You can't write

It seemed only yesterday that my editors told me I can’t write to save my life while my colleagues echoed that they had no idea what I was doing as a reporter since I “sure the hell can’t write.”

Well, that was a good 17 years back when I entered The Star (a Malaysian English daily) as a cadet reporter, making RM450 a month.

Having said that, I’m truly indebted to my editor and friends for having had the patience to teach me the ropes of “word-smithing” despite my obvious lack of knowledge and expertise in the field.

And while I may not have made my millions from writing (yet!), it has helped ensure that there’s always food on the table.

Thankfully, skills are something that’s learnt and acquired, not a birthright. For if it had been otherwise, I would not have been able to construct a sentence, much less trying to make a living penning words to paper.

Hence, it saddens and infuriates me at times when friends or colleagues tell me that they are unable to write a letter or a proposal, without even trying. Their excuse? – “You’re the editor, the specialist”.

Hmm… having said that, does it mean that a urologist or a gynaecologist would be required for each trip to the toilet since ONLY they are specialists in well, you know…

So come off it already. Laziness is laziness (a rose by any other name) regardless. Either we start using what we have or be prepared to lose it.