the monitor

Navigating life’s uncertainties through fiction

Journey of Uncertainties book
Journey of Uncertainties book

Sebaga B Ngoni’s novel, Journey of Uncertainties, is a thought-provoking work that reflects on the unpredictable nature of life and the resilience required to navigate it.

Targeted at a teenage audience, the book seeks to resonate with young readers by addressing challenges and uncertainties that many experience during their formative years. Ngoni describes writing as both an outlet for emotional expression and a means to process adversity. “Making art helps me process my feelings and experiences with adversity,” she says. “Through writing, I can communicate emotions that might otherwise be difficult to express, and this, in turn, helps me create stories that convey the complexities of the human condition,” she further says.

The title of the book was carefully chosen to reflect its themes and appeal to its intended audience. With the help of a friend, Ngoni explored different options that would capture the essence of the book and align with the interests of readers. She emphasises that crafting a suitable title was a critical part of the process of finding a title that resonates with the intended audience as it increases the likelihood of drawing readers to the book. The process of writing Journey of Uncertainties was not without its challenges. Ngoni highlights the difficulty of creating a coherent narrative that balances engaging characters, an unpredictable plot, and a thought-provoking conclusion. “It’s important for the story to grip the readers without being overly obvious. Planning, outlining, and revising were key to achieving this balance,” she explains. Interestingly, Ngoni notes that the book’s events and characters are not based on her real-life experiences. Instead, the narrative emerges as an exploration of broader themes, particularly those related to creativity, growth, and the role of uncertainty in life.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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