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For Freelancers · September 16, 2019

An Interview with Ope Adedeji, Editor at Zikoko Magazine

Ope Adedeji is an editor for the popular Nigerian website, Zikoko. But Ope’s career trajectory is especially interesting to me because before Zikoko, she was the managing editor at Ouida Books. Ouida is a Nigerian publisher — they published Tomi Adeyemi’s young adult novel, Children of Blood and Bone in Nigeria.

But more than that, Ope is also a writer. She is an alumnus of Chimamanda’s Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop. Her work has been published in McSweeney’s and Catapult. Ope is also an editor at Arts and Africa, “a journal for chronicling African experiences,” which she co-founded.

In this interview, we talked about her start as a freelance editor and why she decided to move from book publishing to online publishing. We also discussed how she balances working full-time as an editor with writing regularly.



What do you do for a living and what does your job entail?

I’m an editor at Zikoko magazine. My job includes ensuring quality in terms of content. This means I’m reading and editing stories in various formats, ensuring that the stories are submitted and published on time, collaborating with writers to help develop their work, looking through pitches to find the best stories, etc. So basically the day-to-day operations of the magazine. On the long-term side of things, I work with my editor-in-chief to ensure there’s continuous growth of the magazine.

When did you realize editing was the job for you? How did you end up working as a managing editor at a Nigerian publishing house?

I don’t think I ever knew — that’s to say, I still don’t know. I think that I’m pretty young, and that there’s still enough time for me to explore different career paths, should I choose to go in a different direction. What I do know for now is that I love editing and working with writers who are intent on growing. I enjoy that relationship that ensues when a writer can trust you with their work, and trust your feedback.

To answer your second question, I must mention Arts and Africa which started as a pet project between a few friends and I. We wanted to create a channel or a space for young writers to publish their work without all the gatekeeping that sometimes goes on in the African literary spaces. To do this, and largely because we were young, broke, and inexperienced, we had to wear several hats. We all took on multiple roles which included editing, designing, social media management and so much. I guess that’s when I started to specialise in editing.

It also helped that I was doing a lot of writing and sending to some people in the literary space whose opinions and feedback I appreciate and respect. There was Sarah Manyika, Jite, Dami Ajayi, etc. We also edited each other — co-founders of Arts and Africa and I — a bit like a peer review.

This period, between 2014 and 2016 served as the foundation for my editing career. But even then, I didn’t think it was something I wanted to do long term. Not until Arts and Africa published its first poetry collection, Numb Tantrums. It was then I realised how little I knew about publishing in Nigeria. So I applied to work with Lola Shoneyin at the Book Buzz Foundation. As it turned out, there was a vacant position at Ouida Books, and the rest as they say is history.

ope adedeji zikoko mag freelance editing in nigeria

Why did you decide to leave your job at Ouida Books? And why the move from book publishing to online publishing?

I love Ouida Books and the Book Buzz Foundation. There’s no Nigerian organisation that beats both sister-companies in promoting literature, specifically African literature, than both organisations. But having worked there for almost two years, I knew it was time to leave — for a new adventure as they say. Importantly, for a space where I could learn even newer things, and grow in more ways than I had envisaged. Zikoko gives me that.

Although they’re both Managing Editor roles, how is your job at Zikoko different from what you did at Ouida Books?

It all comes down to the fact that one is digital (online), and the other is traditional (paperback). There’s a lot of daily operations that goes into the work at Zikoko. It’s also more immediate that at Ouida Books where editorial calendars span months and even years.

What do you wish more people knew about the work of publishing in Nigeria? Both online and off.

That they’re mostly different things that can learn from each other.

ope adedeji zikoko mag freelance editing in nigeria

I know you worked freelance for a while before Ouida, and even between Ouida and Zikoko. Do you still freelance now? How long did it take you to establish yourself, and how did you find clients?

I rarely freelance now, because there’s just no time. In between trying to write and read for myself, 9-5 and managing Arts and Africa with my colleague Afope, I can only take on 1 or 2 freelance jobs at a time.

Sometimes, I prefer the structure of 9-5. But freelancing came as an opportunity to further hone my craft.

In the beginning, it was more of editing for free for friends — and there’s still a lot of this — and that’s been going on since 2014/2015. That led to getting clients and putting some value on my work. There’s also self-praise — putting it out there that I’m an editor, and should you require said service, you can contact me. Other times, it’s people who I’ve worked with recommending my services and that’s nice.

ope adedeji zikoko mag freelance editing in nigeria

What do you love most about working at Zikoko Mag?

