THE STORY CAME TODAY

Remember me talking about possibly getting a story from the setting on the island I visited earlier this week? (See the last post!)

Photo: Another shot on the southern end of Limelon Island. 

Well, at least three themes were running through my mind for the past couple of days.

One broke through in a surprising way this morning – just as I got out of bed.

It took me about 30 minutes to type three pages of notes, particularly a synopsis-like note.

The meat of the story, the main plot and main characters are all noted. I will only need to flesh out the story when I feel the time is right.

The reason why I got the synopsis done up is because while the ideas are fresh in my mind, I must capture them on a page or in a word document before they disappear. (I have discussed this numerous times in the past.)

In fact, as I was taking a walk this afternoon, more ideas came and I will need to write them in a notebook to later develop them.  

NOTE: Do note one thing. In creative fiction, the main elements include the plot, the characters, the setting (time and location) and theme, among others.

I started with the setting. I went there and tried to get the story. Interestingly, the story did not come to me there. It came to me days later.

Most writers write about a theme and plot and later try to place the story in a setting.

The point is, there is no single way to start a story. You can start with a character and decide to place him/her in a setting and develop the story from there.

But whatever you do, ensure that the main elements of creative fiction are developed as well as you can as you start fleshing out the story.

THE DOWNSIDE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS – I AM SICK

The downside of the work is I am feeling unwell. But that is normal - because getting into a good story is hard work. It would sap you off your strength. Beware!  

LIMELON ISLAND IN KAVIENG, PNG

POSSIBLE SETTING FOR A STORY ...

Photo: Beach on Limelon Island in Kavieng, PNG. 

My stuff on the sand at the south-eastern end of Limelon Island in Kavieng, New Ireland, on Tuesday.

It is about 20 minutes out of Kavieng town by banana boat.

I spent half the day there taking in the atmosphere and tranquility. I learnt stuff too by talking with the locals and people who live there.

As I said last time, this could be the setting of another creative fiction stuff. I love the place and may do some other creative stuff there in the future.

I was told by the person who runs the place that I am welcome there anytime. In fact, while chatting with him, he gave me ideas and asked me for ideas too about stuff – including the need for quality education.

We will see how things go!

THE WRITING OF A GOOD STORY IS LIKE COOKING A GOOD DISH

THE writing of a good story is like preparing a good dish.

The writer is the chef in putting the ingredients together in the way s/he thinks is the best way to make the dish as tasty as possible to those who will eat it.

The better it is cooked – the tastier it will be.

A good story is like chewing gum – but unlike the gum, the taste stays on. The reader can return to it to be further educated, further urged, further reminded, and further entertained. It is not like muffins which you eat and in minutes they are gone forever. (What about muffins that are like gums? Okay, that is another theme!)

The more the writer writes, s/he is more likely to put out more dishes.

The more genres the writer works in is like switching from the main dish to a hors d'oeuvre to desert or fruits and salad.

So it is nice for the writer to try different genres, as well as different styles.

If the writer does a good job, s/he is really looking at hosting a feast – not just a dish!

Let’s continue to work on fixing up those dishes!

Voila! There!

In Spanish and Portuguese we say “Vamos!” Let’s go!

NOTE:

The creativity of a person in writing stories, poems and scripts is similar to any art. You start with a bit after learning the basics in writing and then extend here or there until you get a complete work.

Personally, I write short stories, poetry and scripts in my spare time.      

I TRIED A BIT OF GERMAN YESTERDAY EVENING

I WALKED down to the supermarket to pick up batteries for my camera and a loaf of bread for breakfast.

It was a nice walk in that part of the city, through the Gordon industrial area where there were few vehicles and some employees here and there were walking to the nearest bus stops to catch a bus home.

I enjoyed the open space and nicely paved sidewalk.

When I entered the shop, I saw the red, black, gold and white colours displayed in different ways.

While waiting to pay for the bread at the cashier, I noticed the screen on the cash register also had the PNG colours with the words “Happy Independence Day” - each word in gold, white and red respectively on a black background.

Small triangular material with the colours showed from a garland taped to the ceiling. The festivity was starting, so it seems.  

Photo: A flag hung inside a pre-school in Port Moresby as part of the 41st Independence Anniversary celebrations.

After I paid for the stuff, I walked towards the kai area for a pack of beef stew and rice. I was there waiting to be served behind a group of young men in T-shirts and shorts.  Then one of them turned to me and said: “Hellow Mr!”

It was then that I noticed him. He is Walter, one of the young boys who lived down the road from the village I grew up in.

I had last met him in 2014, when he, as a young police officer, was in charge of a group providing security during the Melanesian Arts Festival at the Sir John Guise Stadium.

I did not recognise him then – he called to me and I only need to look at him once to realise that he was one of those little boys who ran around the neighbourhood in their games (often with some relatives of mine) when I was teaching in my hometown.

Today, Walter said: “We are taking our young German friend around. He will be leaving tomorrow!”

I turned to the right where the others were and saw three other young PNG men and a slim white young guy, who was very quiet – as if he was uncomfortable.

I thought about greeting the German with the only two phrases that I know – the only phrases that my poor memory could muster to bring up from the depths of my mind.

But I hesitated.

“Sorry, I did not recognise you,” I said to Walter. “I was busy looking at the food.”

Walter smiled and said they were having something to eat and then they would leave.

I got myself the rice and beef stew with a soft drink and sat a few metres from where they were.

I could hear the PNG men talking excitedly in Tok Pisin (PNG Pidgin). When I looked over, I saw their German pal quietly munching his food – in silence.

That was when I decided I would go and say something to him in German before I left – hopefully to make him feel welcome in my land.

