[Announcement] We are holding a #TheMomentMyWritingLifeBegan note contest. Please tell us about the moment your writing life began!

I am Miku Mayutan, an entertainment-obsessed writer.

Thanks to everyone, my first book, 'How to Start a Writing Life: Mindsets for "Continuing to Write" That Are More Important Than Writing Skill,' has already surpassed 250 copies sold. This is all thanks to everyone who has supported me. Thank you so much.

To commemorate this, I am holding a note contest.

Introduction to my book

'How to Start a Writing Life: Mindsets for "Continuing to Write" That Are More Important Than Writing Skill' is a book for:

・ People aiming for a writing career with no experience
・ People who started writing once but stopped due to hesitation or anxiety
・ People who want to keep writing even though they lack confidence in their writing skills

It is a book that summarizes how to know where you can demonstrate your strengths, rather than relying on "talent" or "special sense," and how to continue while facing the market and others.

"Why doesn't my writing lead to work even though people say I'm good at it?"
"Everyone around me looks so brilliant that I want to stop writing."

It is also recommended for those who have such worries. Thankfully, I have already received many impressions and reviews, and the response has been great.

The theme of this contest is "Episodes related to the moment your writing life began." ...That said, it doesn't necessarily have to be a past event.

"Reading this book feels like it will change my life"
"Maybe my writing life is about to begin"

Episodes where you feel like "my writing life is about to begin" are also perfectly valid "moments my writing life began."Please, tell us about the "beginning of your writing life."

Contest Guide

Where did your "writing life" begin?

"I thought I'd record my child's growth on note and give it to them someday"

"I'm raising a child and it's hard to work outside, so I thought writing was the only way to earn an income from home"

"I was moved by a movie or drama and started writing novels, thinking 'I want to write stories like this too'"

"I want to keep records of gourmet food and travel as a hobby"

"Because I thought writing was the only thing I could do"

"There is a writer I admire. I thought I wanted to be like that too"

"I started it thinking it would be nice if it just became a habit"

◇

The reasons for writing are truly different for everyone.

The moment when, all of a sudden one day, some "nice words" just descended into your head. The night you were pushed by someone's words and impulsively wanted to preserve that emotion.

The day you couldn't see a future in your current job and found hope in a "new challenge = writing job." That moment when you felt you could affirm your life by writing...

Please tell us about that precious "beginning of writing" of yours. Of course, even if your writing life hasn't started yet, things like

"I started thinking about monetizing through writing"
"I thought I'd try applying for a public contest"
"I'm thinking of becoming a writer"

are also okay.

You can participate in the contest just by posting with the hashtag #TheMomentMyWritingLifeBegan.

Oh, by the way, what was Miku-san's "moment my writing life began"? For reference, I'll leave my article here.

Judge Introduction

The judging will be done by me and our editor, Okamoto-san. Here, I would like to introduce the judges' profiles and biographies.

■ Miku Mayutan - Entertainment Omnivorous Writer

■ Yutaro Okamoto - Editor-in-Chief of Impress NextPublishing

Supplementary Prize Information [The Grand Prix is, believe it or not, a 10,000 yen Amazon Gift Card]

For the winners, although it is modest, we have prepared comments from me and Okamoto-san, as well as supplementary prizes.

Mindset for Judging

I have many friends on note.

However, when it comes to contests, out of respect for the creators, I have a strong desire to select entries purely based on the work itself.

The reason is that I am a serious public submission enthusiast.

Even if there is no such thing as "that person is famous, so it's inevitable... (though this can't be helped)," I have had that thought about public submissions more than once or twice.

For that reason...

Since this is a contest, I will evaluate the works fairly and purely, without any favoritism.

"Surely, the person Miku-san (or Okamoto-san) supports, or someone they are close with, will be chosen, right?"

That is not the case.

As professionals, we will seriously read through each and every work carefully and select the ones that truly move our hearts.

(*If someone close to us happens to be chosen, please understand that it is simply because their work was good!!!)

I would be happy if those who are new to this also feel comfortable participating. In fact, we all hope this will be the catalyst for those who want to take the first step in writing.

About the contest. Looking back at the "5 years ago" when the author took the first step herself, what I want to convey to you

Five years ago, the contest I entered was the "Scumbag Man Essay Contest" hosted by impress QuickBooks.

This was held to commemorate the release of "I am a Scumbag Man Manufacturing Machine: The Best Memories with Men I Can't Hate," and I entered and actually won the Grand Prix.

That contest was the start of my meeting Okamoto-san, and after that, we talked on Clubhouse, and I introduced him to author Yuki Usui-sensei's (a famous person from Money no Tora) standfm live "Tell Me, Usui-gabu-sensei," and after various interactions...

5 years later, we ended up making a book together.

At the time I entered that essay, I had the feeling of "It would be nice if I could debut as an essayist in the media."

I never imagined that the day would come when I would make a book together with the judge from that time.

I never imagined that I would have so many opportunities to talk on Spaces.

I never even imagined that a day would come when I would continue to talk about "Okamoto-san" almost every day in my book's tell-all magazine (what kind of author is that, anyway)!

My writing life changed dramatically after that contest.

You really never know where or how life will connect. Perhaps by believing in yourself and continuing to work steadily, the scenery of your "writing life" will change little by little.

In the course of continuing my writing work, there were truly many times when I almost lost confidence or came to a standstill.

Each time, Okamoto-san would say to me,

"Miku-san, you are actually someone who can grow even more, and you are a capable writer."

Whenever I would quietly vent my frustrations after releasing my own book,

there were times when he would push me forward, saying, "(with a nuance of 'What are you saying!!') Miku-san, you have so many more stories you can write, so many more!!!"

and that gave me a push.

From there, when I looked back at my own footing, I realized, 'Oh, there are so many things I can write about'...

If you ever come to a standstill with your writing, consulting someone you trust might be a good opportunity to reflect on yourself or take that 'first step' again.

As I was encouraged in that way, little by little, I became able to believe in myself and face my work and writing.

From now on, while cherishing the warm words I have received,

"What on earth am I doing this for?"
"Who do I want to reach, and what do I want to deliver?"

I hope to continue moving forward one step at a time while exploring these questions.

◇

Throughout my writing life, I have always valued my connections with myself and the important people around me more than anyone else.

I believe that valuing my own thoughts and connections is what has led to 'now.' What kind of thoughts do you have about the 'beginning of your writing life' that you hold dear?

I would be very happy if you could tell us about it through this contest.

As soon as I confirm your entry, I will include it in the contest magazine. I look forward to seeing many wonderful works from everyone.

Notes

[End]

⭐︎The person who wrote this article