What I love most is the talent, amazing team of young people trying to make the best out of the world in various formats. Everybody is sort of fullstack, or eventually becomes fullstack and capable of working in diverse roles in a magazine. But at the same time, as much as there’s room for everyone to learn a range of new things and improve themselves, there’s room to grow and specialise in one thing. That has to be my favourite thing. 

Which parts of your job are the most “stressful”?

I’m not sure. I think it’s the waking up and going to work part that’s stressful. It’s commuting in Lagos part — spending so much time in traffic and having little time to rest.

How do you balance being a writer and an editor working a 9-5(?)? What tips do you have for writers with a full-time job?

I don’t think I’ve found the balance yet. I try to write weekends, but there’s always something else to do — sometimes work. My hack right now is to always write on the go. So I use Google Docs/Keep to take down notes, sometimes incoherent ramblings that float into my head when I’m in commute. Some of these sentences go on to become the beginnings of some of my best work. Some are abandoned, but I keep jotting them down.

In a good month, I should try to write one thing every week. This was my 2019 resolution. But I haven’t quite gotten to “good month” yet. I do have a newsletter which tasks me to write every Thursday. It’s typically less than a thousand words. I started sending them out in March. They’re often ramblings, and without real literary merit. But they’re important to because in a way, they are proof that in spite of the bustle of everyday life, I can still write. 

What has been your proudest achievement in your work as a writer and editor so far? What future goals (that you can share) would you like to achieve?

Proudest achievement: I often cannot choose, but if I had to, I’d say it was getting into Chimamanda’s Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop. As an editor, it would have to be getting into Short Story Day Africa’s Editing Fellowship. It would seem from these that most of my achievements revolve around learning from prestigious organisations and people that are really good at what they do. I’m not sure though, but it’s possible.

What do you think writers and editors could do to improve their craft? What advice would you give them about navigating the world of writing and building a sustainable career?

Read deliberately is the advice I’d give to writers and editors. Which is a lot different from “read everything,” the generic advice that’s usually given to writers. Reading everything is important to some extent, it helps you tell the good from the bad — in a sense that is not limited to subjectivity. 

Reading deliberately starts when you’d like to take your career as an editor or writer seriously. It’s really about studying what you’re reading, and trying to get into the head of the writer or editor of the book. Reading Toni Morrison made me ask questions about how sentences are constructed, and what defines a writer’s style. And these questions were born from a place as a writer and editor. 

Morning or night person? How do you like to start your day? What do you like to do for fun?

More of a morning person. I like to start my day with a good story or essay! I disturb my boyfriend for fun. Haha, just joking. I probably read for fun, or hang out with friends. I also binge watch sitcoms for fun and go restaurant hopping too. Well, if I’m not broke. I also love travelling. That’s also dependent on being broke or not.

ope adedeji zikoko mag freelance editing in nigeria

Which books are you currently reading? What was the last book that moved you?

I’m currently reading Kintu! Lovely, lovely book. Last book that moved me? Hm, not so sure. Perhaps Purple Hibiscus. I reread it in December. The first and second time I read it were in secondary school and shortly after university started. It had a new meaning when I read it, or I had new eyes. One of the two. I think I cried after. 

What else do you wish I’d asked you about freelancing, editing, publishing, or just life in general?

How to make money as a Nigerian editor/writer/publisher. Of which I don’t know the answer.


Meet Ope Adedeji

ope adedeji zikoko mag freelance editing in nigeria

Ope Adedeji is a lawyer, writer and editor. She is the Managing Editor at Zikoko, and was formerly the Managing Editor at Ouida Books. Her work has appeared on McSweeny’s Journal, Barren Magazine, Arts and Africa, Afreada, and Catapult Magazine. She is an alumnus of the 2018 Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop and is a 2019 Short Story Day Africa Editing Fellow. She lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

Connect with Ope on Twitter.

More Editor Interviews

  • Adebola Rayo on freelance writing and editing in Nigeria
  • Anwuli Ojogwu, Co-founder of Narrative Landscape Press
  • Enajite Efemuaye, Managing Editor of Farafina Books

I love talking to freelancers (especially writers and editors) about their careers. If you’d like to chat with me, or know someone who would, send me a message!