When I was done eating, I walked up to the group and shook hands with Walter, saying I was leaving for work.

He introduced me to the others using my surname. At least one other guy recognised the name and reached out his hand.

“Gutpela abinun (Good afternoon),” I said in Tok Pisin and shook each of the PNG men’s hands.

Then I turned to their German pal, who was busy with the food in front of him and put out a hand to shake his hand. He looked up to clasp my hand with his right hand and I said: “Guten aben. Wie geht es dir (Good evening. How are you)?”

Those were the only two phrases I could remember at that time. If it was French, it would be a bit different.

“Guten aben,” the German replied with a beaming smile.

And he added: “Mir geht es gut (I am well).”

I then told him in English, and help up my right hand with the thumb and pointer almost touching: “That is the only German I know for now. I do not know anymore.”

And I smiled.

Everyone started laughing.

The white man had a big smile on his face.

I was happy and I knew he was happy and so were his PNG pals.

I bid them all farewell and walked out with my loaf of bread and batteries.

In my mind, I was telling myself: “There, there. Start working on your German now!”

I MET AN ENTREPRENEUR THIS AFTERNOON

I WAS walking down the road passing the traffic lights this afternoon when a driver of a sedan tooted his horn.

I looked towards it but could not see who was in the vehicle with tinted glasses - and continued to walk on. Then the driver rolled down his glass and signalled to me, when I was about 10 metres away.

I looked back and saw “one of my boys” – a young man from Dei in Western Highlands.

I had helped him over a decade back when he was a struggling self-sponsored undergraduate business student at UPNG while I was pursuing some postgrad work.

He waved me over and offered me a ride.

While we travelled the four kilometres or so, we caught up on things.

He again apologised to me because he owed me something from a while back – the second time in a couple of months.

I spoke to him straight and gave him what was on my mind. I reminded him that he was still my friend but he should sorted out the debt that he had with me.

“I am burdened whenever I see you,” he said.

I told him that he should do the right thing and sort out that stuff with me for him to be “unburdened”.

I am at peace with you, I said.

I told him that what he owed me is not comparable to what he may be handling.

He agreed and said he would do something about that soon.

I also told him if I had other plans on my mind, I would not let him in on those until he sort out what he owed me.

He informed me on what he was doing – including running a PMV along a highway up in the highlands, while he was running other things here.

HE STARTED EARLY

I do not know how good that young man is with managing his businesses but I have learned some things from him, including the story that for his school fees, he had to dig a whole garden of kaukau (sweet potatoes), hire a vehicle and bring them down to Lae to sell.

He received a few thousands of kina of putting his time and effort into growing the kaukau. He also said before he leaves for school, he plants kaukau and leave them in the hands of his relatives to look after.

On that note alone, I respected his aspirations for the future.

While he was still a second-year student, he showed me possibly his first business proposal.

Honesty speaking, at that time I did not take him seriously. In fact, I was surprised that he had a company name and logo and was thinking of applying for a government contract while still a student.

Now, after many years of learning from other people and reading, I realised that that young man had a clear-cut plan for his future.

He knew that he would rather work for himself than spending time working for others. (He had a stint with a commercial bank but soon left.)

Like I said, whether he is a good manager or not, I cannot tell, but I have learned that he is keen on realising his plans, plans he had when he was still a student.

In that sense, he had started early.

I hope we all can learn that too. The earlier you start, the better.

I MET AN ENTREPRENEUR THIS AFTERNOON

I WAS walking down the road passing the traffic lights this afternoon when a driver of a sedan tooted his horn.

I looked towards it but could not see who was in the vehicle with tinted glasses - and continued to walk on. Then the driver rolled down his glass and signalled to me, when I was about 10 metres away.

I looked back and saw “one of my boys” – a young man from Dei in Western Highlands.

I had helped him over a decade back when he was a struggling self-sponsored undergraduate business student at UPNG while I was pursuing some postgrad work.

He waved me over and offered me a ride.

While we travelled the four kilometres or so, we caught up on things.

He again apologised to me because he owed me something from a while back – the second time in a couple of months.

I spoke to him straight and gave him what was on my mind. I reminded him that he was still my friend but he should sorted out the debt that he had with me.

“I am burdened whenever I see you,” he said.

I told him that he should do the right thing and sort out that stuff with me for him to be “unburdened”.

I am at peace with you, I said.

I told him that what he owed me is not comparable to what he may be handling.

He agreed and said he would do something about that soon.

I also told him if I had other plans on my mind, I would not let him in on those until he sort out what he owed me.

He informed me on what he was doing – including running a PMV along a highway up in the highlands, while he was running other things here.

HE STARTED EARLY

I do not know how good that young man is with managing his businesses but I have learned some things from him, including the story that for his school fees, he had to dig a whole garden of kaukau (sweet potatoes), hire a vehicle and bring them down to Lae to sell.

He received a few thousands of kina of putting his time and effort into growing the kaukau. He also said before he leaves for school, he plants kaukau and leave them in the hands of his relatives to look after.

On that note alone, I respected his aspirations for the future.

While he was still a second-year student, he showed me possibly his first business proposal.

Seriously speaking, at that time I did not take him seriously. In fact, I was surprised that he had a company name and logo and was thinking of applying for a government contract while still a student.

Now, after many years of learning from other people and reading, I realised that that young man had a clear-cut plan for his future.

He knew that he would rather work for himself than spending time working for others. (He had a stint with a commercial bank but soon left.)

Like I said, whether he is a good manager or not, I cannot tell, but I have learned that he is keen on realising his plans, plans he had when he was still a student.

In that sense, he had started early.

I hope we all can learn that too. The earlier you start, the better.