In this edition of the Writers Space Africa magazine, I had a chat with the founder of Golden Quill Editing Solutions and the current coordinator of Writers Space Africa-Ghana, Maame Efua Eshun. Join me as we discuss her writing and editing journey.
PPBlessing: Could you briefly introduce yourself
Efua: I am Maame Efua Eshun, but everyone calls me Efua. I’m a writer and editor at Golden Quill Editing Solutions. I’m currently the coordinator for Writers Space Africa-Ghana and Assistant Communications Manager at Ghana Food Movement. I’m introverted and extroverted, depending on my environment and the people around me. I love to read whenever I can and have a passion for art as well.
PPBlessing: How have you been able to combine doing all of these things?
Efua: Honestly, it hasn’t been easy. It was even worse when I was editing for WSA, editing for my business, working part-time, and schooling at the same time. But one thing that helped me and still helps is always creating a to-do list of things I want to do in a day (at least 5 things) and trying my best to finish them by the end of the day. That gives me some kind of routine that I can follow to get things done and also keep track of what I’ve been up to.
Also, being disciplined counts. Now that I’m done with school and have a little bit more time on my hands, I’m learning to discipline myself and distribute my energy across board so no area or task is left lagging. It’s not easy, but I’m doing my best.
PPBlessing: That’s wonderful. How did you get into writing?
Efua: My writing journey started when I joined Writers Space Africa-Ghana (WSA-G) sometime around 2019. A friend of mine—Phyl—whose poems I used to proofread, introduced me to WSA-G in that year. I started out with poems, very whack poems, and some of the critiques I got broke my heart to pieces, in fact, to powder! But they were all for my good and I got better with time and more practice. I was also introduced to other genres and fell in love with Creative Nonfiction (CNF) so I chose that and poetry to specialise in. But currently, I write more CNF than poetry. I think I’ll just stick to the former, but time will tell.
PPBlessing: Will you recommend joining such writing communities to others?
Efua: Absolutely! I can say for a fact that I wouldn’t have become as good a writer as I am now if I had learnt everything on my own. The critiques, other people sharing their works, workshops, and lectures, etc. inspire and shape the writer and I highly recommend such communities, especially for amateur writers. Aside from learning, joining WSA really widened my network. I’ve gotten to virtually encounter a lot of cool people I probably wouldn’t have met if I hadn’t joined. It’s like an online family on its own and I thank God always for planting me in there!
PPBlessing: Have you always wanted to start your own editorial business?
Efua: Funny enough, it wasn’t my goal when I started. I didn’t even think about it. I started with editing my friend’s poems every now and then, and after I joined WSA-G and then WSA main later, I could easily spot errors in the works some of the other writers shared, so I’d say it came to me easily. Fast forward, I ended up editing articles and screenplays by Anthony Onugba (PenBoss) almost every week before he shared them. That put me in the spotlight during my early days and more people in WSA got to know about me and some came to me for editing which I did for free. I then realised that it’s something I could monetise. So, I took it seriously, took a few online courses, read a lot and practice more frequently, and I got better and better.
In 2020, I started thinking of business names, it wasn’t easy, surprisingly, but I ended up with Golden Quill Editing Solutions. Golden because I believe there’s power in my fingers which flows to my pen/keyboard and makes things better… Quill to signify a writing tool, necessary for manual editing…Editing to show people what the business does or is about… and Solutions because I have the solutions to your editing problems!
I started monetising my editing somewhere late 2021 and set up social media accounts for it and all. And in May this year, I registered the business officially. Over the years, I have been able to put some systems in place that make it easy to deal with customers and also give them a good experience. I’m still learning and I believe it can only get better with time.
PPBlessing: So apt! What has been the most challenging work you’ve had to edit so far?
Efua: I can’t mention any one work but there have been a few works that gave me migraines! There have been a few occasions where I had to stop editing, sleep, and go back to the work later before I could figure out what the writer was trying to say. This is very important because an editor must never touch the original meaning of someone’s work. Yours is to correct it, make it better, not change the story or tell it your way. So, I take my time with such ‘challenging’ works, because though the writer’s English may sometimes be very rusty, I always want a smile to appear on their face after they see what I did with their work.
PPBlessing: What are some pointers you can share with someone getting into the editing business?
Efua: Reading wide does the trick baby! Read wide, whenever you can. It does wonders for an editor. And research a lot. Learn the intricacies of the English language, or whichever language you choose to edit in, so you can make corrections from an informed position. And when you feel you’re ready to monetise it, don’t relent, because editing takes a lot of time and energy and can be draining, so why not be compensated for it? Besides, writers will never go extinct, as such editors will always be in need. So monetise it when you can. Go for the mula!
PPBlessing: As a writer, what exactly, do you want to achieve with your writing?
Efua: I haven’t really put much thought into that, but first, I’d like to get better, and then in the very near future, I’d like to publish at least two books, specifically Creative Nonfiction that give people a glimpse into my life but also give them the opportunity to enjoy creative storytelling.
PPBlesing: How about poetry?
Efua: I don’t know if I’d go back to poetry, but it’s quite unlikely, to be honest. I feel like it takes more work to write poetry than Creative Nonfiction. I love poems and all the poets out there, but this is how I feel, no offense, haha.
PPBlessing: I take no offense on their behalf. How has being a former editor with WSA magazine contributed to Golden Quill?
Efua: Two things: it has added to my experience and enriched my practice. I edited the creative nonfiction genre of the WSA for 2 years, and I must say it was a good experience for me, you know, working with other editors, learning to work within stipulated timelines, meeting deadlines, etc. All of these things gave me a rich experience, and by editing these entries every month, I got the opportunity to sharpen my ‘editing eyes’ and my attention to detail. Even learning to balance editing for the magazine every month while doing my school work (since I was still in school at the time) was a different kind of training on its own, and I’d say it’s been a worthwhile experience.
