I have had a lot of career conversations with individuals and I’d say this is easily among my ‘top 10’. A full-time medical doctor and a full-time writer? Favour’s unique career combination raises intriguing questions about how she manages them both, and what motivates her to pursue both paths…
Quick question, what's your favourite thing about living in Nigeria?
Living in Nigeria means I don't worry about being treated differently because of my skin colour. In some other countries, being black can sometimes be a burden because of the way people may perceive or treat you. But here, I can focus on other aspects of my identity without feeling like I'm being judged because of my race.
Very true. You do content writing and medicine, two very different things. Why did you pick these, especially when being a doctor is seen as 'stable' for lots of people?
Well, content writing actually came before my journey into medicine. Even before getting into medical school, I had a passion for writing. I started as a creative writer, I was writing fiction and poems. Some eventually got published in literary journals like Midnight and Indigo. One of the stories I remember being published was "Mel Needs a New Name”.
It was a random story I penned down. Other pieces were published in Kalahari Review and African Writers as well. So, writing was a passion before I even thought about medicine. Then, someone introduced me to content writing, and I went into the field alongside my studies. In school, I was working as a content writer, and even after graduating and becoming a doctor, I continued with content writing.
How did you juggle medical studies and content writing while in school?
So when people ask me this question, I'm always like, I didn't do anything special…that's number one. There wasn't any secret formula. The most important thing was: that I saw they were both very important to me. I chose to see it that way because there's something that happens when you're in medical school, you feel as though the only important thing to you is medicine. And every other thing is less important and then you don't strive to do anything else.
But I saw the value in both. Content writing wasn't just a side gig; it was essential. It paid my bills, supported my education, and gave me a sense of independence. It felt good to go through medical school with financial stability and the freedom to pursue my interests.
You really managed a full-time job while being in medical school
It was a bit crazy, to be honest, especially during my final exams. But I had to set my priorities straight from the start. During my finals, for instance, passing those exams was my priority. I did manage to perform well, I was among the top 30. So, setting priorities was key for me.
Second is: just believing that you can combine them. There's this misconception that medical school leaves no time for anything else. But that's not entirely true. Yeah, it's demanding, but there are also periods where you can socialize, relax, and recharge. I know many people from medical school who managed to balance studying and enjoying life by going out with friends and doing fun things.
Thirdly, I made sure to read on time. The thing is if you don't start reading on time, at the end, you're going to choke. I made it a habit to begin studying from the start of the academic year. Then when exams came, I would double down a lot. In as much as you've been reading the whole time, during exams you have to do twice as much and sacrifice more. It was tough, and there were times I felt sad. But then I’d ask myself how many people are juggling these two things. I mean, you're doing a lot on your own, so there's no need to feel like you’re not good enough, just breathe in and move on. I’d tell myself: If they give you termination of employment, you will always find a new job.
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Haha. I've heard statements like "If you're into medicine, you shouldn't pursue other interests."
Even now, with a full-time job, I still write. I’d admit it's more challenging balancing work as a doctor and writing, but I've found a hack. I write in the evenings and only work with remote companies offering flexible schedules. So, while it's not always easy, I still manage to keep both aspects of my career alive.
You mentioned in a LinkedIn post that marketing is one of your favourite topics to write about. Why is that, especially since you enjoy creative writing?
I once worked at a branding agency in Ontario as a creative branding assistant. That job exposed me to marketing and advertising, which I found interesting. I also worked as a social media manager before focusing on writing. Alongside my job, I was building my personal brand on Instagram and LinkedIn. I really enjoyed working at the agency because it helped me understand marketing better. You know, marketing is something you see everywhere, so it's easy to understand and connect with.
Plus, I work as a UGC (User Generated Content) curator for brands like Google Jobs and Prime Video. Though I'm what you could call a nano-influencer with around 1,000 plus followers, I now understand how UGC and marketing operate. Applying these skills to my brand makes marketing easier to understand. Writing about something you don't know much about can be hard.
When people are passionate about topics like cryptocurrency, writing articles on it comes naturally. But if you're not familiar with a niche and you write about it, your content might lack that personal touch. That's why my background in marketing makes it easier for me to connect with and write about these topics.
Many African writers struggle to get jobs with international brands. What advice would you give to writers seeking opportunities with international companies?
When I began my journey, I focused on Nigerians living abroad. They're Nigerians too, so there's this instant connection and understanding. My first client was a Nigerian based in Ontario. I pitched her on Twitter, she accepted and we began working together. It was easy to communicate with her because we shared similar backgrounds.
My advice is simple: Find Nigerians who have worked with clients abroad. Listen to them, befriend them, and learn from their experiences. To find freelance writing opportunities, search for Nigerian content writers on LinkedIn, pay attention to the companies they've worked with. If they could work with them, chances are, you can too.
Also, as a writer from a third-world country, people might see you as inferior, so you must show that you offer a lot of value, even more than writers in their country. Be skilled in English writing, avoid using the wrong words.
I once worked for a client in the U.S., I was speaking with him and he said, you're not supposed to use ‘would’ here, you're supposed to use ‘will’. I felt so bad and what made me feel worse was when he said, ‘Oh, I understand that your country is not a first-world country’. But I was grateful because he took time out to explain that as a writer, I should use certain words correctly. It was a learning experience, and he remained one of my best clients. Remember, you're competing globally, so maintain global standards.
Oh wow. How about negotiating payments?
Confidence is everything. Because, truthfully, the only thing separating someone charging $1,000 per article from someone charging $100 is confidence. The $1,000 person is confident enough to walk away if the price doesn't match. Whereas, the person charging less lacks that confidence. Someone recently reached out with a $7,000 annual offer. I thought they meant monthly. But no, it was yearly, that’s barely $1,000 a month! It doesn't add up. I politely declined.
A friend asked if I'd reconsider, but to compete globally, you have to learn to say no to such offers. So, my advice to writers from developing countries aiming for a global market is to stand firm, refuse mediocre pay and treatment. It's doable; I know writers who earn over $100k yearly.
Thanks for sharing. What does Favour enjoy doing aside from writing?
Reading novels is one of my favourites. It helps me disconnect from my phone or computer, And then there's dancing. I'm no pro, when I'm excited, I dance away. I enjoy solo activities. I like to take pictures, eat, and relax on my own. I'm not into hands-on activities like DIY projects or sewing, which some people find odd.
If you could go back, what advice would you give your younger self?
Hmm, if I were to speak to my younger self, the first thing I'd say is, "Hey, calm down." Life's going to turn out great. Seriously, if my past self could see me now, she'd be stunned. Another thing I'd share is all the knowledge I have now about writing and finding opportunities. If I could go back, knowing what I know today, maybe I'd be a billionaire by now! I now realize that I didn't have to struggle as much as I did. If only I had someone like me now to guide me back then, things would've been smoother and faster.
I remember missing out on a big opportunity because I didn't follow through with my mentor's advice. Looking back, I regret not taking that chance. So, my advice to my younger self would be to embrace happiness, take it easy, and stop crying so much. Everything's going to turn out okay in the end.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how content are you with your career?
If we're talking about my career as a doctor versus my career as a writer, Writing makes me more happy. If I had the luxury of being a full-time content writer, I could do more if I had the time. Regardless, I'm still quite happy with where I am. I've achieved a lot for my age. So, overall, I'd say I'm very content. I earn enough to live comfortably and enjoy life's pleasures as a single lady on her journey.
So, you'd rate your happiness careerwise as...?
A 7/10!
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