I share stories women rarely talk about, Divayetty

A writer and social media personality, Yetunde Ogundiya, also known as Divayetty, has 363,000 followers on Instagram. She spoke with OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL about her career and lifestyle.

Writing was not something I discovered suddenly. It grew naturally inside me. I have always had a strong connection to words. Even in university, I liked the theory parts of exams. It allowed me to express myself and write a lot. So for me, writing was never a sudden thing. It was always a part of my life until I really noticed it.

That change happened in 2022 during my NYSC year. Before that, writing was just something I enjoyed. During NYSC, I started to focus on it more. I saw it was something I could develop intentionally. I realized that if I committed, improved my skills, and stayed consistent, it could be more than just a hobby. It could be my job, my platform, and my voice. That was when I began to take writing more seriously.

Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie is one writer I have always admired. I love how she tells stories and captures feelings honestly. I also admire Nigerian authors because our storytelling culture is rich. But since I focus on content writing and emotional storytelling online, there were not many people I could follow directly. At first, I did not know many people doing my style of writing online.

Still, I also admired creators like Phoenix Black and a few others whose work showed emotional honesty and connection.

One of my first stories that caught public attention was a funny one. I wrote about a chat in an Uber with a friend. It was about that awkward moment when you realize the driver is listening to your conversation. It was a simple and relatable moment, and people connected with it right away. Many said, “Oh my God, I do this too,” or “I thought I was the only one.”

I do not take this for granted. Most of what I built started online. Seeing people connect with my work means a lot to me. Beyond social media numbers, I see it as real human connection. These are people who see themselves in my words and trust me enough to stay engaged. That is why events like my live experience and book launch are so important to me. I want to go beyond online interaction and create real spaces where people can connect and feel seen.

My upbringing greatly shaped my storytelling voice. Growing up in Nigeria means being around storytelling all the time. Nigerians use humor, sarcasm, proverbs, exaggeration, and emotional expression to communicate. I grew up with my family in the same space, watching family dynamics, observing, and listening to stories everywhere. This shaped how I communicate today. It also fueled my love for analogies. I enjoy using familiar experiences to explain emotions clearly.

Research is a big part of my writing process. Many think writing is just about sitting down and typing, but it involves a lot of thinking and observation. Sometimes, I may relate to only parts of a topic, but to write deeply, I go beyond myself. I observe conversations, study experiences, and gather emotional patterns. For me, writing is not just self-expression. It is also about understanding people deeply.

One moment that stands out for me was while writing the chapter, 'You Are Not a Failure, You Are Still Growing.' There is a line about not stopping, and while writing it, I became very emotional. I realized I was also speaking to myself.

At that moment, I thought about how far I had come, from being a corper unsure about life during NYSC to becoming someone telling stories that resonate with many women worldwide. It was a deep and emotional moment for me.

I am drawn to conversations women often carry alone but rarely discuss. I pay attention to emotional experiences that people feel ashamed or scared to talk about. Topics like not feeling seen as a child, eldest daughter exhaustion, loneliness, emotional burnout, grief, or identity struggles are not easy to talk about. These are not always casual chats but conversations people only admit in therapy or private.

My goal with writing is to help people feel less alone in those experiences.

Writing my book tested me creatively because it requires emotional consistency, vulnerability, structure, and discipline over a long time. Unlike social media writing, where you express one idea, a book needs you to keep emotional honesty across chapters while keeping readers engaged.

It made me revisit painful memories, reflect deeply, and articulate emotions in a way that resonates with readers.

I would not call it a short journey because I have been consistent for years. If there is one thing that helped me grow, it is consistency. I know it sounds cliché, but it is true. I kept writing, showing up, improving, and noticing what connected with people. Over time, people began to trust my voice because they knew I was always present and genuine.

I bounce back quickly. I do not dwell on rejection. If criticism is constructive, I reflect and improve. But if it is not useful, I move on.

Protecting your confidence is crucial as a creative. If you let every negative opinion weigh you down, it becomes hard to create freely.

This can be tricky. Lately, I see more men connecting with my content, saying, “Write for us too.”

But I remind myself why I started and who my core audience is. My work has always focused on women, especially those facing identity issues, growth, emotional burdens, and becoming.

While anyone can connect with my work, I stay focused on writing primarily from women's experiences.

Many think content writing is easy and does not require deep thought. But writing is mentally demanding. It needs observation, emotional intelligence, structure, timing, creativity, research, and communication skills.

People often see the final post without realizing the thought behind making something emotionally relatable.

I watch a lot of movies. I love movie series. Ironically, I probably watch more movies than I read books. I enjoy storytelling in all forms, and films inspire me emotionally and creatively.

In real life, I am a shy person, which surprises many. People think I am outgoing because of my expressive writing, but I am naturally reserved. I am playful and funny around those I am comfortable with. My friends say I am funnier than people expect.

I attended St. Catherine Mary Primary School in Lagos for elementary education. Then I went to Command Secondary School for secondary education. I studied Linguistics and Communication Studies at Osun State University. Now, I am pursuing my master’s degree.