PPBlessing: Do you have mentors?
Efua: As far as editing is concerned, I used to look up to Namwanja Margaret Chukwabi of blessed memory. She owned Rosebud Editing in Zambia. She was elated when I told her about my first paid editing gig and later about my desire to set up my own editing business. She encouraged me and was willing to help me find my feet, only for death to do what it does best. Her death really broke my heart and I still haven’t come to terms with it, but I know she’d be impressed with the progress I’ve made so far with Golden Quill Editing Solutions. But for now, one person closest to a mentor, who likes to call himself my cheerleader is Yaw Antwi Owusu. He’s been amazing… always cheering me on even when I make the least achievement, and encouraging me to be my best at all times.
PPBlessing: How has your course of study contributed to the work you do for Ghana Food Movement?
Efua: Quick fun fact, I got my job at Ghana Food Movement through WSA-G, but more on that later.
I read BA Communication Studies (Public Relations major) in school and I work part-time as the assistant to the Communications Manager of Ghana Food Movement. I started as an Office Administrator (I still do that in addition to the communications). It’s a fairly young food/agri organisation that’s already making waves in the industry! By working there, I got the opportunity to practice what I studied in school, so everything communication and other things on the side. Through this work, I also learnt that life on the field or on the job is very different from school and that not everything you learn in school would be needed on the job. But, thanks to my boss, Lydia Amenyaglo, and the cool and accommodating work environment at Ghana Food Movement, I’ve been able to adjust and thrive. I’ve been there a little over two years and I’m glad I grabbed the opportunity to work there when it presented itself.
PPBlessing: Why did you choose to work with a food company?
Efua: Because I like food. Also, it’s called Ghana Food Movement because we’re a network of food and agriculture enthusiasts drawing positive attention to Ghana’s food system and highlighting its potential.
I didn’t say no to working there because due to the program I read in school, I’m able to work anywhere, granted I can put my skills and knowledge acquired to use.
PPblessing: That’s wonderful. What have you learnt about the food industry so far with your role and are there lapses that can be improved?
Efua: One most important thing I’ve learnt is that Ghana has the power to feed itself without having to spend billions on food importation… money we could use for other important things. We have arable lands, we have good weather, we have several indigenous ingredients that are nutritious as well, and we have the human resources to do the job, i.e. tilling the land and developing technologies for agriculture. All we have to do is focus on supporting ourselves, hone our abilities, develop a taste for locally made products, and support local businesses, among other things and then we’ll be on our way to self-sustenance as far as food and agriculture is concerned. And that is what Ghana Food Movement is all about, drawing people’s attention to issues like these and making use of the opportunities in the food and agri industry.
PPBlessing: That’s commendable. Tell us about how WSA-G brought you the opportunity.
Efua: Some time ago, WSA-G organised a series of workshops and I had to coordinate it—and I wasn’t even the country coordinator then—especially with communicating details of the workshops to the various facilitators, keeping them updated on any developments, sending them reminders, program outlines, etc. from the time we reached out to them for the workshop till they delivered. Abdallah Smith was one of the facilitators who also happened to be a co-director of the Ghana Food Movement. He mentioned that he was impressed with how I was keeping the facilitators abreast with the preparations and whatnot and that he was part of an organisation that needed someone to do just that with their management meetings, etc. so if I was interested… and here we are today. Best decision I made in my young adult life!
PPBlessing: What do you do for leisure?
Efua: Sleeping and reading! I do either of them depending on my mood.
PPBlessing: What are some of the things you’d like to achieve as an editor?
Efua: It’s my dream to edit Chimamanda Ngozie Adiechie’s novel someday, or one of these other well-known writers, at least, but Chimamanda, preferably. I’d also want to get to a stage where I can employ other editors to work with me, even if on a freelance basis, and also help several writers to achieve their publishing dreams.
PPBlessing: That’s awesome. We look forward to that. Are there people you’ve mentored or currently mentoring?
Efua: Uhm, no, at least not strictly in the sense of the word. There are a few people I advise, encourage, and inspire in what they do, but I wouldn’t call that mentoring. So no, none yet.
PPBlessing: Who are your top 3 favorite authors of all time and why?
Efua:
- Chimamanda Ngozie Adiechie
- Yaa Gyasi
- Chinua Achebe.
Why? These three have some powerful minds and words! I’d choose their books over movies any day!
PPBlessing: If you hadn’t gotten involved in writing or editing, what field would you have been in?
Efua: The arts or tech industry, maybe. The former because it’s a natural talent that I could hone and make good use of, and the latter because I have a little interest in it and I think I could excel if I ventured into it.
PPBlessing: When you said you have a passion for arts, what exactly do you mean?
Efua: I’m naturally talented when it comes to art: drawing and painting. I like how art is able to soothe one’s mind, even just by looking at a piece of art. Everything about art excites me, basically.
PPBlessing: Which book among those you’ve read or edited has had a lasting impact on you?
Efua: Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing. That book made me want to know about my family tree or line so badly. It made me wonder how my great great great great grandmother looked like, did she have to deal with slavery? Was her husband or children taken away on slave ships? How was life back then, etc? I thought about these things for days after I read the book and still do sometimes. If any book that leaves you thinking about it for days on end is not excellent, then I don’t know what it is! It made me think of the slave trade and the colonial times a little differently. In short, I really enjoyed that book. I may read it a second time when I get the chance.
PPBlessing: If you had a chance to change anything about your writing and editing journey, what would it be?
Efua: I would have started doing them earlier than I did!
Thank you for reading through to the end, I hope you’ve been inspired to pursue your dreams in writing, editing, or any other field you are interested in.
Read – Benny Wanjohi: The Poetic Maestro
