What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

The technical

I’ll give a recent example. A while ago, I watched the film, No Hard Feelings. The protagonist (Andrew Barth Feldman) surprises his date (Jennifer Lawrence) by playing ‘Man Eater’ on the piano. His impressive technical skills were on full display. This captivated the whole restaurant. When he ended the piece, he got a warm ovation. Lawrence was astonished that he would do that for her. He had learned the chords last week.

I wish I could do likewise to impress a lady. Perfecting the song after a week’s duration is swell. Imagine if, by chance, a piano appeared beside us. I’d play and sing ‘Killing Me Softly’. Hopefully, I’ll get a warmer reception than Will (Hugh Grant) in About a Boy.

Upon finishing the movie, I wondered which is more difficult. Playing an intermediate song à la ‘Man Eater’ on the piano or penning a full length poetry collection. For a novice, it would take up to six months to pull off the former. A veteran writer would need much more than a half year to write, curate, edit, and publish a book of poems. Both jobs are not for the fainthearted.

Reaction

Feldman’s singing wasn’t what impressed me. The crowd was left speechless. Playing on the piano is more immediate than releasing a poetry manuscript. You must know the nuances of the keys and the melody. Making music seems simple but in truth is complex. Feldman was a teener in the film, adding to his mystique. In real life, he does really play various instruments. It’s true that he learned ‘Man Eater’ for the film.

Different

As for Topher, I have a different medium. I’ve used poetry to convey my feelings. Having an excellent long-term memory helps. I could remember details from decades past, which was interpreted as ‘taking notes’. It’s like that firm’s ad. I can see past zebra stripes and ‘spot the difference’.

One of my better poems was described as ‘This is treasure’ and ‘it’s never palpak.’

It’s nice to know that I made others happy and that my couplets are appreciated.

Three up

Good things come in threes. On the NBA court, a triple double for me is the ultimate validation. Seeing superstars rack up huge numbers never fails to amaze me. When they win the ballgame, it’s even more impressive. Filling up the stat sheet is the league’s best indication of versatility.

In entertainment or the performing arts, the triple threat usually pertains to competence in acting, singing, and dancing. Meanwhile, the triple crown of acting is for film, telly, and the stage. In case you’re wondering, the elusive egot honours telly, music, film, and the theatre.

Triple threat

Back to writers, we also have triple threats. Excelling in three genres sparks my curiosity. I mentioned Kurt Vonnegut in my memoir. He was a prolific writer with a storied career. After fighting in the war, he wrote novels, stage plays, and nonfiction. As I observed, ‘he was a writer of tremendous versatility’.

He may not have won the Oscar or Pulitzer but he garnered the hallowed respect of the literary world. I’ve read two of his books: Slaughterhouse Five and Cat’s Cradle. Both have his trademark dark humour.

One guy who did win it all was Albert Camus. In his forties, he had received the Nobel Prize. The Stranger, a novella, is his most famous piece. It’s his only work that I’ve crested. He also wrote The Plague. Camus’s philosophy background shows in his writing. He was stellar in fiction, nonfiction, and the stage. His work is an acquired taste as a result of his absurdist background.

One-trick pony

Most popular authors stick to their strengths. Stephen King, Karin Slaughter, and Dan Brown concentrate on their bread and butter. Among bestselling authors, you rarely see trebles. They are more common in literary fiction or prizewinning writers. Aside from their meal ticket, some dabble in nonfiction, plays, poetry, or screenwriting.

Personally, I’ve tried my hand in three literary forms. Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. My stories is escapism and parallel universes. Nonfiction is nostalgic. My poetry recalibrates my limits and is very expressive. Writers should be well-rounded. Branch out, innovate, and adapt or you’ll be left behind.

Once, there was this hulking NBA player. A college standout, he became an unsung backup in the L. The announcer pointed out that his dearth of new skills ensured he was treed to the bench. He never added to his arsenal. There was no new floater or pull-up jumper. Ergo, authors should never settle for complacency. We must keep trying and exploring new frontiers.

‘The sky’s the limit.’