The truth about ghostwriting in Rwanda

Let me say this upfront: some of the books you’ve read in Rwanda (and beyond) were not written by the names on the cover. And that’s not a scandal. That’s the industry. I’ve ghostwritten. I’ve sat across from people with powerful stories that could move a nation, and realised, very quickly, that having a story […]

Book editing in Rwanda: What every serious author should know

Finishing a manuscript is no small thing. It takes discipline, imagination, and the patience to stay with a story or idea until the last page. But a finished manuscript is not yet a finished book. Before your work reaches readers, it needs another set of eyes. Someone who can step back, see what’s working, notice […]

What editing books by Rwandan writers has taught me

Editing is a job that begins inside someone else’s thinking. It often starts with a message like, “I’ve written a book. I just need you to help with proofreading.” When I open the document, it is rarely just proofreading. It is a first or second draft that still needs some work. Sometimes the writer wants […]

What it means to be an emerging writer in Rwanda today

If you say you are a writer in Rwanda, the first question is rarely, “What do you write?” It is more likely, “Is that what you do full-time, or do you have another job?” The question is usually asked casually. People are trying to place you. Writing, on its own, does not yet count as […]