Divine Onyejiuwa, author of Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think I first started considering myself a writer when my passion for acting began turning into something more. I had always loved creating scenes in my head, especially after watching movies, and I would imagine characters, conversations, and entire moments playing out in my mind.

Eventually, I started thinking about what happened to all those scenes once the moment passed. I didn’t want them to simply disappear. I had the feeling that I could take what I was imagining and actually put it down on paper, turning those little scenes into stories that could exist beyond my imagination.

That was when writing started to feel less like something I casually did and more like something I genuinely wanted to pursue. I realized that storytelling wasn’t only something I could act out—I could create the worlds myself and give them a life on the page.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer, and how does that affect your writing?

I would describe myself as a part-time writer because I’m currently a biochemistry student at university, so I have to balance writing with my academic responsibilities. That said, writing is something I take very seriously. If I have the time and nothing else demanding my attention, I can easily spend an entire day writing.

Being a student has taught me how to manage my time. I’ve learned to make room for writing alongside my studies rather than waiting for the perfect amount of free time to appear. It can sometimes mean that I have to work around my academic schedule, but I’ve found a balance that works for me.

I don’t think being a student has taken away from my writing. If anything, it has taught me discipline and made me more intentional about the time I do have to create.

What have you written so far?

I’ve written across quite a few different genres. My work includes Young Adult fiction, contemporary romance, children’s fiction, fantasy, supernatural fiction, mystery and thriller, and horror.

At the moment, I have two books that have been independently published: Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling, a YA contemporary story, and The Price of Her Freedom, a contemporary romance. But I’ve written many other stories that explore completely different worlds, characters, and themes.

I’ve always enjoyed moving between genres rather than limiting myself to just one. Some stories are more emotional and realistic, while others take me into fantasy, supernatural, or darker territory. I think that variety is one of the things I enjoy most about writing because every new story gives me the chance to explore something different.

Do you work with an outline or plot sketch, or do you prefer to let a general idea guide your writing?

My writing process usually starts with inspiration. Sometimes an idea comes to me after reading a book or watching a movie, and sometimes it simply appears on its own. When a character or story idea comes to me, I like to write it down immediately. I’ll give the characters names, make little notes about them, and start developing the story from there.

I’m not really an outliner in the traditional sense. I don’t usually sit down with a detailed chapter-by-chapter plan or character sheets. Instead, I develop the story in my head first. I like to imagine the scenes almost as if I’m directing a movie that only exists in my mind. I’ll walk around, act out different characters and conversations, and actually feel the emotions of the scenes while I’m imagining them. Music is often part of that process because it helps me find the right atmosphere for whatever I’m creating.

By the time I sit down to write, I’ve usually already experienced a lot of the story in my imagination. I also like to know how I want the story to end before I begin, even though I may discover little details and moments along the way.

Once I start writing, I tend to move quickly because so much of the story has already been playing in my head. I edit as I go, but after finishing the manuscript, I always go back through it again to re-edit and proofread.

For me, writing is almost like directing a film that I can see before anyone else does. I just have to find a way to translate what I see, hear, and feel in my imagination onto the page.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

My biggest advice to aspiring authors is to write because you genuinely love it. Passion matters, especially because the journey can be much slower and harder than you expect.

There will be rejection, setbacks, silence, and moments when you question whether your work is good enough. I’ve had moments when I wanted to give up too, but I kept finding my way back to writing. And every time I did, I came back better.

So be patient with yourself, work hard, believe in your work, and never stop looking for ways to grow. Celebrate your achievements, but don’t let them become the place where you stop. Keep challenging yourself to become better.

Most importantly, don’t let rejection convince you that your story has no value. If you have a story inside you that you feel compelled to tell, there is a reason for it. Trust the process, trust God with the journey, and keep going even when things aren’t happening as quickly as you hoped.

If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast?

For my recently published YA contemporary fiction book, Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling, I would cast Sabrina Carpenter as Marbiee. She has that glamorous, confident energy that I imagine for the character.

For Griz, I would choose Lana Condor. She has a quieter, calmer energy that I think would suit her really well.

I’d honestly love to see those two bring the characters to life on screen.

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work?

Some of my favorite authors are Anna Todd, Jenny Han, and Elle Kennedy. They have all influenced me in different ways, especially through their passion for storytelling and the way they bring their characters and stories to life.

I wouldn’t say that my writing journey is exactly like theirs, because every writer has a different path. But seeing the way they tell stories and connect with readers has definitely influenced me as a writer. I admire their passion for what they do, and that has encouraged me to keep developing my own voice and approach to storytelling.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I think my creative growth has been gradual. I’m constantly learning something new and discovering different ways to bring the ideas in my head to life.

As I continue writing, I’ve become more comfortable experimenting with different stories, genres, characters, and themes. I don’t think I’ve reached a point where I can say I’ve figured everything out, because there is always something new to learn and improve. For me, evolving creatively means continuing to explore, staying curious, and finding better ways to turn the stories I imagine into something readers can experience.

I think that’s one of the things I enjoy most about being a writer—there is always room to grow.

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