My Writing Journey by Ilerioluwa Dada
I don’t really have one exact reason why I love writing. Honestly, it depends on the moment. Sometimes I write because I’m feeling really happy. Other times I write because I’m upset or excited—or even when I’m just overwhelmed. Writing is like my way of letting everything out. I write to clear my mind and to express myself when I can’t always say it out loud. And when I come up with a cool idea or a fun character, I just go with it and start writing. It’s fun, and it makes me feel good.
But there was one big moment that really inspired me to start writing seriously. One day, I found a notebook filled with short stories my mum had written when she was a teenager. I was amazed. She had written all these cool, creative stories just for fun, and reading them made something light up inside me. I thought, “Wait—I can do this too!” That’s when I started taking writing more seriously and dreaming about becoming a published author one day.
I mostly write at home, especially when I’m in the mood or I just want to relax. Writing doesn’t get in the way of school, which is nice. I’ve learned how to balance both. When I need to do schoolwork, I focus on that, but when I have free time, I dive into my stories. I don’t put pressure on myself—I just let it flow.
Here are some fun facts about me:
• My favorite sport is basketball.
• I really love England—I don’t know why, but I just think it’s cool!
• My favorite Christmas song is “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
• I love the Home Alone movies.
• My favorite classical piece is Canon in D.
• I LOVE pizza.
• I volunteer in the media department at my church.
• I love teasing my dad (in a fun way).
• I like proving people wrong when they don’t expect me to do something big.
I also enjoy reading Bible stories, watching Netflix, playing the piano, and listening to music. And when I can’t sleep, I sometimes write or watch shows until I feel sleepy.
If I could give one piece of advice to other kids who want to write, it would be this:
You don’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need to be published to be a writer.
You just need to write. Write what makes you happy. Write about things that make you wonder or feel something. It can be stories, poems, songs—anything. Even if it feels small or silly, just write it down. You never know what it could turn into.
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My Books
1. The Adventures of Super-Ileri and Jesus: Super-Ileri and the Monster Snowball
This was the first book I published, and it actually started from a drawing I made on regular notebook paper! I created a character named Super-Ileri, and I imagined what would happen if she teamed up with Jesus to stop a giant snowball from destroying a town called Faithville. It’s a fun, adventurous story, but it also has a strong message: we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). I want kids to know that Jesus is always there for them and they can call on Him anytime.
2. Black Inventors History Forgot
This book is really special to me. It’s about amazing Black inventors who changed the world with their ideas and creations—but most people have never heard of them. I wanted to write their stories so that other kids (and even adults) can learn about them and be inspired. These inventors were smart, creative, and hardworking—and they deserve to be remembered.
You can find both of my books on Amazon and Amazon Kindle. I hope my stories inspire you to dream big and never give up!
