing boundaries
Petlwana has made an open call for writers to get published in a special Independence showcase.
We’re feeling patriotic this Independence month... are you? Petlwana is looking for a Setswana poem and an English essay on any theme that can be applied to Independence. Please submit your entries by 20th September 2022. The winning entries will be published on the Petlwana and Petlo websites. Submit to petloliteraryarts@gmail.com
Cheryl S.Ntumy,who is a longtime member of Petlo Literary Arts noted that writing in Botswana is not easy but it is worth it. Ntumy writes novels, short stories and other fiction in various genres.
In an interview with Vibe, she noted that there are free publishing platforms but most of them don’t work with Botswana banks, and some don’t even work with PayPal.“Amazon KDP for instance is easy to use, but you need an overseas bank account. Aside from that, the biggest challenge is promoting your work once it’s online. Marketing is a full-time job for a self-published author,” she said.
She encouraged writers to research, read and write a lot.
“Local writers need to look outside Botswana for opportunities. Every local author I know who has had any measure of
success has done it by building their profile internationally and working hard to develop their craft.”
“Getting published itself is a benefit. It adds to your bibliography and overall profile as a writer. Some of our frequent contributors had never been published before Petlwana, so it gives a platform to new writers. Beyond that, we really try to help writers develop their craft, especially in fiction.”
Making good book sales is a challenge, particularly in Botswana, as the market is small but she encouraged writers to keep writing and trying to create opportunities internationally. “I can’t advise on how to make good sales; I’m not there yet! Getting an agent seems to help. We need to stop thinking of writing in one way. There are many ways to make a living as a writer.Writing scripts, articles, blogs, copywriting, stories for computer games, ghostwriting, etc.Think outside the box. Most importantly, develop your craft. It’s like any other skill,” she said.