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About the Author

Afoma Umesi is the founder and blogger at Reading Middle Grade. She's a writer and editor with a deep love for children's literature. Her favorite genre is contemporary realistic fiction, but she'll never say no to a graphic novel. Read More…

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Comments

  1. Jane Rosebery says

    September 16, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    1. I love that shirt she is wearing (with the message). I feel the same way. 2. Great interview. 3. Ugh, I’m still learning to balance it all and I’m failing miserably. Good for her!!

    Reply
    • Afoma Umesi says

      September 18, 2019 at 11:17 pm

      Thanks for reading, Jane! I feel you on the balance angle. I’m on vacation and being away from work for 4 days straight made me so anxious! The struggle is real 😔

      Reply
  2. Mynativebase says

    March 25, 2020 at 6:09 am

    Beautiful piece, well done. I love that you are keeping it real and being super expressive 👍🏿

    Reply
    • Afoma Umesi says

      March 31, 2020 at 4:01 pm

      Hi, yes, keeping it real is the way to go. Thank you so much for reading!

      Reply
  3. Emmanuel says

    November 4, 2020 at 10:56 am

    Lovely interview.

    Reply

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🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fa 🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fans

If you’ve been looking for more high-stakes mysteries for tweens, let me introduce you to THE WINTERTON DECEPTION! Meet 13-year-old twins Hope and Gordon. They’ve just found out that their dad was Brandon Winterton (of the wealthy dictionary magnate family). Unfortunately, Hope can’t stand rich people, especially since the twins and their mom are barely making ends meet and living in a motel. But their fortune is about to change.

When Gordon enters the family into the Winterton Bee, they’re thrust into into the midst of family’s secrets, with a deadly enemy, and a scavenger hunt set up by the family’s dead matriarch. 

This is a fast-paced mystery with plenty to gnaw on between the twin relationship, family drama, character development, and flashbacks that help readers learn more about the Winterton family.

So happy that more and more mysteries are coming out for readers in the 6th-8th grades. This one does touch a bit on addiction and there’s a scene where the kids’ lives are in danger but all ends well!

It’s out at the end of October! 🤩

#mysteriesforkids #middlegradebooks #bookstagram
👯‍♀️ TWINS in middle grade literature 💕 

I love seeing more twins in middle grade books. For a long time, the only twins I knew in middle grade lit were the Sweet Valley High girlies. Then, I got a glimpse of twin life with Issa and Jessie in @karinaisreadingandwriting’s THE VANDERBEEKERS. 

Since then, we’ve seen more depictions of twins, including Varian Johnson’s TWINS (a graphic novel about twin sisters Francine and Maureen entering 6th grade), MIRROR TO MIRROR by Rajani LaRocca, and Hope and Gordon in THE WINTERTON DECEPTION (review to come)!

And of course, these two books, TWIN CITIES and SAVING SUNSHINE (which I just started and am loving)! While these stories will appeal to twins, I think everyone who’s ever been curious about twins will love getting a glimpse into what life feels like as one half of a whole. 

Which middle grade twin stories have you read and loved? 😍 

#middlegrade #twinbooks #mglit #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks
📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the 📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the truth 

This stunning graphic novel follows Cinzia, Avvisi writer’s apprentice living in sunny Sianerra. Cinzia and her mestra write news stories/pamphlets to the city, but not everyone likes when they tell the truth. 

After an edition exposing the ruling family for extortion, cinzia and her mestra are arrested at night and she has to join forces with the princess to fight back against censorship. 

Besides the wonderfully imaginative and powerful storyline, loved the visuals and the diversity representation in this graphic novel. The main character has a bad leg and gets around with a walking stick, which is something rarely depicted in graphic novels (and it’s barely even discussed—it just is!).

Although, this book is closer to fantasy (but without magical elements), it’s set in a Renaissance-style Italian village, so it could work for lovers of realistic fiction too.

Look out for it in November! Have you read this graphic novel? Thoughts? Is it on your radar already?

#graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites 🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites

Looking for an upper middle grade book about ballet, friendships, and body image? Meet TURNING POINT. 

This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)’s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church “friends”) feeling like she has no life.

At the ballet intensive, Mo comes face to face with her competitive attitude which is fueled by feelings of not “fitting in” with the mostly white, skinny ballet dancers. Even though she makes a couple of friends (who basically lovingly force her to befriend them), she’s insecure at times, afraid to be vulnerable because everything feels so different. On the other hand, Sheeda is desperate for something new. Unfortunately, she falls into a risky situation with Mo’s brother whom she happens to have a crush on.

