FINDING YOUR SUBJECT

The topic we shall be discussing is quite simple and and at the same time an essential one to take note of. We all know that before you write, especially nonfiction articles, you must have a subject. In this context, subject means the "main topic or idea" on which you build your write up.

This invariably means that, as a writer, it is imperative you find your subject, else you might beat around the bush and not really make a major point thereby reducing your level of impact. The fact is, having a subject (that is, main topic or theme) helps your focus, amplifies your creativity and delivers your message clearly. It helps your readers anticipate and understand your work better, leaving them less puzzled about what you are trying to say.

For example, let us say Upjay picks up a book that has no title, in this case, subject. The truth is, he will spend the whole reading journey trying to figure out the main message the author is trying to pass across and somewhere in his subconscious, he might even give it his own title based on his conclusions about that book. Another instance: imagine you go for a class and the lecturer, teacher or instructor says, "you know what guys? There is no topic for today. Let us just go with the flow, wherever the wind leads us." I bet you will be confused throughout that class and leave with a slight headache because you spent most of the time trying to understand the concept (subject) behind what was taught in the class.

So from the two examples given, we can conclude that having a subject you want to write on gives both you, the writer, and your readers a sense of direction. Having established this, let's move on to how you can find your subject! In the quest to find your subject, you might encounter some difficulties because sometimes;
~you might be clueless about the particular thing you want to write about, all you know is you feel like writing something, anything.
~your main topic may be unclear because you feel your write-up has a bit of everything. Since everything is nothing, you've got to seek for clarity.
~your subject/topic/theme might unfold as you begin to write especially for fiction writers because your characters come alive gradually.

We will be looking at four ways to find your subject. They are pretty easy, trust me. They are as follows:

1. Know What You Are Passionate About: Passion gives birth to a lot of things and believe me, it gives birth to your subject. It reveals the purpose of your writing. To find out what your passion is, you might have to pay more attention to what you are always talking about, that thing you never ever get tired of sharing with others when even you are given the opportunity to express yourself. Something that drives you and spurs the writer in you. Yeah, you have to discover that thing and that could lead you to your subject. For example, Rachael can't choose "Politics" as her subject when she has no passion for it and she is never interested in anything that concerns it. Kolewerk (it wouldn't work)! Even if she succeeds to come up with something nice, she'll discover that isn't her strength and she would have done better on a subject she is more concerned about. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't try your hands on other subject matters or stick with one particular topic for the rest of your life. No, all I'm saying is that whatever you are writing about, always link it to your passion and your purpose for writing will be made clearer. Let's say you, yes you reading, and I decide to write about "Education." That's our subject but our delivery will make the difference. I might want to dwell on the importance of child education through my article, telling my readers that every child deserves an education while you, on the other hand, might come from the angle of the poor quality of our educational system, telling your readers that it has dwindled ever since the colonial masters left Nigeria. You are the one writing this, not me. I'm sure you get the point already. Link your passion to whichever subject you pick.

2. Do Some Research: Sometimes, going through other works that have been done about several topics will help you narrow your choice of a subject. So research a bit more to learn from others who have delivered it excellently and also to get some certainty about the subject you want to write about. Research could save you a lot of brainstorming. So go through archives and past works to get a clearer picture of exactly what you wish to write.

3. Find Your Muse: Muse simply means your source of inspiration. You can't write as you should without an inspiration. As untrue as this might sound, it is true. Now, the beautiful part is that you can be inspired by anything and anyone! From books, songs, environment, rain, sunshine, animals, bible, a child, an adult, etc. There is no limit to your inspiration. Remember the time you read a book and while reading or after reading it, you said to yourself, "Ah, I can do this as well!" You just believe you can write about that particular thing even better. I remember after reading Chimamanda's Americanah, I felt like writing my own novel and make it fun-filled for my readers just the way she did. Now, that was my muse. Some persons get inspired by scriptures. That moment you catch Rhema and you put it down, that's your muse. For some, a neighbourhood, environment, or nature could serve as a muse. So if you're having writer's block moments, or you're confused about what your subject should be about, it may do you some good to find a suitable place to free your mind and get inspired! Imagine going out for an evening walk and the wind becomes your escort. It might begin to whisper some things. Don't fail to put them down, it could be your subject. Or you find a bird whistling, that could inspire you to begin, "she stood there right in front of me, flapping her beautiful wings. I knew she was calling for me, with those sweet melodies that caught my attention. Slowly I move to touch her but then she flies away and I'm left wondering...." Hehe, so the bird became a source of inspiration and the subject for writing.

Well, let's not digress too much. I'm certain you get the gist that you can get inspired by anything, even an experience, but make sure it's the right source though. So surround yourself with the right muse!

4. Keep Trying: Keep trying your hands on several subjects. This will help you know which one will be best for your writing career. Don't limit yourself to only one subject/topic/theme, explore as many as possible. Sometimes your ability to try out different subjects may improve your writing. Other times, your ability to write about one particular subject in different ways could be what makes you stand out as a writer. So know what works for you.

Find your subject today!!!

Teacher: Jennifer Chioma Amadi