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Dream to Write, Write to Dream

Carmen at a school talk

Carmen Chan 陳彥雯BEcon&Fin 2004

Article submitted by alumna

 

Writing is the best way for me to deliver my feelings and to share my thoughts with others. Being a writer is a big challenge but the time spent on each word gives me satisfaction.

 

I have enjoyed dreaming since I was very young. I am a sensitive person and easily affected by emotions. During my time at university, I started to write love stories and one of my favourite times was staying on the 18th floor of Lady Hotung Hall, laptop next to the window, and freely flying into my dreams. I have very happy memories from those days.

 

In the beginning, I shared my stories on various websites. Feedback from all over the world encouraged me to continue on my path and eventually I was invited to publish my first “real” book, which I spent nearly a year to complete. It was worth it when it was voted as “one of the best 10 books for the year 2009” by primary and secondary students in Hong Kong in a competition organised by Hong Kong Education City.

 

That success allowed me to join Sunbean Publication Ltd and become a writer of story books for teenagers. Instead of just imagining stories, I believe in adding other values that may encourage students to think positively and help them to strengthen their character.

 

Teenagers are also the source of my writing ideas. Whenever my brain is empty, I will chat with them and their creativity always provides me with new thoughts and energy for my next story.

 

In today’s world, which is overloaded with internet-based information, I appreciate knowing that some students are still interested in reading and writing, and I am sometimes invited to visit schools to share my experiences and writing skills with them. A writer might not become very rich, but writing lights up hope, records our culture and lives, and spreads positive values to the next generation. And that’s what keeps me writing. 

I started to write love stories and one of my favourite times was staying on the 18th floor of Lady Hotung Hall, laptop next to the window, and freely flying into my dreams.

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