Welcome to The Ibinabo Residency! And today we’re counting down our picks for the top nine things every writer needs for a consistently favourable environment.

1.    Chemical substances. Prescribed, carbonated, sweetened, or distilled. They give us that much needed boost to complete our writing or an excuse to stretch our legs and take a break. I don’t know how many times I’ve lied to myself that I’ll complete a piece after I look for Coke to drink.

2.    Therapists that are easy to find and aren’t expensive. I swear to God, I would so be powerful as well as a phenomenal writer if my mental health weren’t in shambles. Writers deserve good mental healthcare!

3.    A 24-hour accessible library with Wi-Fi, ergonomic chairs, desks, and a cafeteria. I just want a quiet solitary place where I can write, food is already prepared, and I don’t have joint pain from trying to find a good position to write in. And internet service that isn’t shoddy. Spectranet and Etisalat it will never be well with you.

4.    MONEY!!! Lots of it. This is self-explanatory.

5.    Free time from work, school, and other social engagements. We all need the time to just sit around and do nothing. It makes it easy to recharge and restart your writing.

6.    Lack of scrutiny from others when you spend hours hunched over a computer or a notebook. Mind the business that pays you. I’m not pressing phone; I’m working.

7.    Freedom of speech. I don’t want to confine my writing to bowls that are restricting. I need my content to overflow and spill over to my heart’s desire regardless of the size of the container.

8.    Community. Workshops, retreats, residencies, picnics, online groups, and other sources of fostering connections between fellow writers.

9.    Most importantly, every writer deserves peace.

What did you think? Do you agree with our picks? Check out our other short works and be sure to watch out for our upcoming pieces.