FRANCIS NII | Supported by the South Pacific Strategic Solutions Writing Fellowship
BUSHMAN LIKES READING AND WRITING. Whenever he finds time, he collects half used scrap paper, writes on it and stacks it away.
One day, Bushman retrieves one of his stories from the stacks of scrap. He starts reading it. There is not much sense there. It’s not a complete story; only a brainstorming.
‘I must complete the story‘, says Bushman to himself. He finds some scrap paper and starts writing.
As he progresses, the story becomes interesting. He suspends his other activities for the time being. He gets stuck into writing.
By the time he finishes, he’s covered a good amount of scrap paper. He is amazed. He smiles to himself. He has a complete story. Bushman stacks the scrap paper in the middle of a Air Niugini Paradise magazine and puts it away. He goes about his usual businesses.
Some days later, Bushman returns home from the buai market. He finds scrap paper lying all over the floor. His youngest daughter sits with her friends outside, all their eyes on Paradise.
They are arguing which one of them is that pretty air hostess. Bushman shakes his head. He picks up the paper and goes to his bed. Lying down, Bushman reads his story.
It is full of mistakes. He makes corrections as he reads.
When he finishes, the scrap paper is full of crossings, asterisks and arrows pointing here and there. The whole is a mess. Only Bushman can make sense out of it. He is sick. He looks around and finds a plastic shopping bag. He puts his scrap paper in the bag and hides it in that place Bushman calls bedroom.
One morning, a friend of Bushman comes along. He tells him about PNG Attitude and the Crocodile Prize. Bushman goes to town and buys a writing pad and some biros. He goes back to his bed and painstakingly starts rewriting the whole story on the pad.
After two hours, Bushman completes the rewrite. He is happy. He burns the scrap paper. The pad takes their place in the plastic bag.
Typing is Bushman’s next dilemma. On the following day, Bushman goes to town looking for a place to have his story typed. One typing shop charges K2.50 per page. The rest charge K3. He chooses the cheaper one.
After two hours of waiting, his typing is ready - three pages in all. Bushman checks the typed story. As far as Bushman is concerned, he is the Microsoft Word 2007 proof checker. He is the grammar, the vocabulary, the tense and the punctuation.
He finds mistakes. He gives the story back to the typist to incorporate corrections. The typist demands an extra K1 a page for the corrections and reprints. Bushman pays.
Scanning and sending the story to PNG Attitude is Bushman’s next double headache. He doesn’t give up. He searches and asks around.
His good friend who introduced PNG Attitude to him helps. He sends Bushman’s first story to PNG Attitude from his work place. Thanks Mero.
Bushman’s story gets published; his greatest delight and satisfaction.
He is happy that he shares a piece of mind his with others. He wishes to write more stories. But how is Bushman is going to overcome the obstacles, or at least alleviate them?
Francis Nii will offer the second part of this story in November
Vale Ignatius Kilage. "My Mother called me yalep".
Francis, be inspired by my very good friend, Iggy.
Posted by: William (Bill) Dunlop, Simbu 1969-71 | 31 October 2012 at 04:07 PM
Great article, Francis. I will get to know more the same (where, how, how much to publish a book) later.
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Phil Fitzpatrick will have an article on this subject in PNG Attitude tomorrow. A 'must read' for any new author looking for a publisher - KJ
Posted by: Joe Wasia | 31 October 2012 at 01:32 PM
Bingo Francis! I think you've found your natural muse. Let's have more of the same.
There must be something in the water up there in the Simbu to produce so many good writers.
Posted by: Phil Fitzpatrick | 31 October 2012 at 08:51 AM
Hahaha, I'm glad I've introduced Bushman to PNG Attitude now Bushman and Bush Poet are partners in crime...well done Mero
Posted by: Jimmy Drekore | 30 October 2012 at 08:02 PM