Episode 177: Narration and Voice — Interview with Ayobami Adebayo

by Gabriela Pereira
published in Podcast

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am so excited to have author Ayobami Adebayo on the show!

Ayobami’s stories have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies. She holds BA and MA degrees in literature in English as well as an MA in creative writing, and has received numerous fellowships and residencies.

Her debut novel, Stay With Me, is set in her home country of Nigeria and was one of the Buzz Books at Book Expo 2017.

Listen in as we discuss Ayobami’s debut novel, and how to find the right narration for your story.

In this episode Ayobami and I discuss:

  • Writing alternating first person POV, and how to do it right.
  • How to discover your characters’ motivations and the reasons for their actions.
  • Ways to use your story’s framework in order to shift your reader’s perspective.
  • Deciding what to show or say—and what to leave unsaid—in your novel.
  • Tips and techniques to prevent breaking your novel, even when you take big risks.

Plus, Ayobami’s #1 tip for writers.

About Ayobami Adebayo

Ayobami Adebayo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and holds BA and MA degrees in literature in English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife. She also has an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was awarded an international bursary for creative writing. She has received fellowships and residencies from Ledig House, Sinthian Cultural Centre, Hedgebrook, Ox-Bow School of Art, Ebedi Hills and the Siena Art Institute. Ayobami has worked as an editor for the Saraba Magazine since 2009, and her stories have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies. One of these stories was highly commended in the 2009 Commonwealth short story competition. Her debut novel, Stay With Me, was one of the Buzz Books at Book Expo 2017 and is available now.

To connect with Ayobami check out her website at www.ayobamiadebayo.com.

Stay With Me

Yejide and Akin have been married since they met and fell in love at university. Though many expected Akin to take several wives, he and Yejide have always agreed: polygamy is not for them. But four years into their marriage–after consulting fertility doctors and healers, trying strange teas and unlikely cures–Yejide is still not pregnant. She assumes she still has time–until her family arrives on her doorstep with a young woman they introduce as Akin’s second wife. Furious, shocked, and livid with jealousy, Yejide knows the only way to save her marriage is to get pregnant. Which, finally, she does–but at a cost far greater than she could have dared to imagine. An electrifying novel of enormous emotional power, Stay With Me asks how much we can sacrifice for the sake of family.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase DIY MFA makes a small commission at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 177

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

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