Me, The Writer

It was an opportunity of a lifetime to win the first prize in the National Short Story Writing Competition.My teachers have been telling me how great my writing was. So if what they had been telling me was true, then I stood a fair chance of winning the competition. What was better, I had professional help. Uncle Lim, an old gentleman living near my block, is a published writer He agreed to read my story and give me some pointers on how to write like a professional.

Since the closing date was a good three months away, I could wait for a while. I was advised by Uncle Lim that only amateur writers waited for inspiration;professionals wrote whether they were inspired or not.I reminded him that I was an amateur and waited. He did not say anything, but merely shrugged his shoulders and shook his head sadly. Inspiration finally came – two weeks before the closing date.

I wrote furiously and finished a story in two days.I decided to show it to Uncle Lim. Uncle Lim was a man of few words. He said, “Rubbish!” and threw my papers down the wastepaper basket. Then he proceeded to give me a list of suggestions to improve my ideas. I sat down to write again and I had exactly one week to go before the final date for submission, which was the following Saturday.

I decided that I would use the time to polish up my story and submit it exactly on the last day. Uncle Lim agreed and I spent practically all the time I could-after school everyday -editing my story. On the morning that I intended to submit the story, I sat down and went through it one last time. Then I printed it out. I looked at my work and beamed with pride. Then I began to ill out the entry form. To my horror, I discovered that T had to type it out in double space and submit six copies.I went back to the computer and rearranged the spacing then I printed out one copy. The time was 11:00 a.m.I had two hours to make the deadline. I hastened to the photocopy shop to make another five copies and to bind them. How was I to know that on Saturdays they open only at 12:00 noon? A cold feeling gripped my heart.

Quickly I took the bus and went to Toa Payoh,where there were a few photocopy shops. When I arrived there, there were queues everywhere. I joined one, looking at the watch every five minutes. By the time I finished the photocopying and binding, it was 12:30. I was in a panic. The Ministry of Information and Arts was at Alexandra Road, the other end of the island. I became desperate and searched for a taxi.

Luckily for me, there were no traffic jams that day.I arrived at the building and looked at my watch. It was two minutes to closing time. I quickly called up the ministry office. A sweet female voice answered. I explained that I was downstairs and begged her to wait just a few seconds as I was on the way. She agreed. I dashed into the lift and arrived on the 19th floor. Panting for breath I deposited the precious bundle on the counter.The sweet little Malay lady smiled at me. “I hope you win,” she said, I gave her a large grin.

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