Paula Chase is one of my favorite writers for this audience and this may be my favorite of hers so far. It’s in the same universe as two of her previous books, DOUGH BOYS and SO DONE but you don’t need to read them in order. 

I’d say her books are great for kids ages 12+
Have you read any books by this author? Which ones are your favorites?

#booksbooksbooks #mglit #bookstagram
🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides I’d seen this b 🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides

I’d seen this book floating around for ages but was never drawn to it (the cover maybe?) until I saw a review somewhere I can’t remember 🤪 I was pleasantly surprised!

Twins Luisa and Fernando find their paths diverging as they’re entering sixth grade. Luisa will be attending middle school in the US just across the border from Fernando’s school in Mexico. There, they come to face to face with different, but equally pressing challenges that threaten to tear them apart.

I really enjoyed this book. The side by side depictions of both kids parallel lives, the way the illustrations celebrate Mexican culture, living, and traditions, and the heartwarming way the twins find their way back to each other. 

I’d recommend this one to 6th graders and up (heads up for content warning: text mentions and depicts illicit drug use by a minor, although portrayed in a negative light) as a fascinating look into Mexican culture, life as a twin, and finding your own identity.

#kidlit #graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man An ♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man

Ant isn’t your average 10 year old. He loves a good game of spades and he and his best friend are planning to revamp their reputation after losing badly at the last spades tournament. But things are changing in Ant’s life. His dad is acting weird, asking him to hide things from his mom. There’s a new girl in class who Ant maybe likes and who plays spades better than many boys he knows. 

When his best friend is grounded, Ant teams up with Shirley, hoping to impress his father and finally be tough like Joplin men should be. But instead, he learns what it really means to be a man—and it’s not about never crying.

There’s SO MUCH going on in this story, but the author does a stunning job of keeping all the threads in place. I was very surprised by all the protagonist has to manage at his age and the fact that it all remains believable. The story is told by Ant’s ancestor, lending a touch of magic realism. There are also many details about playing a game of spades and I loved, loved the audiobook narrator.

If you’re looking for a meatier middle grade book perfect for kids ages 9-12 (and older, really—love the cover!) looking for books that balance levity and relatability with real issues like toxic masculinity, parental addiction, friendship issues, and crushes.

#mglit #middlegrade #middlegradebookies #kidlit #booksforkids
❤️ a protagonist for the times Willow (Lolo) ❤️ a protagonist for the times

Willow (Lolo) Weaver’s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn’t herself and she’s given away her grandfather’s foster dog, Hank. Lolo’s mother is heavily pregnant and Lolo is in summer school because she didn’t do too well in her last exams. On top of that their lake town isn’t a lake town anymore because the lake’s been drained and smells awful now. 

Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better and she’s convinced that getting back her grandfather’s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop’s boat to steal Hank back—only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who’s the new dog owner).

I really enjoyed Lolo’s story. It’s strongly reminiscent of classics like Ramona and Lolo’s voice leaps off the pages. The setting is also an unmistakable part of this story and the story feels drenched in summer. My heart went out to Lolo who always feels like she’s the reason why everything’s gone awry. I also laughed plenty at her way of seeing the world. 

This book is perfect for family readalouds especially for kids in grades 3-5. Dog lovers and kids who like a good adventure with a sprinkle of mischief will love it too.

#mglit #summerbooks #booksforelementaryschoolkids #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram
🎸 believe the hype I was very nervous about re 🎸 believe the hype

I was very nervous about reading a book about a kid with cancer, but there’s no better author than Rob Harrell to do this. 

When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it?

As heavy as everything I’ve mentioned above sounds, this book is more hopeful than anything else. We follow Ross through radiotherapy and the painful, sad side effects of cancer medications, but also through learning to play the guitar, an unlikely friendship with a school bully, and a closer relationship with his dad.

I especially loved the audiobook version which has fun interdissions featuring Will’s comic alter-ego BatPig (with a different narrator, background jingles and everything). 

I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up looking for funny books with male protagonists. It’s also a great one to hand to kids coping with cancer or chronic illnesses. 

If you’re in the WINK fan club, you just got a new member 😉

#mglit #books #bookstagram
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