The Writers Voice
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Favourite Literary Website
Keep on Trucking
by
Brian Peters
"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?"
"I'm sorry? Oh, no, of course, please take a seat."
"Thank you. May I ask what you've been doing all afternoon?"
Brian raised his eyes to look at his inquisitor. He soaked up the glorious
golden hair, the brilliant blue eyes and the luscious red mouth, lips parted
playfully, expectantly. She’s beautiful, Brian thought.
"Pardon?" he asked, shaking the possibilities from his mind.
"I don't mean to be forward. It's just that I’ve been sitting on the other side
of the park and I've been watching you for a while now. You seem to be really
engrossed in something. Like you're really concentrating. Thinking."
"I'm a writer. I'm working. Being creative."
"Writer's block?"
"Just waiting for inspiration. Thinking, you called it."
"What do you write?"
"Fiction. I’m a Tom Clancy wannabe."
"Really? How wonderful. I’ve read some of his books. I'm Rachael by the way."
"Brian," he replied with a sly smile, taking the delicate soft hand that had
been extended.
"Do you by any chance have any of your writings with you now? I'd love to read
you."
"And I’d love for you to read me, Rachael." he quipped too quickly. "I just
happen to have a copy of my latest novella right here," and without looking in
his bag, Brian's hand delved into his rucksack in near slow motion and produced
a copy of a fairly thick collection of papers, stylishly bound.
"Wow, Brian. I’ve always wanted to meet a writer. Do you mind?" she gushed
hoisting the tome in an obvious desire to read it.
"Knock yourself out."
He watched as she read in silence.
Indubitably it was his dream to have his writing published and recognized. And
he would be lying if he claimed he was not tickled pink by the prospect of his
writing prowess being an aid to him in seducing beautiful women. Or even better,
a catalyst to being seduced by them. Like now.
How he wished his dream would come true. From as early as he could remember
Brian wanted to write, bewitched by the thought of being read. He experimented
with poetry but collected his attempts in the wastepaper bin before moving on to
grapple with adult fiction with only marginally better success.
But everything Brian presented for consideration was declined. His manuscripts
were retained by the publishers, filed no doubt in an industrial strength paper
shredder tucked in a dark corner of their office. Without exception every
publisher gave the same rebuff, thinly disguised behind a different selection of
polite words. His writing, apparently, was clear and grammatically excellent,
but the content was somewhat flat, lacked substance, bordered on the plainly
uninteresting. Some publishers were even less verbose, not bothering to waste
precious words on Brian, "Great syntax, no character development." Others saw
fit to pour salt into the wounds by insisting on creative explanations for
Brian's rejection "Brian, let's say you’re a very articulate truck; you're just
carrying a load that no one wants or needs. Go pick up some interesting cargo."
The publisher’s rebukes and backhanded compliments were the worst an aspiring
author could read about themselves. What pained Brian most about the snub was a
self-held belief that maybe the publishers were on to something.
Deep down he only really craved one thing. Two if you counted sleeping with
Rachael. At the very top of Brian's wish list sat a simple desire to see his
name on the spine of a book. It did not fundamentally matter what book. Maybe he
did lack the imagination and inventiveness to be a novelist. They acknowledged,
though, that he possessed top quality writing skills and in addition he had
gained a breadth of useful knowledge. All Brian required was to harness his
talents more precisely to pursuit his goal.
Rachael returned the skiff of paper and displayed that same playful smile.
"Interesting. Captivatingly elegant in its simplicity. Believable characters.
Coffee?"
"Sure. And by the way, there’s plenty more where that came from."
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