fighting the algorithm.

day seven.

Oluchukwu.
2 min readJan 8, 2025

i hate how creative writing in lagos (and nigeria) has been “contentified.” it feels like creative writers are now really into the data surrounding their work. the number of claps, and views, and the engagement numbers. they want to know where the highest number of readers are so they post more there.

i think it’s a general issue with the world and the draw of the internet. everything is a sacrifice at the altar of the algorithm. we all want to learn how to tweak it and bend the eyes of the world to ourselves, even for a brief second.

i understand it. i don’t agree with it, but i understand it. however, i’m still very romantic about my work. i write for an audience of one (me). i am grateful for every single person who takes time to read, but at the same time, if everyone decided not to read Oluchukwu, i would still write and post here on medium. maybe i’m wrong to assume every writer should feel like that? i don’t know. all i know is that this switch was caused by the tech boom. once student writers in unilag & UI were hired by tech companies to do ux writing and create copy, it was only going to go one way.

if you’re a writer reading this, here’s my two cents on not getting lost in the algorithm: remember why you started. find a way to always remember that pull you feel (or felt) around stories, around words.

it’s a lot harder when you also write for work. take it from me, i work in PR. but you must remember. you must hold that desire close. remember the audience of one (you).

for everyone else who isn’t a writer, the message still applies. it’s super easy to get lost in work and the day-to-day grind – i know, but hold on to the things that feed your soul and keep it alive. the things that keep you alive. you really have to grab on to them and hold.

i wish it was easier, but it seems the point of humanity is to strive for (almost) everything. everything requires effort, things have to be earned. i hope we find the strength. i hope we find our reasons for being.

i’ll see you tomorrow.

Oluchukwu’s note: I intend to publish something every day this year. Obviously, this is a herculean task for me (you all know how much space there is between stuff I have written recently) but I will give it my very best shot. I hope you will show up with me ❤

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Oluchukwu.
Oluchukwu.

Written by Oluchukwu.

i was born in aba, so all my life i've felt like a spare part.

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