A Young Writer’s Journey: Precious-Gold Orieukwu Shares Her Story

 

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Precious-Gold Orieukwu is one of the outstanding young voices recognised at the Nightengale Literary Awards. In this interview, she shares her inspiration, writing journey, and the story behind her prose piece Dark Wakefulness.

How did you feel when you heard that you came second in the competition?
I was excited and thankful.

What inspired your prose piece Dark Wakefulness?
My elder sister was my inspiration. She always complained about being the first child and would often wish she had senior siblings. So, I decided to create this story because I wanted to bring my sister’s world to life.

Can you briefly tell us what your story is about?
The story is about a girl named Amarachi, who was the first child of her supposed parents. She was asthmatic and often regretted being the first child. Her parents never had time for her, and she was made to do all the housework. Her father was a doctor, while her mother was a child psychologist.

Later, they became politicians, and that was when Amarachi discovered that they were not her real parents. She began searching for her biological parents and eventually found out that her supposed parents were kidnappers who sold children. She exposed them, reunited with her real family, and discovered that she was not the first child after all. In the end, she found a loving home, and her fake parents were made to pay for their crimes.

What part of writing the story was the most challenging for you?
The part where her parents became politicians was very challenging because I do not know any politician personally, so it was difficult to understand and portray how they live their lives.

When did you discover your love for writing?
When I was in primary school, I wrote many unfinished novels. I believe that was when my love for writing began.

Who supports you the most in your writing journey?
Many people have supported me in my writing journey, but my main supporter is my elder sister. She always encouraged me to keep writing and said the sky was my starting point. The novel was written in appreciation of all she did as the firstborn.

How did you prepare for the Nightengale Literary Awards competition?
I prepared very hard. Sometimes, I would observe things around me and then write them down.

What does this recognition mean to you?
This recognition means a lot to me, and it will always be remembered.

What advice would you give to other young writers?
I would advise them to keep writing, no matter how their work may seem, because one day they will become great. Their voices matter a lot to the world.

What type of stories do you hope to write in the future?
I am currently working on a very detailed novel that I hope will be recognised internationally. I aspire to write a popular novel like those of Chimamanda.

Precious-Gold’s story reflects passion, growth, and determination. Her journey shows that with consistency and belief, young writers can find their voice and make meaningful impact through their words.