The Diary of John Slater / Entry #5

I’ve finally made my decision. It was a hard one to make, mind you, but it had to be made. I just couldn’t stand the idea that a piece as great as this would just be sitting in the dumps without the chance to be published and read. The sentimentalist in me shouted and I heard.

Dear diary, today, I began to edit that manuscript. But for some reason, I felt empty editing it. I know that this manuscript belongs to nobody. The owner threw this manuscript away because he/she didn’t want it. They probably though this story was stupid. If so, then he/she is stupid and blind. This is perhaps one of the greatest story ever written about dragons and demons. I don’t think I need to tell you anymore about the story. You know it right? I’ve written about it before in previous entries.

Perhaps whoever wrote this story was old. That was why they thought this story was bad. Old people really do have bad taste. Did you know that old people don’t find pleasure from new music? Yeah, that’s right. I read it in a science article. I wonder if that’s the reason they don’t like Shrillex. But then again, I don’t like Shrillex.

Well, anyways, I’d just like to inform you of my progress with the manuscript. Up until now, I have fixed all the grammar erorrs and beautified a couple of odd sentences. Right now, the manuscript is perfect. If I were to go to an agent right now, I know that without a doubt this will be picked.

But then again, it isn’t about beauty of the manscript at all, isn’t it? Who cares if a manuscript is beautiful when it isn’t even yours? I need to make this mine. To make it personal. To change it radically so that even the original writer wouldn’t recognize this. All they would know is that this is similar to a manuscript that he/she once threw away.

For that, I have launced Operation Rallion, a portmanteu of Radical and Rebellion. So, this is the plan of action. Change the manuscript, as easy as that. That is the mission. To achieve that, I need to perform certain changes that will totally throw off attention to the original manuscript.

First off all, I need to type the manuscript into a new word document. Then I will throw away, nay, burn this manuscript so that no one can trace it back to me. Then, at the Word document, I would use a font different from the original so that even the owner won’t recognize it at first glance. Then, I change at least 10 sentences every chapter. At least. That way, it would read totally different from the original. By the time I’m done with Operation Rallion, this would be a whole new manuscript.

But you’re probably wondering why I would go so far to edit a manuscript that the original owner doesn’t even want, right? Well, lets just say that I have a certain guilt to this manuscript. The less guilt I have, the better. I didn’t steal it so my guilt should be almost nonexistant. But somehow, I do feel it.

Perhaps this is similar to winners’ guilt. You know, when someone wins a lottery he/she shares the win because she feels guilty winning it. To me, finding this manuscript is similar to winning a lottery, albeit a lottery that I have to work a little more to claim the price.

Even after totally changing this manuscript, I still feel a little guilty. Will this guilt ever go away?

---

Entry #4 l Index