I simply trembled at your overwhelming talent. Dear Megumi Tiko, this is dedicated to you.
There are walls in this world that no matter how hard you try, you cannot overcome through effort alone.
When you encounter someone with overwhelming talent, do you give up and think, 'I can't beat this person'? Or do you feel frustrated?
Or perhaps, are you tormented by an inferiority complex, thinking, 'I'm just not good enough'?
This is just my personal experience, but first, an electric current runs through my body. Encounters with works that make me feel like electricity is flowing through me are never frequent.
The first time in my life I felt an electric current run through my body after seeing someone's writing, it wasn't Ryunosuke Akutagawa, nor was it Kenji Miyazawa.
It was a classmate from junior high school. She would later go on to win a truly major award and debut as a popular author.
It caused a bit of a stir locally, but I felt it was inevitable. Because it was clearly not writing that someone of our generation would produce. I always thought she was someone who would eventually make her mark on the world in some way.
Even in the land of note, there are times when I tremble before overwhelming talent.
For novels, it would be Toko Shimotsuki; for essays, Nami Saito and Megumi Hanamaru (her novels are also good). For travel-related articles, perhaps Bunji Yamakado.
There are countless other wonderful writers I can't count on my fingers, but those who give me the shock of electricity running through my body might be countable on one hand.
No, rather than electricity, the moment I saw the screen, my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe such an amazing person was still lying dormant on note.
The name of such a wonderful noter is Megumi Tiko, the genius essayist blooming on note (as I call her myself).
↑ This is about fertility treatment. Now everyone, please tremble at her overwhelming talent.
Tiko writes on note that she 'wants to be an essayist,' but she says she originally wrote novels.
↑ For her dream of becoming an essayist, and her feelings and stance toward the Creative Awards, please check this out.
She also has a history of winning literary awards, so her ability is guaranteed.
Originally, I was a novel writer.
It started when I discovered creativity in elementary school and began writing stories in notebooks.
By the time I was in junior high and high school, I had won student literary awards and even had my work published in the newspaper.
In high school, I won a prize in a book report competition. I was also a high school girl tanka poet who belonged to a tanka coterie magazine.
↑ Click here for the article where Tiko's history is written.
If you look through note, you can already see many fans. Number of followers? It's certainly not a high number. She isn't on Twitter either.
Then why are her works read? It is because her work is truly wonderful.
I am going to tell you something blunt now. If I say this, I might get a huge scolding from the industry. Even so, please let me say it.
There are many writing, essay, and novel courses in the world. If you attend them, you will acquire basic skills, and if your reason is 'I want to earn money through writing,' I think that will be fulfilled to some extent.
If you don't necessarily want to be famous, but want to earn about 200,000 to 500,000 yen a month, you might be able to manage it if you try desperately. I don't think choosing that path is so bad.
Because I chose that path and am eating delicious food. There are problems that cannot be solved with money, but to some extent, things can be managed. If you are purely earning money, I think it is a path that is not purely bad.
However, if you want to write what you like, or if you want to write something that only you can write, other elements besides basic skills are required.
That includes the sensibility, individuality, sense, and passion to move people's hearts. Works that possess all of these elements contain the author's talent and soul.As for whether it will sell, you might need to know public demand or talk about marketing, but when it comes to overwhelming talent, it 'surpasses those things'.
Megumi Tico's works are infused not only with overwhelming talent and writing ability, but also with her soul and way of life. In other words, life itself.
And this time, I received a grateful review from Tico-san, who was chosen by Miku Mayutan (Wait, you're the one choosing?!) for 'This Noter is Amazing.' The moment I read the review, my hand holding the phone stopped.
↑ I introduced the essay 'Writing as if Breathing' and the novel 'And Then, the Birds Forgot How to Fly.'
↑ These are the two works that received the review. Thank you very much! The moment I read it, I was crying alone (lol).
Please let me introduce the message I was happy to receive from Tico-san.
Not fighting on the same field as a genius, but valuing one's own turf.
How much conflict must have been experienced to reach that conclusion.
I think many thoughts come out when you talk about it.
But she doesn't do that.
Because she knows that she shines the brightest in her own field.
Here is the figure of a woman who is incredibly cool and works with pride in her own job.
When I am lost regarding my own 'writing,' I want to return here without fail.
I am very happy to have encountered an essay that makes me think that.
To me, she is like a star on the other side of the screen.
The review was also written carefully, with a kindness that gently wraps not only her own work but even someone else's work like a treasure.
There is a reason why people have fans. It is because they are excellent not only in talent but also in consideration and thoughtfulness for others.
I dared to write this article at night because my impressions were too naked and I felt embarrassed. Thank you very much for the wonderful review this time. With respect and gratitude.
From freelance writer Miku Mayutan