The Story Teller

It has always been my dream to become a master story teller. I started scribbling when I was in high school with the typical high school drama being my subject back then.

After two decades, except for a third place winning piece in short story writing contest in college, I still haven’t produced the novel that I’ve always believed I could create.

Until 4 years ago, I finally decided to sit and get it over with. I was able to produce about 120 pages of a masterpiece written in Tagalog, my native tongue. I went to a publication and submitted my manuscript. After about a month, I called the publication for a follow-up and I was told that my work was ‘to be returned to the author’ and I knew then that it was rejected.

I was so sad. I felt so weak I hadn’t the strength to get my manuscript back. But it was mine, I worked for it. No matter how badly it was written, I wrote it.

I got it back. It took me few weeks before I had the courage to open it and read the Editor’s note and finally found out why it was rejected.

My work, according to the Editor, was very realistic. It was a good love story but not a romantic novel, which is the genre that they publish. They need, said the Editor, something that almost never happens in real life. And if I want them to publish my work, I have to make ‘necessary changes.’

With that, I smiled wide. My work was not that bad after all. It just needed.. ‘necessary changes.’ But I want none of that. I like my work the way it was, and the way it was it remained.

I won’t be another JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer. I’m too realistic a writer for that. But I know that I can write and write I will.. Who knows? Maybe after another decade I will be able to produce SOMETHING. Whatever that something is.. well, I still have yet to find out.

Happy New Year, everyone!!

7 Responses to “The Story Teller”