PETALING JAYA: Everybody is different.
Some people realise very early in life that their differences are not something to be ashamed of, but something to be treasured. Others take time to learn to accept and embrace what sets them apart.
Most importantly, we should learn that it’s okay to be different. This is the message 15 young Malaysian writers want to share with readers through their book, Colour Me Different.
Launched on Saturday at BookXcess, IOI Mall Damansara, Petaling Jaya, the book is a collection of thought-provoking stories centred on the uniqueness of individuals. Colour Me Different is edited and published by writer-editor-trainer Brigitte Rozario.
One of the authors, Xaivion Liaw Yee Thern, came from Labuan for the launch. While no stranger to writing for competitions in several languages, he still struggled with his story, An Apology to the Wind.
“The biggest challenge was developing the plot. I wanted to create something fresh and original rather than following a typical storyline. However, the more I thought about it, the more I struggled to come up with a concept that I felt was creative enough,” he said.
“Halfway through the writing process, I experienced a severe case of writer’s block and began to feel burnt out.
“No matter how many ideas I came up with, none of them felt compelling, and I ended up rewriting and discarding several drafts before I was finally satisfied. It was a frustrating process, but it also taught me the importance of being patient and allowing myself time to develop ideas.”
Liaw, who will sit for his SPM examination this year, has won several competitions and seen his works published in magazines and books. He also won the Pipit Writing Competition organised by Rozario last year.
“I have been involved in writing since I was 11 – during the Covid-19 pandemic period. My first published work was in Malay,” said Liaw, whose story delves into friendship, betrayal and loyalty.
Able to write in Chinese, Malay, and English, Liaw won third place in a state-level English Essay Writing Competition at age 13.
Last year, he won the ‘Pertandingan Cerpen Patriotik sempena Program Semarak Merdeka’ (Malay Patriotism Writing Competition). This year, he emerged second in a state-level Chinese Prose Writing Competition.
He finds that each language allows him to express different aspects of his creativity, with Chinese being more suitable for poetry.
TESL student Samantha Rain wrote about friends and lies. Her story, Fast Lane, is about a girl who transferred from Malaysia to Bristol, England. There, she makes new friends and develops a new lifestyle.
This is Rain’s second inclusion in a short-story anthology. The first was in Through the Window, published in 2024. Both stories explored the harsh realities of life that people tend to avoid, bringing darker aspects of human experience for readers to contemplate.
“It’s an efficient way to show that life is not only about all things nice, but also the uncomfortable and unsatisfying struggles that people go through every day without anyone knowing,” said Rain.
“Writing this story was much easier. I definitely struggled a little more with my first story. I was nervous and unprepared, especially since it was the first time anything I had written was going to be published.”
Unlike Liaw and Rain, Sajeshan Mahenthiran is a first-time author. His story, A Place to Breathe, is about a boy who finds a safe place to call home.
Sajeshan said the most difficult part of writing was keeping within the word count.
“I had so many ideas, I wrote a lot to make sure the story came together properly,” he explained.
For Sajeshan, the story reflected the importance of accepting our differences and understanding those around us.
“We should appreciate our differences, because honestly, life would be boring if everyone were the same.
“In a country like Malaysia, our diversity is what makes our culture so cool and special. Being open to people who are different helps us become more understanding and friendly.”
While all the writers are Malaysian, three of them are currently studying in Australia, South Africa and Scotland. Two were on summer holiday and attended the launch. The third, Sophie Knoke, couldn’t make it from Melbourne and sent a recorded video message.
Colour Me Different is priced at RM33.90 and is available at BookXcess and Gerakbudaya.