*If I Should Write Again...

Have you ever been plagued by something but can’t find the right words and the right person to tell it?

It’s been nearly 24 hours since I began to think about something that I thought I won’t be able to do anytime soon; to write a new novel. The first novel I completed was through a collaboration with a dear friend. It was a romantic comedy, not really much of a fancy. While planning it, we were dreaming of something big. But when it was through, it was like just watching a typical Korean/Taiwanese soap. Never to be a classic or a hall of famer.

But I felt proud of my first work after all. It was the first. It was memorable. During the time we were making it, I spent at least three hours a day in front of the PC. That caused my eyes to get strained and I often get headaches. With that suffering, I said to myself that I won’t be writing a new novel anytime soon. There would be at least a period of about a year or so.

Last night, my fingers got itchy and so I opened MS Word and grabbed the keyboard. I have this idea in mind. I can see the scenes unfolding. I can feel the characters. But when I’m about to type the plot draft, the cursor just stared blankly at me. I was suddenly out of ideas that were buzzing a few moments ago.

I’ve read manuals about how to write a novel but those didn’t help much either. And here I am, left with someone really in me… the writer. But how can I function as a writer if I can’t tap anything on the keyboard?

The reality just froze me. If you experienced something, it would be a lot easier for you to make a story about it. Yes, I experienced that story idea, but I can’t find the words to make it into a prose.

There’s no stopping. No matter what happens, I’ll pursue on this story. Because if I can’t tell it frankly to everybody, I’ll just give it life on paper.

(Written by JM Reyes, Manila)

*If I Should Love Again, song by Barry Manilow