When I Became A Writer
A short fiction story based on the writing prompt about ‘A time when you got noticed’. This writing prompt is part of the Daily Writing Prompts by The Challenged.
One day I happened to be sitting in the corner of my class. There was a window next to my seat with a beautiful poster just next to it. The poster had the words “I feel an indescribable ecstasy and delirium in melting, as it were, into the system of being, in identifying myself with the whole of nature...” by Jean Jacques Rousseau inscribed on it.
Not that I particularly liked Rousseau, but I liked this poster. The words of the poster made no sense to anyone. The poster was large, had a golden frame, and the writing was inscribed in gold lettering.
I looked outside the window. I was not fond of studying, but I wanted with all my heart to be worthy of everything the words of this poster stood for. I wondered how I could make this happen.
It was then that I started to work on myself. I went home every day and tried to spend time reading through my notes after school. I also started to groom a bit more, just so I could look and talk like a smart person. I did not just want to be some nerd who studied all day, I wanted to be someone who others could easily look up to, and identify with. I wanted to be worthy of Rousseau’s beautiful words.
One day a writing competition came up, and the professors informed us about the event. There was a grand prize of 10K that would be paid to the winner of the competition. I knew that I was already doing things to change myself as a person.
But how could I truly be the epitome of everything that was embodied in the beautiful quote by Rousseau? I decided to take part in this contest. I indeed had a knack for writing. The entries for the contest had to be submitted by the end of two weeks, and I was raring to submit mine.
The theme was ‘open’ so people could write about anything under the sun. The word limit was around 3000 words, so of course there was a catch. Only a well-selected topic could be described eloquently in 3000 words, and not bore the reader to bits.
I decided to write about something easy, so the writing wouldn’t be much of a challenge. I wanted however to tell a story. I did not want to challenge the reader of my story. I knew in the corner of my mind, that it was not important to win. Winning the money sounded grand, but I was also aware that a well-written piece would gain the approval of those who labeled people as smart, or as writers, or as someone worthy of Rousseau’s quote.
I sat down at my cozy bedside table and put my night lamp on. I started to write from memory everything I knew about ‘identifying with nature’. This phrase was part of Rousseau’s quote and I hoped like crazy that writing about something I believed in would make it come true for me.
I wrote and wrote into the wee hours of the night. I looked outside the window at the moon, the clouds, and the trees. I thought deeply about every word I wrote. I wanted what I wrote to resonate. I wanted this story to be something people would like to read, share, and talk about.
I occasionally sipped the warm hot chocolate, that had marshmallows in it. I thought deeply about the fact that writing in itself was a journey, and when the words had a purpose, they would mean something.
I tried to use metaphors to describe abstract thoughts I had about nature. I wanted my writing to be a representation of the beauty of nature that showed its simplicity as well as its shades of grey. ‘Nature is ever before us’, I wrote ‘But it is a verdant dream that needs to be cherished’ If we don’t care for the trees like they had life, since they too live a 100 years, that dream will not be ours to claim. Trees are life, and Nature too is a story of life’
I wrote like this until I had written exactly 3000 words. I wrote about a topic that wasn’t too common. I wasn’t too keen on winning the prize, without having the people who read my story telling me that it was awesome as well. But I knew it was amazing writing, that had great chances of doing well, even winning.
Soon it was the end of two weeks and it was time to submit my contest entry. I prayed in earnest before I handed it over to my professor. I hoped like crazy that people would see and get the message that I wanted to convey through my writing.
I wanted people to agree with me. I wanted people to also want to ‘identify with nature’. I wanted to win the prize money. But I wanted more than anything to sit near that poster on my classroom wall and feel like I was worthy of it. That poster was the inspiration behind my contest entry.
I prayed every night dreaming about what I had written. It kept me up at night. I constantly thought about whether my writing resonated. I kept wondering if people could identify with the theme of my story. I traveled through the words, wondering, hoping against hope that people would also want to ask the questions that I had asked about nature in my writing.
I realized that I was a nerd who liked to work hard and was capable of working towards my goals. I also realized that I was a good-looking writer who had a chance of winning this competition. Or at least being noticed for my talent, and apart from that experiencing a shift in the way things worked in my life.
Soon the contest results were out. Sure enough, my name was on the bulletin board. I did not win the contest but I was eligible for a cash prize, and social media coverage. I decided to make the most of the opportunity. I wanted to be worthy of Rousseau’s words, and I also somehow wanted people to get to know the person behind the writing!
I got the money and put some of it into savings so I could have all the Starbucks coffee I wanted, whenever I wanted it. I also spent a little on a new wardrobe, some new denim, and also something to wear for interviews, and all the coverage the writing would be getting.
I suddenly realized that I was no longer the person I used to be. They say that there is a time and purpose for everything. But I was getting used to the role of a writer. I wrote more, and more, published a book, and took part in more competitions. I did it all before I went to the next class.
I sat down as usual in the same corner of that old class next to the window, and the giant poster. I looked at the gold frame, and the writing inscribed in Gold. I did feel an indescribable ecstasy and delirium in melting, as it were, into the system of being, in identifying myself with the whole of nature. I also feel like my essay on ‘Identifying with nature was my best work ever’
I realized that I too was smart. And all of those things I needed to be to bring home the truth of Rousseau’s quote. As I chewed on the pen I was writing with in class, the smartest, cutest guy in class turned around and ‘noticed’ me. Then he asked for my number. I had indeed done it all! Not only was I a writer, but now I was a writer with a social life!
Here’s a link to another blog post about my book, since I do like talking about it on Medium
A few short stories on Medium by me that you might like:
If you’re feeling like it, you could show me some love ❤ and add to my tip jar