55 Fiction + 500 words

Weighing the truth

She was the best partner a person could have. She was faithful, loyal and always brutally honest, even if it meant hurting people in the process. She never told a lie to anyone, even in the most disastrous circumstances. But she dreaded the day she would have to tell him that he had gained weight.

Best teacher in the world
Mr E was the best teacher in the world, correcting student's mistakes all day without pause. Never giving up in the face of stubborn obstacles hindering the truth from prevailing, persisting despite all odds. Sadly, he knew that his legacy would soon end, as they gradually rubbed away his life and essence away on paper.

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Who is a writer?

It has long been said that the pen is mightier than the sword. Man has written throughout the centuries, through the peaks and troughs of our happiness and prosperity, and we have come a long way since then. From scribbling on thin pieces of tree bark, we now have no lack of paper and writing materials to pen down anything we might want to communicate to others, and with the popularization of the computer and the internet, it is now easier than ever for one to expose himself to different bodies of writing.

Logically, if you have a fair mastery of at least one language and can compose sentences, you are supposed to be able to write. In my opinion, this is condition does not necessarily lead to the definition of a writer. This might come off as slightly elitist in my discerning, but I believe those who write because they are forced to and do so grudgingly, perhaps for a school assignment or an essay, are not writers. True writers embrace the freedom that they possess in being able to write and thoroughly enjoy any opportunity they have to write. Being mindful of the great potential that writing has in shaping society and mindsets, they often craft their writings with specific messages to be conveyed to the intended readers in mind. Writers are empowered with language, empowered with powerful vocabulary that can be used for almost any purpose imaginable - to sway the minds of the impressionable, to promote propaganda theories or simply allow the reader to enjoy captivating stories.

Writers are people who are often staunchly devoted to their craft and are excruciatingly aware of the impact their writings might bring. Historically, many writers have been ridiculed for their works that did not conform to society’s norm and often for expressing ideas that have been so shocking and controversial in that time that people responded by banning the relevant book from further publication. They often have the determination and conviction to bring their thoughts across to people and never waver until they successfully accomplish the task.

The writer aims to preserve his thoughts and ideas in his writing, and in this way, he ensures that his ideas will live much longer than he will. The writer can be said to possess the vial of immortality, as through his works, his ideas will transcend the generations, stay unchanged in the face of time, and will always remain relevant in some way or another.

Writings are also historical timepieces that are infinitely educational in some way or another. When we pick up a book, we are actually picking up a memento of that time it was written in. In reading different books, we learn about different historical periods with varying societal expectations, cultures, beliefs and behaviour.

The history of man is a great story waiting to be written. What are you waiting for?

-Kiasu parker Wan Hui