Meet Ogochukwu Ossai

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ogochukwu Ossai. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ogochukwu, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I think my resilience comes from growing up Nigerian and being raised in a culture where perseverance is not just valued but expected. My parents taught me that every obstacle is a test of endurance and imagination. That lesson stayed with me when I moved to the U.S. for graduate school and later began building my writing career from scratch, often in spaces where I had to prove my voice belonged. Writing itself has also been a source of resilience; each story I create is an act of reclaiming possibility, of transforming uncertainty into something beautiful or meaningful. I draw strength from community from other writers, from my family, from mentors who believed in my work when I doubted it. Resilience, for me, isn’t about never falling apart; it’s about learning to rebuild, to stay tender even when life demands toughness.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a Nigerian fiction writer and poet based in Atlanta, Georgia. My work often explores identity, grief, and belonging through the intersections of myth, realism, and the African diaspora experience. I recently completed my Ph.D. in Creative Writing at Texas Tech University, where I also taught undergraduate courses in fiction and rhetoric. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Long Island University, Brooklyn, where I received the Marilyn Boutwell Graduate Award in Fiction.

My creative and scholarly work has been supported by fellowships and scholarships from several respected organizations, including the Tin House Autumn Workshop, the 2023 Anaphora Writing Residency, the Hatty Fitts Walker Scholarship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, The Poetry Project’s “Who Drives the Pen?” program with Gabrielle Octavia Rucker, and the Idyllwild Arts Writers Week Fiction Fellowship. I am also the recipient of the Bruce G. and Cara Pollard Herlin Scholarship (2023–24).

My writing has received multiple distinctions, including the 2025 Goldfinch Novel Award Longlist (Warwerri), the 2024 Dzanc Poetry Prize Longlist (House of Ferns), the WOW! Women On Writing Flash Fiction Finalist (Lost at Sea), and the Voyage Anthology 2 Finalist (Frankie & Bestie). My poetry piece “Glazed Memories” won the 2019 Equinox Journal Poetry Contest.

My work appears in The Dark Magazine, African Writer Magazine, The Poetry Project Footnotes, and The Dillydoun Review, among others. Beyond writing, I love to travel, hike, and capture the beauty of nature through photography. I also share my creative process and reflections on literature through TikTok, where I connect with readers and emerging writers.

Right now, I’m completing a young adult fantasy novel that draws from Igbo mythology and explores power, loss, and legacy through the lens of a teenage girl uncovering her inherited magic and seeking revenge on the people who murdered her parents.

Beyond writing, I’m passionate about design and digital art—I build and design websites for creative professionals and literary projects. I also love traveling, hiking, taking nature photographs, and creating book-inspired content on TikTok, where I share insights about writing and storytelling. Currently, I’m working on a young adult fantasy novel rooted in Yoruba cosmology and themes of inheritance, grief, and power.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey the most: curiosity, faith in God, and empathy. Curiosity keeps me open to people, places, and stories that challenge my worldview. It’s what drives me to research deeply, to understand before I create. Faith in God sustains me through uncertainty and reminds me that every delay or rejection can still lead to purpose. It gives me the peace to keep moving even when I can’t yet see the destination. And empathy, I’ve learned, is the heart of storytelling. It allows me to step into other lives and worlds, to write characters who feel human and flawed, and to connect with readers beyond surface experience.

For those at the beginning of their journey, I’d say: nurture your curiosity by reading widely and outside your comfort zone. Strengthen your faith and trust that what’s meant for you will find you when you’re ready. Also, practice empathy not just in your work, but in your life. The more you listen, observe, and care, the richer your art will become. Every step you take, even the uncertain ones, will shape your voice into something singular and lasting.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I’ve learned to pause rather than push through. I take a break and practice self-care, sometimes that means spending quiet time at home, cooking a meal I love, or watching a feel-good movie. Other times, I lean into community. Being around family and friends reminds me that life exists beyond deadlines or expectations, and that laughter can be deeply grounding. My faith is also a constant anchor. I meditate on Scripture, pray, or simply sit in silence, reflecting and re-centering my thoughts. These moments reconnect me to what truly matters. And when I can, I travel as it allows me to step into a new environment helps me breathe, gain perspective, and return to my work renewed.

If there’s any advice I’d offer, it’s this: don’t mistake rest for weakness. Creativity and clarity often come in stillness. Give yourself permission to pause, recharge, and trust that stepping away is sometimes the most productive thing you can do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bibianaossai.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bibianaossai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bibiana-ossai/
• Twitter: https://x.com/BibianaOssai
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bibianaossai