But again
she goes to the value-dollar store, buying rice crisps for a dollar. Her ink turns from blue to black, her keyboard eroding little by little. Sometimes she feels like her fingers aren't hers. To be possessed by words is deadly, but enchanting. It is akin to seeing hell and heaven while being alive.
Because imagine: you give life to what never dances. You make a part of yourself bleed out with pain that dulls into your heart. Somewhere, someday, it lives on while you age. The Picture Of Dorian Gray: your words are Dorian. Ageless. Timeless. Capturing your sins and secrets and yet, being human. A Dorian that kills, not with a stab but with time.
You are a picture, ageing. But your words, and your writing makes you immortal.
And so, she rises. She rises from the dead.
And author lives for the first time.
- •
How To Smile At Human has been rejected 9 times, lost numerous competitions including the Wattys.
Of Love And Lies has been rejected 13 times and has lost numerous contests online, including the Wattys.
Sometimes, the only way an author lives is by failure, not by success, because only pain spurs someone on to write.
Satisfaction is a brake system to creativity. So I'll write on, and I'll strive on.
Ah, Spoilers here just in case someone went there out of curiosity.
___
An Author Dies In Ten Ways is a short story that explains, not surprisingly, the ten ways that an author dies. Throughout the whole thing, we get ten reasons, some ranging from the author's own actions to things "she" can't control. It's a beautiful piece; the short story allows the reader to go right along with it. None of the sentences are filled with adjectives or stronger verbs, and dare I say it fits here.
The theme here is almost as fascinating as the ten ways themselves: When others are given a chance, they can do things beyond their capabilities.
This doesn't just apply to authors, this can apply to anyone. I can take the same theme here and apply it to so many professions, which is why it's so interesting. Normally when you get into things like this, people can only imagine hem one way; the AUTHOR'S way, or the PAINTER's way, or the ENGINEER's way, etc etc etc.
But this story does a pretty darn good job at letting me apply its themes to almost every profession and not think of this as just an author thing.
If you're interested in a really short story with an inspirational message about obstacles and outcomes, do read this.
Some Good Things I Loved:
- Thought the story was over at the 10 ways, and what a delight to know this has more of a happy ending! It's true; Harry Potter's been rejected numerous times (she prevailed!) Michael Jordan didn't make it to his high school basketball team (ironic, now he's the best of all time), and Stephen Hillenburg was laughed out of Cartoon Network because a show about sponges was the stupidest thing they've ever heard (Spongebob is THE best kid's TV show, period!), a very sentimental bit that really was great.
- The three-sentence chapter about wanting to hide your writing from the world hit close to home, and I appreciate you for finding such a great way to craft it.
- Plenty of references to look for in the second read, and the third, and perhaps the fourth according to other comments. It's hard to sneak references into short stories, so credit to you!
Personal Issues:
- The writing was straightforward. There is nothing wrong with straight-up writing. In fact, it's more important in some stories than being all flowery. But in short stories, sometimes you need to pack it up with a sprinkle of new adjectives that are 2nd level, but nothing nobody knows (ex: "attractive", not "prepossessing"). This one just didn't do that for me. There were a couple of times where I went "well, they really gave that to us, didn't they?", but then again, this may have been a stylistic choice. It's just something I personally prefer more in my shorts.
- Does the author have hope left? Or is she a husk? What caused her to go to the website and see if everything will change? What was the motivation?
Nevertheless, a great story and an even more beautiful message. Thank you for making such a clever tale.
Thank you for this lovely, lovely comment. I really appreciate this, and this is my first draft that I am posting online (a very raw piece I wrote when I felt defeated after so many failured) and I definitely know that it needs work! I will be editing it soon, along with my poetry, so that I can even expand or give more meat to the work!
And yes, it's pretty straightforward because I intended it to, but I agree that it also needs to be perked up a little bit, give it a little shimmer-and-shine.
Again, loved your comment. You made my whole damn day.
Nice review/spoiler!
This was a nice read in the evening
And beautiful too
thank you! happy you enjoyed it!
OMG, I love how you refer to The Picture Of Dorian Gray. You've captured its essence and elevated it with your beautiful prose.
This whole book is art. I can feel your despair and pain, and I am glad that you've found strength in defeats.
thank you dawn, and yes, finding strength in the defeats is how we move forward.
I’ve reread this and dang. It hurts. I feel for you.
<3 thank you for reading! it's true that I wrote this when I was at the lowest of my writing journey, but I think it gives me the strength and the courage to move on , write more and improve. Have a good day