Can I give some constructive comments about your novel; Melodi Kasih?

1. The English wordings werent that great. There were some grammatical errors.

2. I think you've got what it takes to be a great writer in the Malaysian scene. So, pls dont just write what the masses want. You need to challenge yourself and I know you have the potential to succeed in a big way.

3. *CBNers are movers & shakers, there's no doubt about that. Hence, write something which is totally un-YOU. Explore and experiment. You might just end up embracing the experience.

4. Write something which is taboo in society. Open society's minds, that would be your contribution to society and making a mark in the writer's space. Society has been too conformist and 'sheltered' to the norm.

Hey, if I've stepped into your boundaries, my apologies.
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*Convent Bukit Nanas

1) Maaf kalau English dalam MK tidak se’great’ yang diharapkan. I am a malay oriented novelist… may be, that is the cause of those ‘grammatical errors’.

2) Thank you for your comment. But as a new writer in the industry, in order for me to reach ‘greatness’, mass appeal is a prerequisite and not merely for own satisfaction. Sebagai langkah pertama, saya ingin menulis cerita yang simple tetapi bermesej. Sesuatu yang ada nilai komersial tetapi ada juga nilai moral. Sesuatu yang mungkin dianggap remeh tetapi ada impak tersendiri atau ada signifikasinya terhadap pembaca lain. Bila seseorang penulis menulis cerita yang agak berat dan sarat, ada kemungkinan buku itu akan menjadi ‘favourable’ hanya pada golongan tertentu sahaja. And when I started to write, yes I admit… I have in mind the readers who really enjoy reading malay novels.

3) True… CBNers are movers and shakers, we are made to set the difference by experimenting and exploring new ideas. Perhaps, in my next project… (after writing more than 3 novels or so, InsyaALLAH) I could try to write something which is totally un-ME. As for the time being, I want to write what I am familiar with. Something which is close to my heart… my friends, my surrounding and people whom I am associated with.

Ada pembaca inginkan sesuatu yang ‘dekat’ di hati mereka. Something similar to their life and experience, in which my writing could be a ‘mirror’ to the readers. I am not being exaggerating by stating this… tetapi ada pembaca yang merasakan persahabatan tiga watak utama MK iaitu Zahara Inas, Edrina Julia dan Iman Syukriah mengembalikan nostalgia mereka dan rakan-rakan. Ada pembaca yang menerokai watak Zahara seperti melihat kepada diri sendiri… (the fact that Zahara is a lady with big ego and she loves white color!) Ada juga yang kata watak Ahmad Fariq mengingatkan mereka pada seseorang yang mereka kenali. Dan tak lupa juga, ada yang mengaku pada saya, pengalaman Ahmad Fariq sama seperti apa yang mereka pernah tempuhi… (Yes… I’ve been there, I’ve done that!)
Tetapi ada juga pembaca yang mahukan sesuatu di luar persekitaran mereka. Dengan rendah dirinya, saya mengaku… I cannot satisfy or please everybody if MK is not up to the expectation or their high level of thinking. Apa yang saya tulis adalah berdasarkan pergaulan saya sehari-hari. Mungkin kerana itu, saya sedikit terbawa-bawa cara pemikiran dan pengalaman sendiri ketika menulis MK. It is kind of difficult not to write something which is totally un-ME. Seandainya saya menulis sesuatu dengan menjadi un-ME… then, I’ll be writing something based purely on assumptions and imagination and I do not wish to end up being an hypocrite!

4) Frankly speaking, that is what I wish to do… try to open up the society’s mind with my writing. Dan MK sebagai permulaan. To some urban mentality malays, watak2 dalam MK bukanlah sesuatu yg asing. Tetapi masih ada pembaca di luar sana yang mungkin terbuka serba sedikit minda mereka hanya setelah membaca MK. Bila selesai menamatkan MK, mereka mula terfikir segala kemungkinan dan persoalan e.g what if that incident were to happen to me? How would I react? Questions might have triggered the readers to open up their mind.

May be, you could share with me what you do have in mind about making the society to think ‘out of the norm’. But yet again, contractual obligations preclude me from exploring taboo subjects. I may share your views on this but reality dictates that we are actually a society of conformists and we abide by the norm which have positive and negative effects according to the circumstances in hand. There are times, we have to delve a little more deeper behind the reasons as to why are things as they are rather than being an idealist.

Nevertheless in short, I would like to express my gratitude and thanks for posting those invaluable comment.