The Dictionary of a Hopeless Romantic Wordsmith (2020)

Chapter Two

After the class turned in the short stories that we have written for Creative Writing, our professor started talking about our final requirement for the course.

"We only have one month left until the semester finally comes to a close. And I think it's only fitting that our course ends with a novella, don't you agree?" he said, as he brought out a glass bowl filled with strips of paper. "Given that you've familiarized and utilized the different literary techniques through the different activities we had throughout the semester, and since you've analyzed the writing styles of both classic and modern contemporary pieces of literature written in English, I think it would be nice to see you give it your everything by writing your very own novella."

My eyes are fixated on the glass bowl that he is holding. I wonder what's written on those strips of paper. Could it be the main literary technique that we need to use for our novella? Could it be an author whose writing style we need to replicate? Or could it be a genre and we need to write a novella around that genre?

And it's as if our professor could read my thoughts, he smiled, "In this glass bowl are different words. Different words that could tell different stories. Some of them are just simple words, others a bit more complicated. And you shall write a novella centered around the particular word that you might have picked. Simple enough, right?"

"A novella centered around a particular word." I thought, "I think I will enjoy this final requirement."

"Since this course is also called Creative Writing, I would not limit your creative minds. You can write in any genre, utilize any literary techniques that you have learned in our course, and most especially, you can definitely break the conventional rules of writing." our professor said, "After all, a great writer familiarizes himself with the different rules of writing so he can know the different creative ways to break them. Let your imaginations fly, as I always tell everyone."

Mr. Lopez has always been my favorite professor. I always admired the way he teaches in our class. He always listens to our ideas-even the most absurd ones, going as far as asking how we could make it work. He believed in the abilities of every single one of us.

"I have read every single one of your works. And I can confidently say that there are writers in this room that have the potential to change the world with their pen. I would definitely be looking forward to reading their masterpiece." he said, "You are not required to attend our class after this anymore, so utilize the next four weeks by working on your novella. Your final novella is to be submitted on or before your final examinations one month from now. And to reduce your cost, you don't need to print your work. Send it on my email address. As for your word, you can pick one as you go. Class dismissed."

I watched as the class slowly stood up from their armchairs. They slowly formed a queue in front of Mr. Lopez' table to pick up a strip of paper from the glass bowl of words for our final requirement. I waited until everyone had left. I stood to pick up whatever word is left in the glass bowl.

"Mr. Cruz," I turned to Sir Lopez, sitting comfortably in his chair while reading a book, who called my attention. "I noticed that you're always the last person to leave class." he said, still reading. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, sir." I answered. "I just really don't prefer waiting in line."

I turned to the glass bowl in front of me, looking at the lone strip of paper in it. I was about to reach out to pick up the piece of paper when Mr. Lopez swiftly grabbed it before I could.

Surprised, I turned to him, opening the piece of paper. "This will never do, Mr. Cruz." he said, looking at the word written on the strip of paper that was left for me. "A talented writer like yourself wouldn't have much of a challenge writing a masterpiece centered around 'dreams'." He showed me the word 'DREAMS' written in the strip of paper that he's holding, "I think you're much suited writing around a better word."