WHY I WRITE 

by Jenifer

11/4/13

   There were two major phases in my life when I was so geared up into writing. First phase was during my teenage years, beginning from the time I got hold of Enid Blyton’s book, all through Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series.

  The second phase was quite late in my adolescence or rather my adulthood, when I embarked on reading the collection of short stories from the Chicken Soup series and books from Malaysian writers like Lydia Teh.

   I shall always applaud to the products of Enid Blyton. Even though she catered for children and teenagers, I revere at her style of writing. Simple, yet vivid and creative. She never failed to depict her fairy-tales in lavish and creative imaginations, I could clearly envision them in my mind up till now! Her descriptions of food were so alluring and mouth-watering, that I was either feeling thirsty or hungry, just reading a party or picnic scene. Her anecdote of “sipping a cold glass of lemonade” on a hot sunny afternoon sitting on the grassy meadow in the Famous Five series, enriched my vocabulary, and actually taught me to love the English language.

   Consequently, all these built my interest to write my own composition. My first published literary piece of work was a poem which caught the attention of my English language lecturer during my pre-University College days-entitled “When I grow Old”... She was so impressed with my choices of descriptive words which added a colourful note regarding growing old. Hence, she had it sent for printing in the college newsletter. I felt honoured and jubilant, a commendation coming from a Liverpudlian woman. That was my first attempt to actually publicise my original writing.

The second phase in life which once more ignited the interest to write was the debut of the Chicken Soup series, which related real-life stories of moral values and exemplary experiences that motivated and inspired. Upon reading Lydia Teh’s “Life’s Like That”, I suddenly realised this woman is simply writing the thoughts, dramas, arguements and discussions which I re-enact in my mind everyday.

Lydia Teh made our day-to-day routine animatedly hilarious because she never failed to inject humour and poke fun at herself in a pleasant unoffensive manner. I thought why not I start writing short stories of my own childhood experience as a tribute to those people I admire. My parents, especially my mum has many stories of old days and Bidayuh folklores which no one has ever written and published by local writers. Instead, we have many foreigners who are willing to collect and compile these short stories.

   As a conclusion, my main reasons “why I write”, can be divided into three. Firstly, following the footsteps of Enid Blyton, depicting vivid imaginative details whilst conveying moral values. Secondly, paying tribute to my family, teachers and friends by recounting and re-enacting their “unsung heroic” deeds. Finally, relating and writing stories, and anecdotes of day-to-day experiences with a twist of humour and fun to encourage, motivate and inspire.