Short Story
I started writing short stories already in 2004 when my substitute teacher proposed that I should become a writer. This was all thanks to a short story called “A Simple Man”, I accidentally garnered from the tip of my pencil. My writings are in Estonian and English. Currently, I am in the middle of a modern relationship story, a series of children’s books called “Cici and Bernard” and a children’s book dedicated to helping my young readers overcome their everyday fears. I got the inspiration for the latter from my adorable daughter with whom I want to share the supernatural power of words.
Long Story
I started writing my ideas down already in 2004 when I ran out of strength to draw another essay on another literary figure from the tip of my pencil in school. Bang! Like lightning from a clear sky, a sudden rush of inspiration struck me whilst reading a short story writer’s creations. That time I didn’t just want to scribble nonsense about the authors uniqueness onto a piece of paper in a notebook that would surely find its way into the dark corners of the lost universe. Lost forever! I wanted to imitate the writings I had witnessed with my own childish eyes. The wish to replace another boring essay with a soulful piece of literature was so forceful that even in such a tender age I didn’t feel ashamed to reach my hand up in class and ask for an alternative homework task. “Dear teacher…” I started with a little persuasion, “could we write a story imitating the author’s style…” and finished resolutely, “instead of another boring essay?” Silence! That classroom had never heard such silence. All 39 eyes were staring at the teacher’s next steps. I was holding one eye closed just in case I would get hit by flying books.
She was actually substituting for our harsh but caring teacher, Paavo, who was on maternity leave. We were her first students. Although her first reaction was a twitch, she did something incredible. With an unusual – we thought she was having a stroke – smirk on her face, she turned to the blackboard. With a few swift movements she added a second option. Surely, a mistake! She pointed her finger at me: “An essay or a short story, you decide!” There was no turning back from that. I was the only one who went with the second option. Like I had a chance – after asking in class… But I guess that I was also the only one who started jotting my ideas down after that lesson.
During next class the substitute realised that she had underestimated the 18-year-old, sit at the back of the class, mop-head. She began the lesson by reading my story out loud. Although my heart was pounding, I felt peace of mind. The day before whilst writing an imitation of an imitation, I knew that this was meant to be. I enjoy calling all art forms an imitation of life because they mimic reality. The story named “A Simple Man” was the first piece of literary art I had created. After the last words had burst from her lips, she concluded: “That was superb! Exactly like the author! Well done!” My chin fell down to the floor. My heart was still racing when she called to see me after class. The last words I remember from that class were hers: “Silver, you should seriously think of becoming a writer!”
I have written many short stories in Estonian and English. Some of which I have also shared with my friends. Currently, I am writing a drama about the difficulties of a modern relationship and a series of children’s books. I got the inspiration for the latter from my adorable daughter with whom I want to share the supernatural power of words. As an author I like to structure long (ish) sentences with a rich amount of adjectives. And to give my stories a little extra oomph, I use short or sometimes even one-word sentences. Sometimes! My newest book called Cici and Bernard “A Friendship Tailored by the Stars” is written in free verse and follows the rhythm of natural speech. Rhyme and rhythm make the characters of children’s books jump from the pages into life and help children perceive the stories better.