Literature Failure, Yet a Born Writer

I’ve always loved writing, but I never really had the chance to explore that part of me—maybe because of the obstacles.

But hey, sit back and let me give you a little introduction about who I am in the writing world.

Back in secondary school, I was very fond of literature. Passionate about the subject, I loved every part of storytelling. I never missed a literature class. In fact, teachers began to notice how present and eager I always was.

You’d think I was the best student in class because of that dedication. But no—I wasn’t.
Ironically, literature was the subject I failed the most. Not because I didn’t love it, but because I wasn’t very good with English.

Oh yes, you heard me right. I’m not as great with English as I’d love to be. Why? Let’s just say I’ve always struggled with remembering some rules of the language. I converse well in English—it’s basically the only language I speak fluently since I barely use my native tongue—but writing it has always been tougher. A test once placed me at C1 level, but still… here I am telling you all this.

Why? Because that’s my biggest secret. Don’t worry—this is proofread. I just have to be transparent with you, my newest reader, because from here on, I’ll be sharing more and more stories about my life. And for us to build the best writer–reader friendship, you need to understand me from the very beginning.

Now, back to my story—lol.
I discovered my “failure” when my WAEC results came out. I felt so discouraged seeing an F9 in Literature. After all the energy and effort I poured into it, I was crushed. I thought maybe I wasn’t meant to be the storyteller I dreamed of becoming.

I was hurt—deeply. I gave up on my dream of being a writer. I told myself maybe I wasn’t gifted enough to put my wild imagination into words.

So I grew up and left writing behind, focusing on other skills. Still, verbally, I remained a great storyteller. Not in gossip—I’m more of a listener when it comes to that—but in spinning characters and tales from my imagination. I often shared them with my best friend, Gift, who was ghostwriting novels for clients. I’d help her build scenes and ideas. That gave me satisfaction and reminded me of what I loved.

Then suddenly, everything changed. One day, I wrote a 1,100-word story about heartbreak—how a man I loved had hurt me. I posted it on X, and to my surprise, people loved it. I got so much positive feedback. Readers kept commenting on my story, praising my writing.

I was shocked 😳. Do I really have this talent in me? I asked myself as I watched the numbers grow and strangers celebrate my words. That day, I felt good—loved, motivated.

A “failed” Literature student had become a born writer 🥹.

Well, that’s just a short introduction. I have many more stories to tell—some to make you laugh, some to make you reflect, some to keep you company, ease your stress, and remind you that words can be companions.

So, don’t forget to subscribe to My Short Fables.

I’m Bariduura Lois, your storyteller ❤️