When a piece of article is published, it is not always the same as the original copy. After going through an intensive process of editing and proof reading and at times rewriting, the article is shaped into publish-worthy material. At places, the article might even lose its original essence. Editors would argue that that is so because when a writer writes something, hours of desk work and constant engagement with the text might muddle her/his senses somewhat.

Nevertheless, writing is writing. It is unlikely for a writer who cannot draw attention through words to get published. If you write well, sooner or later your talent is going to be acknowledged.

Writing is difficult; it is a skill that cannot be attained in a single trial. It is something that requires years of devotion, discipline, courage, patience and perseverance for most although there are some writes who seem to have a natural knack for words. Anyone who writes and wants to get published will have to ready him/herself for a series of publishes, rejects, acceptances and rewrites. It takes years before one can grow into a well-chiselled writer.

I personally think that writing is a journey of uncertainties. While being published in a tiny column brings cheers at times, at others, most writers are seen striving for more. There is an ever persistent thirst to achieve greater heights. While these heights are unprecedented, they are generally unknown.

How much can a man contribute in a lifetime? If you consider all the literary works in the world, will one aspiring writer really be able to make a difference?

Stephen King is probably one of the greatest writing machines of all time considering the pace of material production. The American author of thrills-and-chills has so far written more than a hundred books and most of them have been labelled bestsellers. So was Isaac Asimov, who wrote more than two hundred science-fiction books in his lifetime.

It’s commendable for one pair of hands to do so much writing, but is still a negligible portion if you bring all the books in the world together at one place. But of course, writing is not a game of numbers. A writer is recognised by his/her capability to engage and entice with words and not by the number of pages attributed to.

To Kill A Mockingbird is the only novel Harper Lee wrote in her lifetime but it is still regarded as one of the greatest books of the twentieth century. JD Salinger didn’t publish anything in the last 45 years of his life. Yet Catcher in the Rye is a modern masterpiece and will be remembered for many years to come.

Bhupi Sherchan’s poetry collection Ghumne Mech Mathi Andho Manche spans just over fifty pages and yet it has managed to establish itself as one of the most prominent anthologies ever written in the Nepali language. It’s not the number of poems that makes a great poet but it’s the poems that make the statement.

And it doesn’t really matter how many articles, poems, essays, stories or novels you write or get published. If your writing can garner readership (of any sort), if a single creation of yours can influence or affect a reader, then you are successful.

Bhusal is a student at the IOE, Pulchowk