tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010953641145956608.post8809882233993068729..comments2024-01-18T05:08:18.454-08:00Comments on Borneo Expat Writer: "The Future Barrister": The Story Behind the Story of Lovers and Strangers RevisitedBorneo Expat Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657806224924444058noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010953641145956608.post-83525935930953039572008-08-31T19:13:00.000-07:002008-08-31T19:13:00.000-07:00Hi Phooi Kheng. Yes the stories are out there jus...Hi Phooi Kheng. Yes the stories are out there just waiting for us to find. They've always been there, but do we recognize them even when they confront us face to face? Trust your instincts and always take down notes when an interesting/bizarre person comes into your life, or when you see a potential location for a story or you get caught up in an unusual situation. Later these can become the jumping off point for new stories or the missing piece for old, unfinished stories. You just never know....I'm glad I followed my instincts while waiting for the bus that night. I'm glad I always carry a pen and pocket-size notebook with me so when the idea strikes, I can quickly write it down. Good ideas evaporate in less than a minute. If you hesitate to make a note, it'll be gone forever. A sad thought.Borneo Expat Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15657806224924444058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010953641145956608.post-33449083100387123102008-08-28T23:58:00.000-07:002008-08-28T23:58:00.000-07:00Hi Robert: I always knew you were the observer, wa...Hi Robert: I always knew you were the observer, waiting to find that delicious character to make your story come alive. I believe that happens to writers and closet writers (like me lah). Remember when I took Beth's writing class? Observation about the minute details of life, re-thinking the ways I saw things...that in itself would make us all better humans who truly paid attention to their surroundings. Now I know the background to your stories which I think are stories in themselves!Krista Goonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16167888914729437002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010953641145956608.post-43679834198032771722008-08-02T00:05:00.000-07:002008-08-02T00:05:00.000-07:00Hi,Thanks. For romance you do need a happy ending,...Hi,<BR/>Thanks. For romance you do need a happy ending, but too often as in the situation in "On Fridays", there's always that what if. What if I spoke to her, touched her, followed her out of the taxi and became friends, lovers. Then there's that desire to go back in time and get it right the first time. But what if she rebuffed him for the intrusion into her private moment or thought he was stalking her at the jetty. I wanted the reader to think, well, if that was me, I would have...Then they're involved with the story. Good luck with your novel. The fact that you've published some children books, regardless of the language, is good. Built on that and finish the book. Also, don't use the word "trying", it's a hedge word. Tell yourself and others that "I'm writing a romance book." And do so!Borneo Expat Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15657806224924444058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010953641145956608.post-74934365799085197202008-08-01T23:12:00.000-07:002008-08-01T23:12:00.000-07:00Hello Robert,Love your short story - On Fridays. I...Hello Robert,<BR/>Love your short story - On Fridays. I'm a Malay woman (not the one you were searching for, though)living in Perth. Your story makes me cry. I miss Penang. <BR/>I am very comfortable with your writing technique. Easy and yet, it grips you to read the story to the end. Quite frustrated when I reached the end of the story, though. I want a happy ending!!!<BR/>FYI, I'm a novice writer. I wrote children books in Malay and published them in Malaysia. At the moment, I'm trying to write a romance novel. Wish me luck. Wish you were my lecturer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05523035299491402935noreply@blogger.com